ELT221

Nodal & Loop Analysis

- Nodal Analysis
- Loop Analysis
- Mesh Analysis
EP
Revision
12/9/14

Enzo Paterno 1
 NODAL ANALYSIS
ELT221

In a nodal analysis, the variables in the circuit are selected to be

the node voltages. The node voltages are defined with respect to a common
point in the circuit (i.e. ground) and assumed to be positive voltages.
For example the circuit below has four node voltages, (VS , Va , Vb , Vc )
with respect to the ground node.
+  VS Va Vb Vc
R
I + -

Once the node voltages in a circuit are defined , we can calculate the current
through any resistive element using Ohm’s law:
VN + − VN −
Enzo Paterno I = 2
R
 NODAL ANALYSIS
ELT221

In a nodal analysis, KCL equations are used so that the variables

are the unknown node voltages. For a network consisting of N nodes, N ─ 1
Linearly Independent, (LI), KCL equations are required to determine the N ─ 1
node voltages (i.e. Nth node is ground).

Example:
3 nodes 
2 LI equations
required

@ v1 : i A = i1 + i2 @ v2 : i2 = iB + i3 ⇒ i2 − i3 = iB
V1 V1 − V2 V1 − V2 V2
+ = iA − = iB
R1 R2 R2 R3
1 1 1 V1 1 1
V1  +  − V2   = i A − V2  +  = iB
 R1 R2   R2  R2  R2 R3 
Enzo Paterno 3
 NODAL ANALYSIS
ELT221

Let R1 = 12 kΩ, R2 = 6 kΩ, R3 = 6 kΩ, IA = 1 MA, and IB = 4 mA.

@ v1 : @ v2 :
1 1 1 1 1 1
V1  +  − V2   = i A V1   − V2  +  = iB
 R1 R2   R2   R2   R2 R3 
 1 1 1 1 1 1
V1  +  − V2   = 1x10 −3 V1   − V2  +  = 4 x10 −3
12k 6k   6k   6k   6k 6k 
1 −1 1 −1
V1 + V2 = 1x10 −3 V1 + V2 = 4 x10 −3
4k 6k 6k 3k
Enzo Paterno 4
 NODAL ANALYSIS
ELT221

1 −1
V1 + V2 = 1x10 −3
4k 6k
1 −1
V1 + V2 = 4 x10 −3
6k 3k
TI-83 Plus
We have a 2x2 linear system. Solve for V1 and V2.
How do we solve an n x n linear system?

 Method of substitution
 Method of elimination
 Gaussian elimination
 Cramer’s rule
 Matrix SW calculator
 MATLAB software tool
 JAVA Applet Enzo Paterno 5
 GAUSSIAN ELIMINATION
ELT221

Two simultaneous linear equations form a 2x2 linear system:

A x1 + B x2 = K1
C x1 + D x2 = K2
This 2x2 linear system can be represented in matrix form:

 A B   x1   K1 
[ ][ ] [ ]
C D   x  =  K  → M x = K
   2  2

M is a square matrix, x and K are column matrices (vectors)

Using matrix theory, the solution to this linear system can be found by:

[x] = [M ] [K ]
−1 [M]-1 is the inverse of matrix [M]
Enzo Paterno 6
 GAUSSIAN ELIMINATION
ELT221

Below is a general system of m equations with n unknowns:

This system can be expressed as a matrix equation: Ax = b

The system solution is given by: x = A-1 b

Enzo Paterno 7
 MATRIX ALGEBRA REVIEW
ELT221

 A11 A12 
(Amn Bnr = Cmr) A= 
m r n  A 21 A 22 
Matrix ∑∑∑ a b ik kj
det( A) = A = ( A11 A22) − ( A21 A12)
Multiplication i =1 j =1 k =1

T
Transpose A = (aij )mxn 
A→ B = (bij ) = (aji )nxm
m
Determinant det( A) = A = ∑ a1kckj
k =1
i+ j  A11 A12 
Cij = (−1) A=
A22 
Cofactor Mij  A21
Adj ( A)
−1 1  A22 − A12 
A =
−1
= − A21 A11 
Inverse A
A A 

