MAT263: CASE STUDY REPORT

APPLICATION OF LINEAR ALGEBRA IN

ELECTRICAL NETWORK

Group : JCS143 4E (E3)

Group Members : SOFEA NUR BATRISYIA BINTI SUHAIZAN
(2019403752)
NURSYAHIRAH BINTI MOHAMED SAID
(2019666798)
NURIN NABILAH BINTI MOHD YAJID
(2019417766)
NURUL AIN BINTI ABD RAHMAN
(2019417346)
Lecturer’s Name : DR. KERK LEE CHANG
Session : MAC – OGOS 2021
INTRODUCTION

Linear algebra is mathematical structure with operation of addition, subtraction,

multiplication and includes the theory of matrices, the system linear equation, determinants,
vector spaces. Other than that, it includes the geometry such as planes, lines and rotations. In
solving the problem calculation in physics, the theory of system linear equation is very suitable
to generate equation and to get the solution. There are a lot of methods of solving a system of
linear equation. As example, Gaussian Elimination Method, Gauss-Jordan Elimination
Method, Inverse of Coefficient Matrix and Cramer's Rule. Electrical network is the
interconnection of electrical component which consists of resistors, inductors, semiconductors
devices, transformers and sources.

In study case, there electric circuit problem involved of 4 resistance and 2 voltages. We
are facing the problem in calculating the currents produced and will be applied the Gaussian
Elimination Method to find the current produced after passed through the resistance to solve
our problem. Gaussian Elimination Method is one of method that used to perform on linear
system of an equation by converting the system of equation into augmented matrix. There are
three ways in Gaussian Elimination Method which is interchanging of two rows, multiplying a
row by a constant and adding a row to another row. In case study we only applied the latter two
of the ways.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this study case are as follow :

 To find the values for each current after passes through the resistance
 To prove by using Gaussian Elimination Method to find the currents
METHODOLOGY

Consider the electric circuit shown below:

Determine the currents I₁, I₂, I₃ in the circuit given

𝐼₃

To solve this question, we decided to apply Gaussian Elimination Method to determine the
currents which are 𝐼1 , 𝐼2, 𝐼3 . It is a method for resolving a system of linear equations with a
single solution. Kirchhoff's Laws are a set of laws that describe the flow of current in a circuit
and how voltage varies across a loop in a circuit. To obtain the first equation we use Kirchhoff’s
first Laws and for the second and the third equation we use Kirchhoff Second Law. The steps
used to solve the problem will be presented in next section.
RESULT

Seven steps are needed to find the solution. First, we apply Kirchhoff’s first Law of the nodes
B or C, we find 𝐼1 = 𝐼2 + 𝐼3 . In other words :

𝐼1 − 𝐼2 − 𝐼3 = 0 1

Then, we apply Kirchhoff” s second Law to the loops BDCB and BCAB, we obtain the
equations,

4𝐼2 − 10 𝐼3 = 15 2

4𝐼2 + 5𝐼1 + 2𝐼1 = 10

4𝐼2 + 7 𝐼1 = 10 3

From the previous steps a linear system of three equations is obtained :

𝐼1 − 𝐼2 – 𝐼3 =0

7𝐼1 + 4𝐼2 = 10

4𝐼2 − 10𝐼3 = 15
Next, we form the augmented matrix of the above system,

1 −1 −1 0
(7 4 0 |15)
0 4 −10 10

Thus, we use elementary row operations on the augmented matrix until get a row echelon
matrix

1 −1 −1 0 1 −1 −1 0
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗1
(7 4 0 |15) −7𝑅1 + 𝑅2 → 𝑅2 (0 11 7 |10) 𝑅2 → 𝑅2
11
0 0 −10 10 0 4 −10 15

1 −1 −1 0 1 −1 −1 0
7 10
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
−4𝑅2 + 𝑅3 → 𝑅3 (0 1
7 10 11
(0 1 | ) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
11 11
11 | 11 ) − 138 𝑅3 → 𝑅3
138 125
0 4 −10 15 0 0 − 11 11

1 −1 −1 100
7
(0 1 11
| 11 )
125
0 0 1 − 138

After that, convert the row echelon matrix to a system of linear equations.

𝐼1 − 𝐼2 − 𝐼3 = 0

7 10
𝐼2 + 𝐼 =
11 3 11

125
𝐼3 = − 138
Lastly, solve the system by using back substitution, and we can finally find the currents,𝐼1 , 𝐼2,
𝐼3

125
𝐼3 = −
138

205
𝐼2 =
138

40
𝐼1 =
69
DISCUSSION

An electric circuit is a path for transmitting electric current. It consists of a device that
provides energy to be charged particles that constitute the current. Electric currents are
commonly found or used in buildings such as house, office and mall for lightings, air-
conditioners, refrigerators and so on. This model of electric circuit is to describe and analyse
the flow of charges in electric current.

Kirchhoff’s Laws are set of laws that quantify how current flows through a circuit and
how voltage varies around a loop in a circuit. It used to govern the conservation of charge and
energy in standards electrical circuits. For this problem, we use Gaussian Elimination Method
125 205 40
with these laws and we got − 138 for 𝐼3 , for 𝐼2 and for 𝐼1 . As we can see that all the
138 69

currents have small values. This result can lead to the saving of electricity consumptions. For
the negative current 𝐼3 , it means that the current 𝐼3 flows 0.5 A in the direction opposite we
assumed. The power of current 𝐼3 always flows from the battery to a load. It is because of the
power dissolute on the ohmic load is proportional to the square of the current.

In whole, this electrical circuit is safe to use. Also, we can prevent the overload
problems from happen when all the currents have small values. Other than that, we have
improved that the Gaussian Elimination Method can be use with a law like Kirchhoff’s Law to
find the values for each current in electrical circuit. We should know that Gaussian Elimination
Method have many uses in our lives.
REFERENCES

1) Web resource

H. F. B. (2018, November 8). What is an Electric Circuit? Types of Circuits, Network &
Parts Of Circuit. ELECTRICAL TECHNOLOGY. Retrieved from
https://www.electricaltechnology.org/2014/01/important-terms-related-to-electric-
circuits-and-networks.html.

Kirchoffs Circuit Law and Kirchoffs Circuit Theory. (2020, June 1). Retrieved from
https://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/dccircuits/dcp_4.html.

2) Book

Lay, D. C., Lay, S. R., & McDonald, J. J. (2016). Linear algebra and its applications. Pearson.

Eiceman, G. A., & Karpas, Z. (2005). Ion mobility spectrometry. Taylor & Francis.