DC Circuits

LECTURE 5

Nodal Analysis

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Nodal analysis
A node of a network is defined as a point where two or more
branches are joined. If three or more branches join at a node, then that node
is called a principal node or junction. In the below Figure, points 1, 2, 3, 4
and 5 are nodes, and points 1, 2 and 3 are principal nodes.
A node voltage is the voltage of a particular node with respect to a
node called the reference node. Node 3 is chosen as the reference node.
The objective of nodal analysis is to determine the values of
voltages at all the principal nodes with respect to the reference node.

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The first step in nodal analysis is selecting a node as the reference or datum
node. The reference node is commonly called the ground.

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Calculate the node voltages in the given network.

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Method 1: Elimination Technique

Method 2: Cramer’s Rule

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I3

I1

I2

I1+I2+I3=0
(V1/10)+ (V1-V2)/5 + (V1-V3)/20 = 0 (1)
(V2-V1)/5 + (V2 - V3)/10 =10 (2)
(V3-V1)/20 + V3/5 + (V3-V2)/10 = 0 (3)

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 V1 V2

(V1-V2)/6 + V1/12 = 1 (1)

(V2-V1)/6 + V2/6 + 4 = 0 (2)
V1=-6 V V2=-15 V

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(V1-V2)/6 + V1/12 = 1 (1)
(V2-V1)/6 + V2/6 + 4 = 0 (2)
V1=-6 V V2=-15 V

I(6OHM) = (V1-V2)/6 = 1.5 A

I(12 OHM) = V1/12 = -0.5A
I (6 OHM) = V2/6 = -2.5A

V=IR; 0.5 X 12 = 6V
1.5A

2.5A

0.5 A

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Circuits with Independent voltage sources
(a) If the voltage sources are connected to the reference node

V2
V3
V1

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V1 = 12V V3=-6V
APPLY KCL AT NODE 2
(V2-V1)/12 + (V2-V3)/12 + I0 = 0

(V2-V1)/12 + (V2-V3)/12 + V2/6 = 0 (1)

V2=1.5 V

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(b) If the voltage source are connected between two unreferenced nodes

V3-V2=22V
V3= V2+22 (1)

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Since we can not express the current through the voltage source in term of node voltages,
we combine the two nodes 2 and 3 as one supernode and relate one of the node voltages
(V2 or V3) in term of the other one as follows:

(V2-V1)/(1/3) + V2/1 + (V2+22)/ (1/5) + ((V2+22)-V1)/ (1/4) =3 +25 (1)

(V1-V2)/ (1/3) + (V1-(V2+22))/(1/4) +8+3 = 0 (2)

V1=--4.5 V V2=--15.5 V

V3 = V2+22 = 6.5 V
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To find current is through 22V source

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Case #3 Nodal Analysis for Circuits with Dependent Sources
(a) Nodal Analysis for Circuits with Dependent Current Sources
Find the node voltages for the following circuit:

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(b) Nodal Analysis for Circuits with Dependent Voltage Sources

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Reference:
• Electrical Circuit Theory and Technology – John Bird.
• Fundamentals of Electric Circuits - Charles K. Alexander, Matthew N.
O. Sadiku

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