Fundamentals of electricity and electronics handout

Bahir Dar University

Bahir Dar Institute of Technology
Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Fundamentals of Electricity and Electronics
Chapter Two
Electrical Circuit Analysis and Network Theorems
Kirchhoff’s law: From our consideration of series and of parallel connections of resistors, we
have observed certain conditions appertaining to each form of connection. For instance, in a
series circuit, the sum of the voltages across each of the components is equal to the applied
voltage; again the sum of the currents in the branches of a parallel network is equal to the
supply current. Gustav Kirchhoff, a German physicist, observed that these were particular
instances of two general conditions fundamental to the analysis of any electrical network.
These conditions may be stated as follows:
First (current) law: At any instant the algebraic sum of the currents at a junction in a network is
zero (the sum of the currents entering a node is equal to the sum of the currents leaving the
node). Different signs are allocated to currents held to flow towards the junction and to those
away from it.

Example1: for fig. above, find I5 if I1=I2=I3=I4=5A?

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Exercise! The networks in fig.below find the unknown currents in the following network?

Second (voltage) law: At any instant in a closed loop, the algebraic sum of the e.m.f.s acting
round the loop is equal to the algebraic sum of the p.d.s round the loop.
Example1: Determine the unknown voltages for the networks of:

VOLTAGE DIVIDER RULE

It states that the voltage across a resistor in a series circuit is equal to the value of that resistor
times the total impressed voltage across the series elements divided by the total resistance of the
series elements.

Applying ohms law:

Note that the format for V1 and V2 is:

In a series circuit, the voltage across the resistive elements will divide as the magnitude of the
resistance levels.

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Example1: Using voltage divider rule, find voltage across each resistor?

Current divider rule

As the name suggests, the current divider rule (CDR) will determine how the current entering a
set of parallel branches will split between the elements.
In words, the current through any parallel branch is equal to the product of the total resistance of
the parallel branches and the input current divided by the resistance of the branch through
which the current is to be determined.
 For two parallel elements of equal value, the current will divide equally.
 For parallel elements with different values, the smaller the resistance, the greater the
share of input current.
 For parallel elements of different values, the current will split with a ratio equal to the
inverse of their resistor values.

 The input current , where RT is the total resistance of the parallel branches.

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Example: Determine the current across each resistor for each network:

Exercise! Find Vo, V1, and V2 for:

+
V2
-

Circuit simplifications and analysis

There are a few steps that can be helpful in getting to determine equivalent circuit
1. Take a moment to study the problem “in total” and make a brief mental sketch of the
overall approach you plan to use.
2. Next examine each region of the network independently before tying them together in
series-parallel combinations. This will usually simplify the network and possibly reveal a
direct approach toward obtaining one or more desired unknowns. It also eliminates many
of the errors that might result due to the lack of a systematic approach.

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3. Redraw the network as often as possible with the reduced branches and undisturbed
unknown quantities to maintain clarity and provide the reduced networks for the trip back
to unknown quantities from the source.
4. When you have a solution, check that it is reasonable by considering the magnitudes of
the energy source and the elements in the network. If it does not seem reasonable, either
solve the circuit using another approach or check over your work very carefully.
Example: determine the unknown parameter for the following network:

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Delta-star and star-delta transformation

Note that the resistors in Fig.a form a ∆ (delta) and the resistors in Fig.b form a Y (star). If both
of these configurations are connected at only three terminals a, b, and c, it would be very
advantageous if an equivalence could be established between them.
It is, in fact, possible to relate the resistances of one network to those of the other such that their
terminal characteristics are the same.
This relationship between the two network configurations is called the Y-∆ transformation. The
transformation that relates the resistances R1, R2, and R3 to the resistances Ra, Rb, and Rc is
derived as follows.
For the two networks to be equivalent at each corresponding pair of terminals, it is necessary that
the resistance at the corresponding terminals be equal (e.g., the resistance at terminals a and b
with c open-circuited must be the same for both networks).
Therefore, if we equate the resistances for each corresponding set of terminals, we obtain the
following equations:
( )

( )

( )

Solving this set of equations for Ra, Rb, and Rc yields:

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Similarly, if we solve above Eq. for R1, R2, and R3, we obtain:
( )
( )
( )
Example: determine the unknown parameter for the following network:

SOURCE CONVERSIONS
A current source determines the current in the branch in which it is located and the magnitude
and polarity of the voltage across a current source are a function of the network to which it is
applied.

