Current Electricity

Kirchhoff's Laws and Their Applications


  • According to Kirchhoff’s first law. The algebraic sum of currents as a junction is zero.
  • Kirchhoff’s first law is in accordance with law of conservation of charge.
  • According to Kirchhoff’s second law the algebraic sum of potential across the elements of circuit is zero.
  • Kirchhoff’s second law is in accordance with law of conservation of energy.

View the Topic in this video From 39:56 To 59:40

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Kirchhoff's Laws
There are two Kirchhoff's laws for solving complicated electrical circuits

(i) Junction Rule
The algebric sum of all currents meeting at a junction in a closed circuit is zero, i.e. ∑I = 0.
This law follows law of conservation of charge.

(ii) Loop Rule
The algebric sum of all the potential differences in any closed circuit is zero, i.e.
∑V = 0 ⇒ ∑E = ∑IR