Kirchhoffs Laws, Node and Mesh Analysis GATE Study Material in PDF

In this free GATE Study Material, we discuss about Network Analysis by Kirchhoffs Laws,
Node & Mesh Analysis. Kirchhoffs Law are the two laws enabling easier analysis of an
interconnection of any number of circuit elements.
The first law deals with flow of current and is popularly known as Kirchhoffs Current Law
(KCL) while the second one deals with voltage drop in a closed network and is known as
Kirchhoffs Voltage Laws (KVL). We also learn more about Nodal Analysis and Mesh
Analysis along with concepts like Super Node and Super Mesh. These concepts are
extremely important from the point of view of Network Elements and Electrical Network
in GATE EE. Useful for GATE 2017 as well as other exams such as IES, BSNL, DRDO, BARC
etc. Before you start off with these GATE Notes, however, do make sure you are familiar
with some other concepts beforehand.
You can download these GATE Study Notes as PDF for reference and revision.

Recommended Reading -

Basic Network Theory Concepts

Source Transformation
KCL Kirchhoffs Current Law
The algebraic sum of currents at any node of a circuit is zero

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The direction of incoming currents to a node being ve, the outgoing currents should be
taken +ve. The reverse sense of directions can also be taken.
From the above figure, by KCL
i

i +i +i =0

i +i +i =i +i
i.e. the algebraic sum of currents entering a node must be equal to the algebraic sum
of the currents leaving the node.

Example of Kirchoffs Laws - KCL

Example 1: Find the magnitude and direction of the unknown currents in the below
figure.
Given i1=15A, i2=8A, i5=6A

Solution:
Apply KCL at node a
i1 = i2 + i3
i3 = i1 i2 = 15 8 = 7A
Apply KCL at node b
i2 = i4 + i5
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 i4 = i2 i5 = 8 6 = 2A
Apply KCL at node d
i3 + i4 = i6
i6 = 7 + 2 = 9A
Apply KCL at node c
i7 = i5 + i6 = 6 + 9 = 15A

KVL Kirchhoffs Voltage Law

The algebraic Sum of voltage (or voltage drops) in any closed path of network that is
traversed in a single direction is zero.

Here, the assumed current I causes a +ve drop of voltage when flowing from
+ve to ve potential while ve drop of voltage when current flowing from ve to +ve
for the above circuit, if we apply KVL,
V1 + IR1 + IR2 = 0
I=

Example of Kirchoffs Laws - KVL

Example 2: Find the power delivered by the voltage source in the figure given below.

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Solution:

By KVL,
12 + I(2) + I(1) = 0
I = 4A
Power delivered by source = (12)(4) = 48W

Nodal Analysis
In this method we analysis the network by finding node voltages by keeping one node as
a reference node (take its voltage as ground) with the help KCL equations. If there are
n number nodes are there, then possible nodal equations = (n1)
So using there (n1) equation we can find (n1) node voltages.

Example of Nodal Analysis

Example 3: Using nodal method, find the current through 100

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Solution:
There are two nodes in the network, so possible node equations = n 1 = 2 1 = 1

Node 0 is reference node, let V1 be the node voltage at node 1 with respect to node 0.
Now apply KCL at node 1.
+

=0

V1 = 31.18V
Let I the current flowing through 100resistor.
I=

= 0.31A

Super Node
If a voltage source is connected between two non reference nodes, then we combine
the two nodes as to yield super node. We will discuss with an example.
Note: Always apply mesh analysis of the node.

Example of Super Node

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Example 4: Determine the values of the node voltages, Va and Vb for this circuit.

Solution:

There are 3 nodes, so no. of required equation to get node voltages =3-1=2. But here
we can write only one equation, Apply mesh analysis at super node
Vb Va = 12

(1)

Now we can get the second equation by following method.

Apply KCL to the super node corresponding to the voltage source by combining both the
nodes.
Now apply KCL at super node a b.
1.5 +

+ 3.5 +

Va + 2Vb = 12

=0
(2)

From equations (1) and (2)

Vb = 0V, Va = 12V
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Mesh Analysis
In this method we analyse the network by finding loop currents using KVL equations.
Number of loop equations = n b + 1
where
n = no. of nodes
b = no. of branches.

Example of Mesh Analysis

: In the circuit shown below, find

Solution:
In the above circuit
no. of nodes (n) = 4
no. of branches (b) = 5
no. of loops = b n + 1 = 5 4 + 1 = 2

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V2
V1

using mesh method.

In the loop abcd, let the loop current be I1 and in loop befc it is I2
Apply KVL in loop abcd,
V1+5I1+10(I1 I2 ) = 0
15I1 10I2 = V1

(1)

Apply KVL in loop befc,

2I2 + I2 + 10(I2 I1) = 0
13I2 = 10I1
I =

(2)

From equation (1) and (2)

15

10I = V

39I2 20I2 = 2V1

19I2 = 2V1
but V2 = I21 = I2
19V2 = 2V1

Super Mesh

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If a current source is present at the common boundary of two meshes, then we create a
super mesh by avoiding the current source and any element connected to it in series.
We will discuss with an example.
Note: Always apply nodal analysis at super mesh.

Example of Super Mesh

Example 6: Find the loop current I1 and I2 in the figure shown below

Solution: Here no. of nodes (n) = 4

no. of branches (b) = 5
no. of loop equations required = 2
but we can write only one equation,
Apply nodal analysis at super mesh,
i.e., I2 I1 = 2A

(1)

Now we will write another equation by removing current source

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Apply KVL in a b c f c d
10 + 5I1 + 2I2 + I2 = 0
5I1 + 3I_2 = 10

(2)

From equation (1) and (2)

5I1 + 3(2 + I1) = 10
8I1 = 4 I1 = 0.5A
I2 = 2 + 0.5 = 2.5A

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