Tennessee State University

College of Engineering, Technology, and Computer Science

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
ENGR 2001
CIRCUITS I LAB
Section 02

Lab Experiment #4
Nodal and Mesh Analysis Using PSpice

Vance Willis
Lab Partner: Tish Spalding
Instructor: Dr. Carlotta A. Berry

Lab Performed: September 29, 2005

Report Submitted: October 6, 2005

ABSTRACT
The purpose of this experiment was to build two resistor circuits and measure the
voltage and current across each resistor, and the voltage at each node to illustrate the
concepts of nodal and mesh analysis. Nodal analysis is a method of calculating the
voltage at each node in a circuit. This is accomplished by setting up a set of equations
which are based on Kirchhoffs current law for each node. These equations are then
solved simultaneously to find the node voltages. In part 1 of the experiment, the nodal
analysis resulted in a set of 3 equations to solve. A Texas Instruments graphing
calculator with a simultaneous equation solver application was used for solving the set
of equations. In part 2 of the experiment, the nodal analysis resulted in only 2
equations, which were solved by substitution. Mesh analysis is a method of calculating
the currents in each branch of a circuit. This is accomplished by setting up a set of
equations which are based on Kirchhoffs voltage law for each loop (or mesh) in the
circuit. The solution of the set of equations results in the currents through each element
in the circuit. In part 1 of the experiment, the mesh analysis resulted in 2 equations,
which were solved by substitution. In part 2 of the experiment, the mesh analysis
resulted in a set of 3 equations to solve. Again, the 3 equation set was solved using a
scientific graphing calculator. Results from both types of analysis agreed with results
from circuit simulations which were executed using the PSpice circuit simulation
software. An error analysis comparing the experimental lab results to the theoretical
results showed an error range of 0.00% and 3.15%.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Abstract
I.

Objective

II.

Theory

III.

Equipment

IV.

Apparatus

V.

Circuits

VI.

Procedure

VII.

Results, Conclusions, and Recommendations

Appendix A

Data

Appendix B

Formulas and Sample Calculations

Appendix C

References

I.

Objective:
The purpose of this experiment was to build two resistor circuits, and measure
the voltage and current at each component, and the node voltages to illustrate
the concepts of nodal and mesh analysis, then analyze the results by comparing
them to the theoretical calculations.

II.

Theory:
Nodal analysis is a method of calculating the voltage at each node in a circuit.
This is accomplished by setting up a set of equations which are based on
Kirchhoffs current law for each node. These equations are then solved
simultaneously to find the node voltages. The following is the procedure for
applying nodal analysis to a circuit:
1) Select a node as the reference node. Assign voltages (v1, v2, v3, etc.)
to the remaining nodes. The voltages are referenced with respect to
the reference node.
2) Apply Kirchhoffs current law (i=0) to each of the non-reference
nodes. Use Ohms law (v=iR) to express the branch currents in terms
of node voltages.
3) Solve the resulting simultaneous equations to obtain the unknown
node voltages.
Mesh analysis is a method of calculating the currents in each branch of a circuit.
This is accomplished by setting up a set of equations which are based on
Kirchhoffs voltage law for each loop (or mesh) in the circuit. The solution of the
set of equations results in the currents through each element in the circuit. The
following is the procedure for applying mesh analysis to a circuit:
1) Assign mesh currents (i1, i2, i3, etc.) to each mesh (loop) in the circuit.
2) Apply Kirchhoffs voltage law (v=0) to each of the meshes. Use
Ohms law (v=iR) to express the voltages in terms of the mesh
currents.
3) Solve the resulting simultaneous equations to obtain the unknown
mesh currents.

III.

Equipment:
Tektronix Digital Multimeter model # CDM250, serial # CDM250TW55057
Tektronix Power Supply model # CPS250, serial # CPS250TW54062
Resistors: 1 k, 10 k, 15 k, 22 k, and 33 k
Leads (2 pair)
Hook-up wires (1 pair)
Alligator Clips
Breadboard
Texas Instruments model TI-89 graphing calculator with simultaneous
equation solver application loaded
PSpice software program

IV.

Apparatus:
Experiment Part 1:
The apparatus used for part 1 of the experiment consisted of a Tektronix digital
multimeter (used in both voltmeter and ammeter modes), a Tektronix power
supply, 4 resistors (10 k, 15 k, 22 k, and 33 k), a breadboard, and alligator
clips attached to the leads on the resistors. Figure 1 illustrates the apparatus
configuration.
Experiment Part 2:
The apparatus used for part 2 of the experiment consisted of a Tektronix digital
multimeter (used in both voltmeter and ammeter modes), a Tektronix power
supply, 5 resistors (1 k, 10 k, 15 k, 22 k, and 33 k), a breadboard, and
alligator clips attached to the leads on the resistors. Figure 1 illustrates the
apparatus configuration.

Figure 1
(Lab Apparatus used for Experiment Parts 1 and 2)

V.