Adj ( A) = [C ]
T Enzo Paterno 8
Adjoint
 NODAL ANALYSIS – GAUSSIAN ELIMINATION
ELT221

1 −1
V1 + V2 = 1x10 −3
4k 6k
1 −1
V1 + V2 = 4 x10 −3
6k 3k
−1
1 − 1 1 − 1
 4k   V  1x10 −3  V1   4k 6k   1x10 −3

6k  1  = V  =  1 − 1 4 x10 −3 
1 − 1 V  4 x10 −3   2   
   2
 6k 3k   6k 3k 

V  6 − 3  1x10 −3   − 6  V1 = - 6 V
V1  =    −3 
= 
 2   3 − 4 . 5 4 x10   − 15  V2 = - 15 V
Enzo Paterno 9
 NODAL ANALYSIS – CRAMER’S RULE
ELT221

1 −1
V1 + V2 = 1x10 −3
4k 6k
1 −1
V1 + V2 = 4 x10 −3
6k 3k

−1 1
1x10 −3 1x10 −3
6k 4k
−1 1
4 x10 −3 4 x10 −3
V1 = 3k = −6 V
V2 = 6k = −15 V
1 −1 1 −1
4k 6k 4k 6k
1 −1 1 −1
6k 3k 6k 3k
Enzo Paterno 10
 NODAL ANALYSIS
ELT221
VS Va Vb Vc

Vs is a constant

Vs = 12 v
Vb − Vc Vc
@ VC : =
9k 3k
@ Va : I1 = I 2 + I 3 @ Vb : I 3 = I 4 + I 5 1 1 1
− I1 + I 2 + I 3 = 0 Vb − Vc  +  = 0
− I3 + I 4 + I5 = 0 9k  9k 3k 
Va − Vs Va Va − Vb Vb − Va Vb Vb − Vc
+ + =0 + + =0
9k 6k 3k 3k 4k 9k
 1 1 1  Vb Vs 1  1 1 1  Vc
Va  + +  − = − Va + Vb  + +  =
 9k 6k 3k  3k 9k 3k  3k 4k 9k  9k
Enzo Paterno 11
 NODAL ANALYSIS
ELT221

V1 = 12 V
V3 = −6 V

V2 − V1 V2 V2 − V3
+ + =0
12k 6k 12k

V2 − V1 + 2V2 + V2 − V3 = 0
V1 =12 V 4V2 = 12 + (−6) = 6 V
V3 = -6 V V2 = 1.5 V
Only one KCL needed

Enzo Paterno 12
 NODAL ANALYSIS
ELT221

V1

V2 V3

Enzo Paterno 13
 NODAL ANALYSIS
ELT221

@ V1 : I1 = I 2 + I 3
V1
12 − V1 V1 − V3 V1 − V2
= +
I1 I2 4k 8k 6k
I3 72 − 6V1 = 3V1 − 3V3 + 4V1 − 4V2
V2
Eq1 : 13V1 − 4V2 − 3V3 = 72
V3

Enzo Paterno 14
 NODAL ANALYSIS
ELT221

@ V2 : I 3 = I 4 + I 5
V1
V1 − V2 V2 − V3 V2
= +
6k 4k 8k
I3 4V1 − 4V2 = 6V2 − 6V3 + 4V2
V2
Eq 2 : 4V1 − 13V2 + 6V3 = 0
V3

I4
I5

Enzo Paterno 15
 NODAL ANALYSIS
ELT221

@ V3 : I 4 + I 2 = I 6
V1
V2 − V3 V1 − V3 V3
+ =
I2 4k 8k 8k
2V2 − 2V3 + V1 − V3 = V3
V2
Eq3 : V1 + 2V2 − 4V3 = 0
V3

I4 I6

Enzo Paterno 16
 NODAL ANALYSIS
ELT221

Eq1 : 13V1 − 4V2 − 3V3 = 72

Eq 2 : 4V1 − 13V2 + 6V3 = 0
Eq3 : V1 + 2V2 − 4V3 = 0

13 − 4 − 3 V1  72

 4 − 13 6  V  =  0 
  2   
 1 2 − 4 V3   0  −1
V1  13 − 4 − 3 72
V  =  4 − 13 6   0 
 2    
V3   1 2 − 4  0 
Vo = V2 − V3
Enzo Paterno 17
 NODAL ANALYSIS
ELT221

