All Flashcards
What is a circuit?
A closed loop where electrical current flows.
Define Kirchhoff's Loop Rule (KVL).
The sum of voltage drops around a closed loop equals the sum of voltage gains; the total voltage change around any closed loop is zero.
What is a voltage drop?
Energy used by components in a circuit, such as resistors.
What is a voltage gain?
Energy supplied by a source in a circuit, such as a battery.
What is a series circuit?
A circuit where current flows through each component one after the other along a single path.
What is a parallel circuit?
A circuit where current splits and flows through different branches.
What happens to the current in a series circuit if the resistance is increased?
The current decreases, according to Ohm's Law ([V=IR]).
What happens to the total current from a voltage source in a parallel circuit if one resistor is removed?
The total current decreases because the total resistance increases.
What happens when the switch is open in a circuit?
The circuit is broken, and no current can flow.
What are the steps to applying Kirchhoff's Loop Rule?
- Draw the circuit. 2. Choose a loop. 3. Assign currents. 4. Follow the loop, noting voltage gains (+) and drops (-). 5. Set up the equation: Sum the voltages and set equal to zero. 6. Solve for unknowns.