EXPERIMENT 4

NODAL ANALYSIS AND MESH ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES

OBJECTIVES
1. To construct resistive circuits and analyze the circuit using nodal
analysis and mesh analysis
2. To test and demonstrate the validity of nodal analysis and mesh
analysis through experimental measurements.
INTRODUCTION
Basic laws such as the Ohms law and Kirchhoffs law can solve only a
limited number of variables in circuit analysis and are restricted to
analyzing circuits. To solve for complex circuits with a single source or
circuit with more than one source that are not in series or parallel place
need for a powerful techniques such as nodal analysis and mesh analysis.
These two techniques can be used to solve almost any kind of circuit
analysis problem. The mesh analysis technique will determine the currents
of the circuit while the nodal analysis approach will provide the potential
levels of the nodes of the circuit with respect to some reference.
EQUIPMENT AND PARTS
Digital Multimeter
DC power supply
Resistor: 1k, 3.9k, 6.8k, 4.7k and 2.2k
PROCEDURE
PART 1: NODAL ANALYSIS METHOD
1. Measure the actual value of each resistor and record in Table 1.
2. Construct the circuit as shown in Figure 1 on the breadboard. Set
Va and Vb to 10V. By using multimeter, measure node voltage at
V1, V2, V3 and V4.
Figure
1

3. Record all results and complete Table 2

PART 2: MESH ANALYSIS METHOD
1. Construct the circuit as shown in Figure 2 on breadboard. Set Va and
Vb to 10V. By using multimeter, measures mesh current I1, I2, I3
and branch current Ia and Ib.
Figure
2
2. Re
co
rd
all

results and complete Table 3

RESULT
Resistor
R1
R2
R3
R4
R5

Measure value ()

Table 1: Measured resistor value

Parameter

Theoretical
Result

Experimental
Result

Percentage
Difference (%)

V1
V2
V3
V4
Table 2: Nodal analysis method
Parameter

Theoretical
Result

Experimental
Result

Percentage
Difference (%)

I1
I2
I3
Ia
Ib
Table 3: Mesh analysis method
EVALUATION QUESTION
1. By observation, what are the values for V1 and V2 if Va and Vb are
set to 15V? Verify your answer.

2. State the relationship between mesh current (I1, I2, I3) and branch
currents (Ia, Ib).

3. For the circuit In Figure 1 calculate the power absorbed by resistor

R2 and R4. Use all measured values.

4. Give the step how to use nodal analysis technique and mesh
analysis technique.
Ans:
The steps in the Mesh technique are,
Identify the meshes.
Assign a current variable to each mesh, using a consistent direction
(clockwise or counterclockwise).
Write Kirchhoff's Voltage Law around each mesh.
The steps in the Nodal technique are,

Convert voltage sources in series with a resistor to an equivalent current

source with the resistor in parallel.
Change resistor values to conductances.
Select a reference node.

 Assign unknown voltages .

Write a KCL equation for each node. The positive coefficient of the first
voltage in the first equation is the sum of conductances connected to the
node. The coefficient for the second voltage in the second equation is the
sum of conductances connected to that node. Repeat for coefficient of
third voltage, third equation, and other equations. These coefficients fall
on a diagonal.
All other coefficients for all equations are negative, representing
conductances between nodes. The first equation, second coefficient is the
conductance from node 1 to node 2, the third coefficient is the
conductance from node 1 to node 3. Fill in negative coefficients for other
equations.
The right hand side of the equations is the current source connected to
the respective nodes.
Solve system of equations for unknown node voltages.

CONCLUSION
On the conducted experiment to get the current and voltage values
present in the circuit and through the computation of such with the use of
the Nodal Analysis & Mesh, the experimental values that were measured
through the help of a NI Multism and the theoretical values computed
were found to be almost of the same value.Generally, nodal voltage
analysis is more appropriate when there are a larger number of current
sources around. It can be used to determine the unknown node voltages
of both planar and non-planar circuits. Nodal equations are usually formed
by applying Kirchhoffs Current Law to the nodes with unknown voltages,
whereas equations based on Kirchhoffs Voltage Law are used to form the
mesh equations. Nodal analysis is the ideal technique for analysis when all
the sources in a circuit are independent current sources.