Circuits
Figures 2 and 3 are the circuit diagrams for the circuits used for experiment parts
1 and 2, respectively.
R1

R4

10k

33k

V1

V2
R2

10Vdc

5Vdc

15k

Vance Willis
ENGR2001-02
10/6/2005
Lab #4
Report

R3
22k

Figure 2
(Circuit used for Experiment Part 1)

R1

R3

10k

22k

R5
1k

V1
10Vdc

V2
R2

R4

15k

33k

Figure 3
(Circuit used for Experiment Part 2)

5Vdc

Vance Willis
ENGR2001-02
10/6/2005
Lab #4
Report

VI.

Procedure
Experiment Parts 1 and 2:
1. Build the resistor circuit shown in the appropriate figure: Figure 2 for part 1 of
the experiment, Figure 3 for part 2 of the experiment.
2. Connect the variable output of the power supply as shown and adjust the
voltage to 10 V.
3. Connect the fixed 5 V output of the power supply as shown.
4. Connect a digital voltmeter across each resistor and record the voltage
measured.
5. Connect a digital voltmeter at each node, with reference to the reference
node, and record the voltage measured.
6. Connect a digital ammeter in series with each resistor and record the current
measured.
7. Calculate the theoretical values for voltage across each resistor, voltage at
each node, current through each resistor, and power dissipated by each
resistor using hand calculations (nodal and mesh analysis), and the PSpice
circuit simulation program.
8. Perform an error analysis for the measured versus theoretical voltage and
current values.

VII.

Results, Conclusions and Recommendations

Experiment Part 1:
For part 1 of the experiment, the node voltage measurements very closely
agreed with theoretical results. The maximum error was 0.52%. Table 1 shows
a summary of the theoretical node voltages, the experimental node voltages, and
the percent error. For the voltage across each element, and the current through
each element, the experimental results agreed with theoretical calculations within
an error of 1.07% maximum. Table 2 shows a summary of the measured and
theoretical voltages and currents, the calculated power, and the percent error for
each element in the circuit. Figure 4 shows the results of a bias point analysis
performed on the circuit using the PSpice circuit simulation software. A
comparison of the sum of the power released by the two voltage sources (-2.203
mW) to the sum of the power absorbed by the four resistors (2.203 mW),
indicates that the circuit obeys the law of conservation of energy.
Node

Calculated
Voltage
(V)

Measured
Voltage
(V)

Error
Analysis
(%)

-4.387

-4.410

0.52%

5.613

5.630

0.30%

3.619

3.620

0.03%

5.000

5.020

0.40%

Table 1
(Calculated and Experimental Node Voltages, and Error Analysis for Experiment
Part 1)

Resistance
()

Current
Thru
Element
(mA)

Power
Released
or
Absorbed
(mW)

Measured
Voltage
(V)

Measured
Current
(mA)

Error
Analysis
(Voltage)
(%)

Error
Analysis
(Current)
(%)

10.000

n/a

0.199

-1.994

10.05

0.201

0.50%

0.80%

V2

5.000

n/a

0.042

-0.209

5.02

0.0414

0.40%

1.07%

R1

1.994

10000

0.199

0.398

2.01

0.201

0.80%

0.80%

R2

3.619

15000

0.241

0.873

3.62

0.243

0.03%

0.72%

R3

4.387

22000

0.199

0.875

4.4

0.201

0.30%

0.80%

R4

1.381

33000

0.042

0.058

1.39

0.0414

0.65%

1.07%

Ref.
Des.

Voltage
Across
Element
(V)

V1

Table 2
(Calculated and Experimental Data, and Error Analysis for Experiment Part 1)

3.619V
5.613V

R1

199.4uA

241.3uA

R4

10k

5.000V
41.85uA

33k
57.80uW

397.6uW
V1
10Vdc

V2
R2

-1.994mW

15k
873.1uW

874.8uW
R3
199.4uA
-4.387V

22k

5Vdc
-209.3uW

Vance Willis
ENGR2001-02
10/6/2005
Lab #4
Report

0V
199.4uA

41.85uA

Figure 4
(Results of PSpice Computer Simulation for Experiment Part 1)

Experiment Part 2:
For part 2 of the experiment, the node voltage measurements also closely
agreed with theoretical calculations. The maximum error was 0.60%. Table 3
shows a summary of the theoretical node voltages, the experimental node
voltages, and the percent error. For the voltage across each element, and the
current through each element, the experimental results agreed with theoretical
calculations within an error of 3.15% maximum. Table 4 shows a summary of the
measured and theoretical voltages and currents, the calculated power, and the
percent error for each element in the circuit. Figure 5 shows the results of a bias
point analysis performed on the circuit using the PSpice circuit simulation
software. A comparison of the sum of the power released by the two voltage
sources (-4.784 mW) to the sum of the power absorbed by the five resistors
(4.781 mW), indicates that the circuit obeys the law of conservation of energy.

