In circuit analysis, which law states that the sum of the voltages around a closed loop is equal to zero?

The principle that the sum of the voltages around a closed loop in a circuit is equal to zero is known as Kirchhoff's Voltage Law (KVL). This law is fundamental in circuit analysis, as it asserts that in any closed loop, the total voltage gained (from voltage sources) equals the total voltage lost (across components like resistors, capacitors, and inductors). This reflects the conservation of energy—essentially stating that all energy supplied to a circuit must be accounted for in the energy used by components within that loop.

When analyzing circuits, KVL helps identify the relationships between different voltages in a loop, facilitating the calculation of unknown values. It is crucial for solving complex circuits with multiple elements, where simply applying Ohm's Law or examining current alone may not be sufficient.

In contrast, other laws mentioned in the options serve different purposes. Ohm's Law relates voltage, current, and resistance in a single circuit component, while Kirchhoff's Current Law deals with the distribution of current at junctions rather than voltages in loops. Faraday's Law is related to electromagnetic induction and the relationship between changing magnetic fields and electric circuits, which is not directly relevant to simple loop voltage considerations.