Module 3

Methods of Analysis

Engr. Gerard Ang

School of EECE

KIRCHHOFFS LAWS
This was developed by the
German physicist Gustav Robert
Kirchhoff. Kirchhoff established
two laws, namely:
1. Kirchhoffs Current Law
(KCL)
2. Kirchhoffs Voltage Law
(KVL)

Gustav Robert Kirchhoff

(1824 1887)

KIRCHHOFFS CURRENT LAW

It states that in any electrical
network, the algebraic sum of the
currents meeting at a junction is
zero.
!" = $

Sign Convention for Kirchhoffs

Current Law
a. A current entering a junction
must be preceded by a positive sign.
b. A current leaving a junction
must be
preceded
by
a
negative sign.

Illustration of KCL:

I1
I2

a
I4

I3

At junction a;
I1 + I2 I3 I4 = 0

KIRCHHOFFS MESH LAW or

VOLTAGE LAW
It states that the algebraic sum of all the voltage
drops of resistances across each of the conductors
in any closed path (or mesh) in a network plus the
algebraic sum of the emfs connected in that path is
zero.
! %& + ! ()* + , = $

Sign Convention for Kirchhoffs Voltage Law

a. A potential rise must be preceded by a positive sign.
b. A potential drop must be preceded by a negative
sign.

KIRCHHOFFS MESH LAW or

VOLTAGE LAW (cont)
Potential rises when:
a. Going through a voltage source
from
negative
to
positive
terminals.
b. Going through a resistor in the
opposite direction as the flow of
current.
Potential drops when:
a. Going through a voltage source
from
positive
to
negative
terminals.
b. Going through a resistor in the
same direction as the flow of
current

a +

-b

I
Potential rises from b to a

a +

-b

I
Potential drops from a to b

KIRCHHOFFS MESH LAW or

VOLTAGE LAW (cont)
Illustration of KVL:
a

EA

R1

EB

rA

rB
R2
d

Using path abcda:

-IR1 EB IrB IR2 IrA + EA = 0

Sample Problem on
Kirchhoffs Laws
1. Given:
EA = 150 volts
a
EB = 200 volts
rA = 0.5 ohm
rB = 0.8 ohm
EA
R1 = 8.5 ohms
rA
R2 = 10 ohms
R3 = 15.2 ohms
R4 = 2 ohms
f
Determine I1, I2 and I3.

R1

R3

I1

I3
I2

R4

EB

R2

rB

Sample Problem on
Kirchhoffs Laws
2. For the circuit shown, find VCE and VAG.
A

E
10 V

20 V

F
40 V

DELTA AND WYE CONNECTED

RESISTANCES
In the analysis of networks, it is often helpful to convert a Y-connected load
to an equivalent delta-connected load and vice versa. This was developed by
the Americal electrical engineer Arthur Edwin Kennelly (1861 1939).
1. Wye (Star) - Delta Transformation
The resistance of an arm of the is equal to the sum of the products of
the resistances of the arms of the Y divided by the Y resistance directly
opposite to the resistance.
a

a
Ra
Rb

& . &/ + & / & 0 + & . & 0

&- =
&0
Ry

Rx

&6 =

Rc
Rz

If Ra = Rb = Rc = R then 12 = 315

& . & / + & / & 0 + & . &0

&/

& . & / + & /& 0 + & . & 0

&7 =
&.

DELTA AND WYE CONNECTED

RESISTANCES
2. Delta - Wye (Star) Transformation
The resistance of an arm of the Y is equal to the product of the
resistances of the adjacent arms of the divided by the sum of the
resistances.
a

a
Ra

Ry

Rx

&. =

Rb

Rc

&0 =

Rz
b

If Rx = Ry = Rz = RY then & 8 = & 2 /3

& -& 6
&- + &6 + &7
&6 &7
&- + &6 + &7

& -& 7
&/ =
&- + &6 + &7

Sample Problem on
Delta-Wye Transformation
1. Convert the Y-system ao-bo-co to delta system and
find (a) the total resistance and (b) the currents Iab,
Idd, Iao, Ioc and Iob.
60

a
Iab
40

350 V

50

IT a

Iao

Iob
30

Ioc

25
Idd
d

Sample Problem on
Delta-Wye Transformation
2. Convert the delta systems ac-ao-co and bo-od-bd
and find (a) the total resistance and (b) the current
Ief.
80

120

30

85

10
0

Ief

45

400 V

60

90

MAXWELLS LOOP CURRENT

METHOD OR MESH ANALYSIS

Maxwells Mesh Analysis

This method is particularly suited to
coupled-circuit solutions employs a
system of loop or mesh current instead of
branch currents (as in Kirchhoffs laws).
Here, the currents in different meshes are
assigned continuous paths so that they do
not split at a junction into branch currents.
Mesh it is a loop that contains no
element or node is encountered more
than once.
Steps in using Maxwells Mesh
Analysis:
a. Divide the network into separate
meshes.
b. Assume a clockwise direction of
circulating current (called the mesh
currents) around each mesh.
c. Apply Kirchhoffs voltage law to each
mesh.

