Kirchoff's Voltage Law

The definition of Kirchoff's Voltage Law is as follows:

The algebraic sum of the changes in potential across all the elements around any closed circuit loop must be zero.  The Voltage drops are negative (following a current through a resistor), and the gains are positive (going through a battery from the negative to the positive terminal).  Kirchoff's Voltage Law is a simple statement of the meaning of potential.  Every point on a circuit has a unique value of the potential.  Traveling around the circuit, through any path, must bring you back to the potential.  Use the following analogy to evaluate:  If one hikes from a stating point on a mountain, taking different paths, then finishes at the same point, the sum of the elevation changes of each path will equal zero.  The voltage across each element of the circuit was calculated using the simple equation of E = I X R, if the elements are in series.  If the elements are in parallel the equivalent resistance is obtained from the following equation:

1/Rtotal = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3 etc.

Kirchoff's Voltage Law can sound quite complicated but in reality it's pretty simple.  This information is very helpful in studying for the NICET exam.

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