Work through the list without notes. If you cannot do a statement, follow its link, then come back. Guide = study guide; Practice = practice questions.
Understanding
- I can state the junction rule in words and as ΣI_in = ΣI_out. (Guide: “The junction rule”; Practice Q1)
- I can explain why the rule follows from conservation of charge, and why charge cannot build up at a junction in a steady circuit. (Guide: “Charge has nowhere to go”; Practice Q2)
- I can say which Kirchhoff rule comes from charge conservation and which from energy conservation. (Practice Q2)
- I can explain why every element in one branch carries the same current, so current is not used up. (Guide: “Branches, junctions and regions”; Practice Q6c, Q7a)
Calculation and skills
- I can find an unknown current at a junction and state its direction. (Practice Q1, Q5)
- I can use assumed directions and interpret a negative answer as a current flowing the other way. (Guide: Worked example 1; Practice Q5b)
- I can apply the junction rule to a boundary drawn around part of a circuit. (Guide: Worked example 1 check; Practice Q5d)
- I can find how a current splits between parallel branches using the same ΔV and the junction rule. (Practice Q3)
- I can write junction and loop equations for a one-battery circuit and solve them for every branch current. (Guide: Worked example 2; Practice Q6)
Reasoning
- I can predict how the current from an ideal battery changes when a parallel branch is removed. (Practice Q4, Q7d)
- I can use measured currents and meter resolution to decide whether data support the junction rule. (Guide: Worked example 3; Practice Q7b)
- I can rank resistances of parallel elements from their measured currents. (Practice Q7c)
All ticked? Move on to Topic 11.8, Resistor-Capacitor (RC) Circuits, or return to the course roadmap.