Node

Calculated
Voltage
(V)

Measured
Voltage
(V)

Error
Analysis
(%)

10

10.06

0.60%

5.761

5.77

0.16%

4.891

4.91

0.39%

5.02

0.40%

Table 3
(Calculated and Experimental Node Voltages, and Error Analysis for Experiment
Part 2)

Resistance
()

Current
Thru
Element
(mA)

Power
Released
or
Absorbed
(mW)

Measured
Voltage
(V)

Measured
Current
(mA)

Error
Analysis
(Voltage)
(%)

Error
Analysis
(Current)
(%)

10

n/a

0.424

-4.239

10.06

0.427

0.60%

0.73%

V2

n/a

0.109

-0.545

5.02

0.109

0.40%

0.00%

R1

4.239

10000

0.424

1.797

4.27

0.427

0.73%

0.73%

R2

5.761

15000

0.384

2.213

5.78

0.387

0.33%

0.76%

R3

0.87

22000

0.040

0.034

0.866

0.0383

0.46%

3.15%

R4

4.891

33000

0.148

0.725

4.91

0.149

0.39%

0.53%

R5

0.109

1000

0.109

0.012

0.108

0.109

0.92%

0.00%

Ref.
Des.

Voltage
Across
Element
(V)

V1

Table 4
(Calculated and Experimental Data, and Error Analysis for Experiment Part 2)

10

10.00V

5.762V

423.8uA

R1

39.59uA

10k
1.796mW
V1
10Vdc

-4.238mW

4.891V
R3
22k

5.000V

148.2uA

R5
1k

34.49uW

108.6uA

11.80uW

384.2uA

V2

R2

R4

15k

33k

2.214mW

5Vdc
-543.1uW

Vance Willis
ENGR2001-02
10/6/2005
Lab #4
Report

725.0uW
0V

423.8uA

108.6uA

Figure 5
(Results of PSpice Computer Simulation for Experiment Part 2)

Experiment Parts 1 and 2:

All errors experienced during the two parts of this experiment can be mostly
attributed to the resistors used in the experiment not being exactly at nominal
resistance, and the accuracy of the power supplys voltage signal. To increase
the accuracy of the experiment, the resistors could be individually tested for
resistance, and the actual resistance values used in the calculations.
Additionally, the calculations could be repeated using the true voltage levels
being supplied by the power supply. It should also be noted that, for the
experiment, a 33 k resistor was not available, so a series resistor circuit
consisting of a 22 k, a 10 k, and a 1 k resistor was used instead.

11

APPENDIX A
Data

Node

Measured
Voltage
(V)

-4.410

5.630

3.620

5.020

Table 5
(Measured Data for Experiment Part 1 Node Voltages)

Ref.
Des.

Resistance
()

Measured
Voltage
(V)

Measured
Current
(mA)

V1

n/a

10.05

0.201

V2

n/a

5.02

0.0414

R1

10000

2.01

0.201

R2

15000

3.62

0.243

R3

22000

4.4

0.201

R4

33000

1.39

0.0414

Table 6
(Measured Data for Experiment Part 1 Voltage & Currents for Each Element)

12

Node

Measured
Voltage
(V)

10.06

5.77

4.91

5.02

Table 7
(Measured Data for Experiment Part 2 Node Voltages)

Ref.
Des.

Resistance
()

Measured
Voltage
(V)

Measured
Current
(mA)

V1

n/a

10.06

0.427

V2

n/a

5.02

0.109

R1

10000

4.27

0.427

R2

15000

5.78

0.387

R3

22000

0.866

0.0383

R4

33000

4.91

0.149

R5

1000

0.108

0.109

Table 8
(Measured Data for Experiment Part 2 Voltage & Currents for Each Element)

13

APPENDIX B
Formulas, Sample Calculations, and Error Analysis
Formulas:
theoretical measured
*100
% error =
theoretical

v = ir

i=

p = vi
N

i
n =1

v
m =1

v
r

r=

(percent error)

v
i

(Ohms Law)
(Power)

=0

(Kirchhoffs current law)

=0

(Kirchhoffs voltage law)

Calculations:
Example calculations shown here are for experiment part 2 nodal analysis.
v1 = 10 V
v v3
v 2 v1
v2
+
+ 2
=0
10000 15000 22000
v3 v 2
v3
v v4
+
+ 3
=0
22000 33000 1000
v4 = 5 V
v 2 = 5.761 V

(Voltage at node 1)
(Equation for voltage at node 2)
(Equation for voltage at node 3)
(Voltage at node 4)
(Solution of equations to yield voltage at
node 2)
(Solution of equations to yield voltage at
node 3)

v3 = 4.891 V
4.239
= 0.424 10 3 A
10000
p = (4.239)(0.424 10 3 ) = 0.001797 W

i=

% error =

4.239 4.27
4.239

(Current for element R1)

(Power for element R1)

* 100 = 0.73%

(Percent error)

14

APPENDIX C
References
Alexander, Charles K. and Matthew Sadiku, Fundamentals of Electric Circuits, 2nd
Edition, McGraw Hill, 2004.
Berry, Dr. Carlotta A. Circuits I Lab Study Guide for ENGR2001. Tennessee State
University

15