V1 = 7.78v
V2 = 4.32v
V3 = 4.10v
V0 = 0.22v

Enzo Paterno 18
 NODAL ANALYSIS – Circuits with independent current sources
ELT221

Suppose that the network below has the following parameters:

IA = 1 mA, IB = 4 mA, R1 = 12 kΩ, R2 = 6 kΩ, R3 = 6 kΩ. Determine all node
voltages and branch currents.

@ V1 : I A = I1 + I 2 @ V2 : I 2 = I B + I 3 ⇒ I B = I 2 − I 3
v1 v1 − v2 v1 − v2 1
IA = + IB = − v2
R1 R2 R2 R3

1 1  1  1 1 
1
I A =  + v1 − v2 I B = − v1 −  + v2
 R1 R2  R2 R2  R2 R3 
Enzo Paterno 19
 NODAL ANALYSIS – Circuits with independent current sources
ELT221

R1 = 12 kΩ, R2 = 6 kΩ, R3 = 6 kΩ
@ V1 : I A = I1 + I 2 @ V2 : I 2 = I B + I 3 ⇒ I B = I 2 − I 3
v v −v v1 − v2 1
IA = 1 + 1 2 IB = − v2
R1 R2 R2 R3
1 1  1 1  1 1 
 
I A =  + v1 − v2 
I A = − v1 −  + v2
 R1 R2  R2 R2  R2 R3 

 1 1  1 1  1 1 
 + v1 − v2 = 1 x 10 −3 − v1 −  + v2 = −4 x 10 −3
 12k 6k  6k 6k  6k 6k 

Enzo Paterno 20
 NODAL ANALYSIS – Circuits with independent current sources
ELT221

−3 −1
V1   .25 x10 −3
− .16 x10   1x10 −3 
V  =    
 2  − .16 x10
−3
.33 x10 −3  − 4 x10 −3 
Enzo Paterno 21
 NODAL ANALYSIS – Circuits with independent current sources
ELT221

Inverse

-6
-15

Enzo Paterno 22
 NODAL ANALYSIS – Circuits with independent current sources
ELT221

Figure 3.5
Enzo Paterno 23
 NODAL ANALYSIS – SUPERNODE
ELT221

Consider the network below. To eliminate the problem of dealing

with a current through a voltage source, we generate a dashed surface which
here includes the 6v voltage source and is called a supernode,
The KCL for the supernode is:

6mA = I1 + I2 + 4 mA
𝑉1 𝑉2
Eq1: + = 2mA
6𝑘 12𝑘

Eq2: V1 – V2 = 6v
V1 = 6 + V2

Sub Eq3 into Eq1:

V2 = 4v
Enzo Paterno 24
V1 = 10v
 MESH LOOP ANALYSIS
ELT221

In a loop analysis, the variables in the circuit are selected to be

the branch currents and KVL equations are used so that the variables are the
unknown currents. The number of LI KVL equations necessary to determine
all the currents in a network with B branches, N nodes is: B – N + 1.
For example the circuit below requires 7 – 6 + 1 = 2 LI KVL. We identify two
independent mesh loops ABEF and BCDE.
A mesh is a loop that does not contain any other loop within it.

