DC Circuits

Kirchoff's Junction Rule

Kirchoff's Junction Rule:

At each junction, the sum of the currents in must equal the sum of the currents out; this is just charge conservation.

We do not create any new charge. No charge collects someplace in the circuit. The total charge that comes into a junction must equal the total charge that goes out of that junction. This is just charge conservation.

Think of water flowing through a garden hose and coming into a "Y" that then leads off into two other garden hoses. The amount of water that flows into the connection (or junction) must equal the amount of water that flows out of that connection.

That is all Kirchoff's Junction Rule says. 

Kirchoff's Rules

Kirchoff's Rules

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(c) Doug Davis, 2002; all rights reserved