R1

R3

I3

I1
EA

IA

rA

EB

R2 IB

rB

I2
f

I1 = IA

R4

I2 = IA IB

d
I3 = -IB

Where:
IA and IB are the mesh currents
I1, I2 and I3 are the resulting branch currents

Sample Problem on
Maxwells Mesh Analysis
R4

1. Given:
EA = 200 V
R1 = 3
EB = 150 V
R2 = 6.2
EC = 50 V
R3 = 8
ED = 70 V
R4 = 10
EA
rA = 0.5
R5 = 9
rA
rB = 0.8
R6 = 4.5
Find I1, I2, I3, I4, I5 and I6.

ED
I4

R1

R3

I1

EB I3
I2

I6

rB
R2

R6

EC

I5

R5

Sample Problem on
Maxwells Mesh Analysis
2. Applying loop analysis, solve for I1 and I2.
6

I1

20 V

10

I2

6A
f

NODAL ANALYSIS

Nodal Analysis
The node-equation method is
based directly on Kirchhoffs
current
law
unlike
mesh
analysis which is based on
Kirchhoffs voltage law. This
method is particularly suited for
networks having many parallel
circuits with common ground
connected such as electronics
circuits.
Node it is junction in a circuit
where two or more circuit
elements
are
connected
together.
Steps
in
Using
Nodal
Analysis:
a. The number of equations to
formed is n 1; where n is
the number of nodes.

b. One node will be regarded as the

reference node or node of zero
potential.
c. Apply Kirchhoffs current law to
each node.
R1

R2

VA
A

EA

VA

VB

R3

R4 VB

C VC = 0

R5

EB

Sample Problem on
Nodal Analysis
1. Given:
EA = 200 V
EB = 50 V
EC = 150 V
rA = 0.8
rB = 0.5
R1 = 2.2
R2 = 4
R3 = 4.5
R4 = 5.5
R5 = 10
R6 = 90

R1

I1
EA
rA

R2

EB

I3
R5

I5

R4
R6

Find the currents by nodal analysis.

R3

I2

rB

I4

EC

Sample Problem on
Nodal Analysis
2. Use nodal analysis to find the currents in the
various resistors of the circuit shown.
10
I7

I1
28 A

I4

I2
2

I5

I3
5

I6

2A

Sample Problem on
Nodal Analysis
10

3. Using nodal analysis,

find V1 and V2.
V1

10 A

2V

V2

2
I1

I2

7A

SUPERPOSITION THEOREM
It states that the total current in
any branch of a bilateral linear
circuit equals the algebraic sum of
the currents produced by each
source
acting
separately
throughout the circuit.
To ascertain the contribution of each
individual source, all of the other
sources first must be "killed" (set to
zero) by:
a. Replacing all other voltage source
with a short circuit (thereby
eliminating difference of potential.
i.e. V = 0)
b. Replacing all other current
sources with an open circuit
(thereby eliminating flow of
current. i.e. I = 0)

R1

R3
I3

I1
EA
rA

I2

R2

Electrical network with

two sources of emf

EB
rB

SUPERPOSITION
THEOREM (cont)
Where:
I1, I2 and I3 are the component
currents caused by EA acting alone
in the circuit.

EA
rA

R1

R3

I1'

I3'

I2'

I1, I 2 and I3 are the component

currents caused by EB acting alone
in the circuit.

(a)
R1

I1, I2 and I3 are the resulting

currents
caused
by
the
simultanoues action of EA and EB in
the circuit.
I1 = I1 I1
I2 = I2 + I2
I3 = -I3 + I3

rB

R2

R3

I1"
rA

I3"

I2"

R2

(b)
Circuits Illustrating
Superposition Theorem

EB
rB

Sample Problem on
Superposition Theorem
1. Given:
EA = 200 V
R1 = 4.5
EB = 160 V
R2 = 30
EA
EC = 60 V
rA
R3 = 19.2
rA = 0.5
R4 = 10
rB = 0.8
Find I1, I2 and I3 by
superposition theorem.

R1

R3

I1

I3
EC
I2

rB
R2

R4

EB

Sample Problem on
Superposition Theorem
2. Use superposition theorem to find the current I in the circuit shown.

10 V

5
120 A

150
I

40 A