๐Ÿ’กap physics c: e&m review

Kirchhoff's current law (KCL)

Written by the Fiveable Content Team โ€ข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโ€ขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โ€ข Last updated September 2025

Definition

Kirchhoff's current law states that the total current flowing into a junction in an electrical circuit is equal to the total current flowing out of that junction. In other words, the sum of currents entering a node is equal to the sum of currents leaving that node.

"Kirchhoff's current law (KCL)" also found in: