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A student walks around a closed loop and finds that the algebraic sum of all voltages is $+4\text{ V}$. What does this indicate?
AKirchhoff's Voltage Law is invalid for that circuit
BThe circuit must contain a hidden battery
CA sign, direction, or voltage assignment error has been made if the loop is analyzed correctly under KVL assumptions
DThe current in the loop must be zero
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. A sign, direction, or voltage assignment error has been made if the loop is analyzed correctly under KVL assumptions
For a correctly analyzed closed loop, Kirchhoff's Voltage Law requires the algebraic sum of voltages to be zero. A nonzero sum such as $+4\text{ V}$ usually means a sign convention mistake, wrong traversal direction handling, or an incorrect voltage value was used.