What does Kirchhoff's Voltage Law state?

Kirchhoff's Voltage Law (KVL) states that the total voltage around a closed circuit equals zero. This principle is based on the conservation of energy, which implies that the energy provided by sources in a closed loop (such as batteries or generators) must be equal to the energy consumed by the components in the loop (such as resistors, capacitors, and inductors). When you traverse a closed loop in an electrical circuit, the sum of all the voltage gains (from sources) and the sum of all the voltage drops (across components) must balance out, leading to a net voltage of zero.

This law is fundamental to circuit analysis, as it allows engineers and technicians to determine unknown voltages and troubleshoot circuits effectively. It applies to both direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) circuits. The significance of KVL lies in its ability to lay the groundwork for more complex circuit analysis techniques, such as mesh analysis and nodal analysis.