In electrical engineering, a
node refers to a point in an electrical circuit where two or more components (such as resistors, capacitors, inductors, or voltage sources) are connected. It's essentially a junction where current can either split or combine.
To put it simply, think of a node as a point where wires meet in a circuit, and the voltage at that point is the same across all components connected to it.
Key Points about a Node:
- Voltage Consistency: All points connected to a node have the same electric potential (voltage).
- Current Flow: The total current flowing into a node is equal to the total current flowing out, according to Kirchhoff's Current Law (KCL).
In a circuit diagram, nodes are usually represented by dots or small circles at the junctions of wires. They help us analyze and solve circuits systematically.