2.3: Kirchhof's Current Law
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Learning Objectives
After completing this chapter, you should be able to:
- Identify parallel resistive circuits that include a single voltage source or one or more current sources.
- Compute equivalent resistance of parallel resistive networks.
- Determine the equivalent of multiple parallel current sources.
- Compute component and total current for parallel resistive networks.
- Compute system voltage and component powers for parallel resistive networks.
- Utilize Ohm's law, Kirchhoff's current law (KCL) and the current divider rule (CDR) to aid in the analysis of parallel resistive circuits.
- Describe the function of fuses and circuit breakers.
- 2.3.4: Kirchhoff's Current Law
- Just as Kirchhoff's voltage law is a key element in understanding series circuits, Kirchhoff's current law (KCL) is the operative rule for parallel circuits. It states that the sum of all currents entering and exiting a node must sum to zero. Alternately, it can be stated as the sum of currents entering a node must equal the sum of currents exiting that node.