Enzo Paterno 25
 MESH LOOP ANALYSIS
ELT221

@ ABEF :
vS 1 − i1 R1 − i1 R3 + i2 R3 − i1 R2 = 0 + -
− i1 R1 − i1 R2 − i1 R3 + i2 R3 = −vS 1
- +
− i1 (R1 + R2 + R3 ) + i2 R3 = −vS 1

@ BCDE :
− i1 (R1 + R2 + R3 ) + i2 R3 = −vS 1 − vS 2 − i2 R4 − i2 R5 − i2 R3 + i1 R3 = 0
+ i1 R3 − i2 (R3 + R4 + R5 ) = vS 2 + i1 R3 − i2 R4 − i2 R5 − i2 R3 = vS 2
+ i1 R3 − i2 (R3 + R4 + R5 ) = vS 2
− (R1 + R2 + R3 ) R3   i1  − vS 1 
    = 
 R3 − ( R3 + R 4 + R )
5  2 
i  S2 
v
Enzo Paterno 26
 MESH LOOP ANALYSIS
ELT221

Use Mesh analysis to solve for I1 and I2.

12 − 6k i1 − 6k i1 + 6k i2 = 0 − 3 − 6k i2 + 6k i1 − 3k i2 = 0
12k i1 − 6k i2 = 12 6k i1 − 9k i2 = 3
12k i1 − 6k i2 = 12 12k i1 − 6k i2 = 12
6k i1 − 9k i2 = 3 − 12k i1 + 18k i2 = −6
6 15 12k i2 = 6
i2 = = 0.5 mA i1 = = 1.25 mA
12k 12k
Enzo Paterno 27
 MESH LOOP ANALYSIS
ELT221

Use Mesh analysis to solve for I1 and I2.

12k i1 − 6k i2 = 12
6k i1 − 9k i2 = 3
− 6k   i1  12
−1  i1 
12k 12 − 6 12  k  1.25 
 6k    =   6 − 9  3  = i  = 0.50 mA
 − 9k  i2   3      2   
Enzo Paterno
 k  28
 MESH LOOP ANALYSIS
ELT221

Use Mesh analysis to solve for I1 and I2.

12k i1 − 6k i2 = 12
6k i1 − 9k i2 = 3
0.012 − 6 12 0.012
k k
0.003 − 9 − 0.09 i2 =
6 0.003
= 0.5 mA
i1 = = = 1.25 mA
12 − 6 − 72 12 −6
k k
6 −9 Enzo Paterno 6 −9 29
 MESH LOOP ANALYSIS
ELT221

PSPICE Simulation

Enzo Paterno 30
 MESH LOOP ANALYSIS
ELT221

Use Mesh analysis to solve for I1 and I2.

+ +

+ +
+
V
- i1 i2
+

Mesh1 Mesh2

Mesh1: Mesh2:
100 − 7.5k i1 − 5k i1 + 5k i2 = 0 − 3k i2 − 2k i2 − 5k i2 + 5k i1 = 0
+ 12.5k i1 − 5k i2 = 100 + 5k i1 − 10k i2 = 0

Enzo Paterno 31
 MESH LOOP ANALYSIS
ELT221

+ 12.5k i1 − 5k i2 = 100 2x2 determinant

+ 5k i1 − 10k i2 = 0 a b
= ad − bc
c d
We use Cramer’s rule to find the currents i1 and i2:

100 − 5k 12.5k 100

0 − 10k
i1 = = 10 mA i2 =
5k 0
= 5 mA
12.5k − 5k 12.5k − 5k
5k − 10k 5k − 10k
Remark:
This step could have been solved using Elimination by addition or Elimination
by substitution techniques
Enzo Paterno 32
 MESH LOOP ANALYSIS
ELT221

Use Ohm’s law to solve for I1 and I2.

i1 i2
+ +

+ +
+
V
- i2
+

RT = 7.5k + [ 5k // (3k + 2k) ] = 10k

I1 = 100v / 10k = 10 mA

I2 = 10 mA / 2 = 5 mA
Enzo Paterno 33
 MESH LOOP ANALYSIS
ELT221

Use Mesh analysis to solve for VOUT.

