APPLICATION OF LINEAR ALGEBRA IN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT

LINEAR EQUATIONS AND ELECTRICAL NETWORKS

Current flow in a simple electrical network can be described by a system of linear equations. A voltage source such as a battery forces a current of electrons to flow through the network. When the current passes through a resistor such as a light bulb or motor, some of the voltage is used up; by Ohms law, this voltage drop across a resistor is given by

where the voltage V I measured in volts, the resistance R in ohms (denoted by ), and the current flow I in amperes.

Kirchhoffs Current Law

The algebraic sum of all currents at any branch point is zero.

The algebraic sum of all voltage changes around a loop is zero.

Kirchhoffs Voltage Law

The currents i2 and i3 are flowing into the junction. While i1 and i4 flow out of it. Kirchhoff's Junction Rule yields the following equation: i2 + i3 = i1 + i4

V IR R1 30, R2 10

V 0

I1 R1 I1R2 70V 50V 0 30 I1 70V 10 I1 50V 0

V IR R1 5, R2 4, R3 5

V 0

Loop1 I1 R1 I 2 R2 10V 8V 0 I1 5 I 2 4 10V 8V 0 Loop 2 I 2 R2 I 3 R3 8V 5V 0 I 2 4 I 3 5 8V 5V 0

Find the currents i1,i2,i3 in the electrical circuit of Figure above if the voltage of the battery is E=6V and the resistance R1=2, R2=2 and R3=1 each. By the first law we have I1-I2-I3=0 from the branch point A. Applying the second law to look L1 yields 6 - I1R1 - I2R2=0 hands 2I1+2I2=6. Likewise, looks

L2 yields I3R3 - I2R2=0, or -2I2+I3=0. Hence,

I1 - I2 - I3 = 0 2I1 + 2I2 = 6 -2I2 + I3 = 0

Solution There are four ways to solve this equation using matrices: Inverse method ( Ax = D ) Gaussian Elimination Gauss Jordan Elimination Cramers Rule

Inverse Method