A short circuit occurs when a current flows through an electric circuit without resistance. If electrons flow without being impeded in some way, excess heat will be caused by the friction of these electrons moving in the conductive material. Too much heat will eventually damage the circuit, perhaps through fire or worse. Short circuits occur […]
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL)
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law is used in the study of series circuits, where it is observed that the voltage applied to a closed circuit is equal to the sum of the voltage drops within that circuit. Another way of expressing this is, the algebraic sum of the voltage rises (applied voltage) and the voltage drops must […]
Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL)
Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL) is another statement about the law of conservation of energy within a circuit, affirming the conservation of charge flow. It states that the sum of currents entering a junction is equal to the sum of currents leaving the junction. Mathematically we can sum up this idea as We read […]