Problem 3.

15 Use the supernode concept to find the current Ix in the circuit of

Fig. P3.15.

supernode 2A

6V
V1 V2 0.5 Ω V3
_+
Ix
0.5 Ω 4A
0.5 Ω

Figure P3.15: Circuit for Problem 3.15.

Solution: The presence of a voltage source between designated nodes 1 and 2 makes
the combination of nodes 1 and 2 a supernode. Hence,
V1 V2 V2 −V3
−2+ + = 0. (1)
0.5 0.5 0.5
For node 3,
V3 −V2
− 4 + 2 = 0, (2)
0.5
and the auxiliary equation is
V2 −V1 = 6. (3)
Combining the three equations leads to:

V1 = −2 V, V2 = 4 V, V3 = 5 V.

Hence,
V2 4
Ix = = = 8 A.
0.5 0.5

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