Kirchoff's voltage law for a series circuit states that the total voltage is equal to the __________.

Kirchhoff's voltage law (KVL) is grounded in the principle of energy conservation within an electrical circuit. It states that the sum of the electrical potential differences (voltages) around a closed loop in a circuit must equal zero. This means that the total voltage provided by the sources in the circuit must be equal to the total voltage used by the components within the loop.

In a series circuit, the voltage from power sources is divided among the various components (like resistors) that consume electrical energy. Each of these components has a voltage drop across it, representing the energy used to push through that component. Therefore, when calculating the voltage in a series circuit, you take the total voltage provided by the sources and equate it to the sum of the voltage drops across all circuit elements.

Choosing the sum of voltage drops as the correct answer directly supports the understanding that in a closed loop, the energy provided by the sources is fully accounted for by the energy consumed by the circuit’s components. This relationship is crucial in ensuring that energy is conserved and is a fundamental concept in electrical engineering and circuit theory that aligns perfectly with Kirchhoff's principles.