MAXWELL ANALYSIS

Definition: “A set of independent loop currents assigned to as many meshes exist in the circuit,
and then currents are employed in connection with appropriate resistances when the Kirchhoff
voltage law equation are written”.

R1 1 R2 2 R3

I1 I2 I3
Ix Iy
E1 ia R x ib R y ic E2

i a ,i b , i c-------called mesh currents called mesh

I 1=i a
I 2=i b
I 3=−i c negative sign since the direction of i c is in opposite direction with I 3
I x =i a−ib ----i a is in the same direction with I x but i b is in opposite direction with I x
I y =i b−i c ----i b is in the same direction with I y but i c is in opposite direction with I y

@mesh a:
−E1 +i a ( R1+ Rx ) −Rx i b=0 ------eqn 1
The i a and i b are both affected by the resistance R x ,so we subtract mesh current multiply by
the connected resistance ( R x i b )
@mesh b:
i b ( R 2+ R x + R y ) −i a R x −i c R y =0 ------eqn 2
The i a and i b are both affected by resistance R x also i b and i c are both affected by R y
@mesh c:
E2 +i c ( R 3+ R y )−i b R y =0 ------eqn 3
The i b and i c are both affected by R y
Note: Take the sign of voltage source that first touch by the mesh plus the mesh current
multiply by the summation of all connected resistances pass by the arrow minus the mesh
currents multiply by the resistances that connected to both mesh currents.

Example 1. Solve for I in the figure below.

2Ω
I
5Ω 10 Ω

10V 6Ω 5V

Solution:
Combine the parallel 2Ω and 10Ω:
(2)(10) 20 5
R¿ = = = Ω
2+10 12 3

5
5Ω Ω
3
I1 I2
I3
10V ix 6Ω i y 5V
@mesh x:
−10+i x ( 5+6 ) −i y ( 6 )=0
11 i x −6 i y =10 --------(1)
@mesh y:
5
( )
5+i y 6+ −i x ( 6 )=0
3
23
−6 i x + i y =−5 --------(2)
3
Multiply 3 to equation (2) so that we can eliminate denominator
23
(−6 i x + i y =−5)3
3
−18 i x +23 i y =−15 --------(3)
Multiply eqn (1) by 18 and eqn (3) by 11
( 11ix −6 i y =10 ) 18
198 i x −108 i y =180 -------(1’)
(−18 i x +23 i y =−15 ) 11
−198 i x +253 i y =−156 -------(3’)
Add eqn (1’) to eqn (3’)
198 i x −108 i y =180
−198 i x +253 i y =−165
145 i y =15
15
i y= A
145
But, I 2=−i y
−15
Then, I 2= A
145
Using current divider:
−15 10
I= ( )(
145 2+ 10 )
150
¿−
1,740
5
¿− A∨−0.086 A -------answer
58

Example 2. Solve for I 3 in the figure shown.

1Ω i2 2Ω
3Ω

I3
7V i1
6V i3 1Ω

2Ω

Note: You will be the one to identify the numbers or letter of the mesh currents as long as the
variables in the solution will coincide with the variables of the figure.

Solution:
I 3=i 3−i 2
@mesh 1:
−7+6 +i 1 ( 1+2 )−i 2 ( 1 ) −i3 ( 2 )=0
−1+3 i 1−i 2−2i 3=0
3 i 1−i 2−2i 3=1 -------(1)
@mesh 2:
i 2 ( 1+2+3 ) −i1 ( 1 )−i 3 (3 )=0
−i 1+ 6 i2 −3i 3=0 --------(2)
@mesh 3:
−6+i 3 ( 3+1+2 )−i 1 ( 2 ) −i 2 ( 3 )=0
−2 i1 −3i 2 +6 i 3=6 ------(3)
Note: You may use any method in solving three equation three unknown.

Using Elimination of variables:

Add eqn (1) to eqn (2) times 3 to eliminate i 1:
3 i 1−i 2−2i 3=1
−3 i 1+18 i 2−9 i 3=0
17 i 2−11i 3=1 -------(4)

Multiply eqn (2) by 2 then subtract eqn (3) to eliminate i 1:

−2 i1 +12 i 2−6 i3 =0
−2 i1 −3i 2 +6 i 3=6
15 i 2−12i 3=−6 --------(5)

Multiply eqn (4) by 15 and eqn (5) by 17

( 17 i 2−11i3=1 ) 15
255 i 2−165 i3 =15 --------------(4’)
( 15 i 2−12i 3=−6 ) 17
255 i 2−204 i 3=−102 --------------(5’)

Subtract eqn (5’) to eqn (4’)

255 i 2−165 i3 =15
255 i 2−204 i 3=−102
39 i 3=117
i 3=3 A

Substitute the value of i 3 to eqn (5) to get the value of i 2

15 i 2−12 ( 3 )=−6
15 i 2−36=−6
15 i 2=−6+36
15 i 2=30
i 2=2 A

Since, I 3=i 3−i 2

Therefore:
I 3=3−2
I 3=1 A ---------answer

Example 3. Determine the current I o in the circuit of figure shown.

Io
 10Ω i2 24Ω
24V i1
4Ω
4I o
12Ω i3

@mesh 1:
−24+ i1 ( 10+12 )−i 2 ( 10 )−i 3 ( 12 )=0
( 22 i 1−10i 2−12 i 3=24 ) divide by 2 (simplifying the equation)
11 i 1−5 i2 −6 i3 =12---------(1)
@mesh 2:
i 2 ( 10+24 +4 )−i 1 (10 )−i 3 ( 4 ) =0
(−10 i 1+ 38i2−4 i3=0 ) divide by 2 (simplifying the equation)
−5 i 1+19 i 2−2 i3 =0---------(2)
@mesh 3:
4 I o +i 3 ( 4+ 12 )−i 1 ( 12 )−i 2 ( 4 )=0
4 I o −12i 1−4 i 2+ 16i 3=0

But, I o=i 1−i 2 since i 1 is in the same direction with I o while i 1 is in opposite direction
Substituting I o;
4 ( i 1−i 2) −12i 1−4 i 2+ 16 i3 =0
4 i1 −4 i 2−12 i 1−4 i 2 +16 i 3=0
(−8 i 1−8 i2 +16 i3 =0 ) divided by 8 (simplifying the equation)
−i 1−i 2+ 2i 3=0 -----------(3)
Note: You may use any method in solving three equation three unknown.
By the use elimination of variables:

Equation (1) minus equation (2) times 3;

11i 1−5 i2 −6 i3 =12
−15 i 1+57 i 2−6 i 3=0
26 i 1−62 i2 =12 -----------(4)

Equation (2) plus equation (3);

−5 i 1+19 i 2−2 i3 =0
−i 1−i 2+ 2i 3=0
−6 i 1+ 18i 2=0 ------------(5)

Equation (4) multiply by 6 plus equation (5) multiply by 26

156 i 1−372i 2=72
−156 i 1+ 468 i2 =0
96 i 2=72
72
i 2= A
96
3
i 2= A∨0.75 A
4
Substitute i 2 to equation (5);
3
−6 i 1+ 18 () 4
=0
27
−6 i 1+ =0
2
 −27
−6 i 1=
2
9
i 1= A∨2.25 A
4
I
Solving o 1−i 2 ;
=i
9 3 6
I o= − = A lowest term
4 4 4
3
I o= A∨1.5 A ---------answer
2