Final answer:
Kirchhoff's law of current, or Kirchhoff's first rule, conserves charge by stating that the total current entering a junction must be equal to the total current leaving it.
Step-by-step explanation:
Kirchhoff's law of current, also known as Kirchhoff's first rule or the junction rule, is an application of the conservation of charge to a junction in electrical circuits. This rule states that the total current entering a junction must equal the total current leaving the junction. In essence, it conserves charge.
For example, if 3 amperes (A) flow into a junction and 2 A flow out in one path, then the remaining 1 A must flow out through any other path available to maintain charge conservation. Kirchhoff's rules, which also include a rule for the conservation of energy known as the loop rule, are foundational for circuit analysis, aiding in the calculation of currents and potential differences in complex circuits beyond simple series and parallel arrangements.