SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/elec-kirchhoff-junction

Kirchhoff's junction rule says the current entering a junction does what?

Current in equals current out at a junction.

Start playing free

  1. Exceeds the current leaving it
  2. Splits evenly among all branches
  3. Equals the current leaving it ✔

Why: Charge cannot pile up or vanish at a connection point. Whatever flows in must flow out, though not always evenly between branches.

Huh, didn't know that: OpenStax explains the junction rule as an application of conservation of charge.

The dad joke
What did the socket say to the plug? Our connection is electrifying.
Like this card?
Play the game

References

Answer: Equals the current leaving it. Charge cannot pile up or vanish at a connection point. Whatever flows in must flow out, though not always evenly between branches.

  1. OpenStax College Physics 2e, 21.3 Kirchhoff's Rules openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/21-3-kirchhoffs-rules
    The sum of all currents entering a junction must equal the sum of all currents leaving the junction.
    Checked 2026-10-10.

Think this answer is wrong? Tap "Challenge this answer" on the card in the game and tell us why.

Test yourself in the game

Trades & ShopIn Ohm's law, current through a resistor is directly proportional to what?Trades & ShopIn a series circuit, which quantity is the same through every resistor?Trades & ShopCounting the source too, the voltage changes around any closed loop in a circuit add up to what?

That's stuff everyone should know.