Kirchhoff's Voltage Law Formula |
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\( 0 \;=\; \sum V \) \( 0 \;=\; V_1 + V_2 + V_3 \;+ ... + \;V_n \) |
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| Symbol | English | Metric |
| \( V_n \) = Number of Voltages | \(dimensionless\) | \(dimensionless\) |
| \( V_1 \) = Voltage Source or Drop | \(V\) | \(V\) |
| \( V_2 \) = Voltage Source or Drop | \(V\) | \(V\) |
| \( V_3 \) = Voltage Source or Drop | \(V\) | \(V\) |
Kirchhoff’s voltage law, abbreviated as KVL, also called the second law, is a fundamental principle in electrical circuit analysis that states the algebraic sum of all voltages around any closed loop in a electrical circuit is equal to zero. In other words, as one moves around a closed loop, the total voltage rises must equal the total voltage drops. This law is based on the conservation of energy, meaning that electrical energy supplied by sources, such as batteries or generators, is completely used up by the elements in the circuit, such as resistors, capacitors, or inductors, without any loss or gain. KVL is widely used to analyze complex electrical networks, helping to determine unknown voltages, currents, and component values within circuits. It ensures that the distribution of voltages in a circuit remains consistent and balanced.
