Kirchhoff's circuit laws
Kirchoff's circuit laws are two easy-to-remember rules that help us understand how electricity (which is like a tiny stream of water) moves through a circuit (which is like a path for the electricity made of wires and other things).
The first law is called the "Junction Rule" and it says that when electricity comes to a junction (a place where two or more wires meet in a circuit) the total amount of electricity flowing away from the junction must be the same as the total amount that came in.
It's like a hill of water flowing down two different slopes on either side, and no water is added or taken away.
The second law is called the "Loop Rule" and it says that the total amount of electricity flowing around any closed loop (a circle in the circuit made of wires) must be zero.
It's like a bucket of water that's passed around a circle between different people. As soon as the last person gets the bucket, all the water must be gone!
The first law is called the "Junction Rule" and it says that when electricity comes to a junction (a place where two or more wires meet in a circuit) the total amount of electricity flowing away from the junction must be the same as the total amount that came in.
It's like a hill of water flowing down two different slopes on either side, and no water is added or taken away.
The second law is called the "Loop Rule" and it says that the total amount of electricity flowing around any closed loop (a circle in the circuit made of wires) must be zero.
It's like a bucket of water that's passed around a circle between different people. As soon as the last person gets the bucket, all the water must be gone!
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