V2
+
+ + +
V1 i1 i2 VOUT
+ -

Mesh1 Mesh2

Mesh1: Mesh2:
V1 − i1 (1) − i1 (1) + i2 (1) = 0 V2 − i2 (2) − i2 (1) + i1 (1) = 0
+ 2i1 − i2 = V1 − i1 + 3i2 = V2

Enzo Paterno 34
 MESH LOOP ANALYSIS
ELT221

+ 2i1 − i2 = V1
− i1 + 3i2 = V2
VOUT = 2 i2. We use Cramer’s rule to find the current i2:

2 V1
− 1 V2 1 2
i2 = = V1 + V2
2 −1 5 5
−1 3
2 4
∴VOUT = i 2 R 3 = 2i 2 = V1 + V2
5 5
If V1 = V2 = 10 v then VOUT = 4 + 8 = 12 V
Enzo Paterno 35
 MESH LOOP ANALYSIS
ELT221

Use Mesh analysis to solve for I1, I2, and I3.

1: − 6 − 4k i1 − 6k i1 + 6k i3 = 0
− 10k i1 + 6k i3 = 6
+
+ 2: + 6 − 3k i2 + 3k i3 − 9k i2 = 0
+
+ 12k i2 − 3k i3 = 6
+
3: − 6k i3 + 6k i1 − 12k i3 − 3k i3 + 3k i2 = 0

− 10k 0 6k   i1  6 + 6k i1 + 3k i2 − 21k i3 = 0

 0 − 3k  i2  = 6 −1 6 
 12k  i1  − 10 0 6 
 k
 6k 3k − 21k  i3  0 i  =  0 12 − 3  6 
 2    k
i3   6 3 − 21  0 
Enzo Paterno 36
 MESH LOOP ANALYSIS
ELT221

 i1  − 10 0 6 
−1 6 
i  =  0 12 − 3   k
 2   6 
i3   6  k
3 − 21  0 

Enzo Paterno 37
 MESH LOOP ANALYSIS
ELT221

 i1  − 10 0 6 
−1 6 
i  =  0 12 − 3   k i1 = -0.678 mA
 2   6  i2 = 0.468 mA
i3   6  k
3 − 21  0 
i3 = -0.126 mA

Enzo Paterno 38
 MESH LOOP ANALYSIS
ELT221

Use Mesh analysis to solve Vo.

There are two mesh currents.

2: + 2 − 6k i2 − 2k i2 + 2k i1 = 0 I1 is known & only one mesh
− 2k i1 + 8k i2 = 2 equation is needed for I2.

I1 = 2 mA

− 4 + 8k i2 = 2
Vo = 0.75 mA (6kΩ) = 4.5 v
6
i2 = = 0.75 mA Enzo Paterno 39
8k
 MESH LOOP ANALYSIS
ELT221

Use Mesh analysis to solve Vo.

There are three mesh currents.

I1 and I2 are known.
+
Only one mesh equation is needed
+ for I3.

+ + 3 − 4k i3 + 4k i2 − 2k i3 + 2k i1 − 6k i3 = 0
+ − 2k i1 − 4k i2 + 12k i3 = 3
I1 = 4 mA
I2 = -2 mA

− 8 + 8 + 12k i3 = 3
3
i3 = = 0.25 mA
Vo = - [0.25 mA (6kΩ) ] + 3 = 1.5 v
12k
Enzo Paterno 40
 One could have used SuperMesh
MESH LOOP ANALYSIS (take out the 4 mA )
ELT221

Use Mesh analysis to solve for I1, I2, and I3.

@3: + 6 − 1k i3 − Vx − 1k i3 + 1k i1 = 0
Eq1: Vx = +6 − 2k i3 + 1k i1

+
+ @2: Vx − 2k i2 − 2k i2 + 2k i1 = 0
+ Eq2: Vx = 4k i2 − 2k i1
+ Eq1 Eq2

+ 6 − 2k i3 + 1k i1 = Vx = 4k i2 − 2k i1
4k (4mA + i3 ) − 6 − 6 − 2k i3 = 4k i2 − 2k i1 − 1k i1 − 6
i3 =
− 2k
4k i2 − 3k i1 − 6
4 + 4k i3 −2 i3 =
i3 = ⇒ i3 = mA − 2k
− 2k 3
I1 = 2 mA
Enzo Paterno We see that 4mA = I2 – I3 41
I2 = (4 - 2/3) = 3.33 mA