Which law states that the sum of the instantaneous currents flowing toward a point is equal to the sum flowing away from that point?

Which law states that the sum of the instantaneous currents flowing toward a point is equal to the sum flowing away from that point?

• A. Ohm's Law
• B. Kirchhoff's Voltage Law
• C. Kirchhoff's Current Law
• D. Faraday's Law

Answer: (C)

Kirchhoff's Current Law is the principle that states the sum of the instantaneous currents flowing into a junction must equal the sum of the currents flowing out of that junction. This law is based on the conservation of electric charge, which dictates that charge cannot simply vanish at a point. Instead, any current that enters a point must either be used or exit that point, ensuring that charge is conserved throughout the circuit. In practical terms, this means that if you were to measure the currents at a node in an electrical circuit, the total amount of current entering that node would be equal to the total current leaving it. This concept is fundamental to circuit analysis, as it allows engineers to set up equations to solve for unknown currents in a circuit. The law is widely applicable in both direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) circuit analysis. While Ohm's Law relates voltage, current, and resistance, and Kirchhoff's Voltage Law deals with the sum of voltage around a closed loop being zero, Kirchhoff's Current Law specifically addresses the flow of current at a junction. Faraday's Law, on the other hand, pertains to electromagnetic induction. Thus, Kirchhoff's Current Law is the appropriate choice in this context.

Kirchhoff's Current Law is the principle that states the sum of the instantaneous currents flowing into a junction must equal the sum of the currents flowing out of that junction. This law is based on the conservation of electric charge, which dictates that charge cannot simply vanish at a point. Instead, any current that enters a point must either be used or exit that point, ensuring that charge is conserved throughout the circuit.

In practical terms, this means that if you were to measure the currents at a node in an electrical circuit, the total amount of current entering that node would be equal to the total current leaving it. This concept is fundamental to circuit analysis, as it allows engineers to set up equations to solve for unknown currents in a circuit. The law is widely applicable in both direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) circuit analysis.

While Ohm's Law relates voltage, current, and resistance, and Kirchhoff's Voltage Law deals with the sum of voltage around a closed loop being zero, Kirchhoff's Current Law specifically addresses the flow of current at a junction. Faraday's Law, on the other hand, pertains to electromagnetic induction. Thus, Kirchhoff's Current Law is the appropriate choice in this context.