Question

How are Kirchhoff's laws used in analysing a general network with several unknown branch currents?

Options

• KCL reduces unknowns, and KVL on enough independent loops gives equations to solve for them

• KVL reduces unknowns, and KCL applies only to cells

• Only one loop equation is needed for any number of unknowns

• KCL is used only after all branch currents are known

Answer 1

KCL expresses branch-current relationships at junctions and reduces the unknowns. KVL on enough independent loops supplies equations that can be solved to find the branch currents.