Example: Find the source voltage Vs and the current I1 for:

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CURRENT SOURCES IN PARALLEL

If two or more current sources are in parallel, they may all be replaced by one current source
having the magnitude and direction of the resultant, which can be found by summing the currents
in one direction and subtracting the sum of the currents in the opposite direction.
Example: Reduce the parallel current sources to a single current source for:

Exercise! Reduce the network to a single current source, and calculate the current through RL

Mesh Analysis (General Approach)

The term mesh is derived from the similarities in appearance between the closed loops of a
network and a wire mesh fence.
Mesh-analysis approach simply eliminates the need to substitute the results of Kirchhoff’s
current law into the equations derived from Kirchhoff’s voltage law.
The systematic approach outlined below should be followed when applying this method.
1. Assign a distinct current in the clockwise direction to each independent, closed loop of
the network. It is not absolutely necessary to choose the clockwise direction for each loop
current. In fact, any direction can be chosen for each loop current with no loss in
accuracy, as long as the remaining steps are followed properly. However, by choosing the
clockwise direction as a standard, we can develop a shorthand method for writing the
required equations that will save time and possibly prevent some common errors.
2. Indicate the polarities within each loop for each resistor as determined by the assumed
direction of loop current for that loop. Note the requirement that the polarities be placed
within each loop.

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3. Apply Kirchhoff’s voltage law around each closed loop in the clockwise direction. Again,
the clockwise direction was chosen to establish uniformity and prepare us for the method
to be introduced in the next section.
a) If a resistor has two or more assumed currents through it, the total current through the
resistor is the assumed current of the loop in which Kirchhoff’s voltage law is being
applied, plus the assumed currents of the other loops passing through in the same
direction, minus the assumed currents through in the opposite direction.
b) The polarity of a voltage source is unaffected by the direction of the assigned loop
currents.
4. Solve the resulting simultaneous linear equations for the assumed loop currents.

Example1:Find the current through each branch of the network

Solution: Steps 1 and 2 are as indicated in the circuit. Note that the polarities of the 6Ω resistor
are different for each loop current.
Step 3: Kirchhoff’s voltage law is applied around each closed loop in the clockwise direction:

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Step 4: solve the above equation

Since I1 and I2 are positive and flow in opposite directions through the 6Ω resistor and 10-V source, the
total current in this branch is equal to the difference of the two currents in the direction of the larger:
Therefore,

Example2:Find the current through each branch of the network

Solution:
Steps 1 and 2 are as indicated in the circuit.
Step 3: Kirchhoff’s voltage law is applied around each closed loop:

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The current in the 4Ω resistor and 4-V source for loop 1 is

Revealing that it is 1.409 A in a direction opposite (due to the minus sign) to I1 in loop 1.
Super mesh Currents
On occasion there will be current sources in the network to which mesh analysis is to be applied.
In such cases one can convert the current source to a voltage source (if a parallel resistor is
present) and proceed as before or utilize a super mesh current and proceed as follows.
Start as before and assign a mesh current to each independent loop, including the current sources,
as if they were resistors or voltage sources. Then mentally (redraw the network if necessary)
remove the current sources (replace with open-circuit equivalents), and apply Kirchhoff’s
voltage law to all the remaining independent paths of the network using the mesh currents just
defined. Any resulting path, including two or more mesh currents, is said to be the path of a
super mesh current. Then relate the chosen mesh currents of the network to the independent
current sources of the network, and solve for the mesh currents.
Example 1: Using mesh analysis, determine the currents of the network

Solution: First, the mesh currents for the network are defined, as shown in Fig. Then the current source
is mentally removed, as shown in Fig. and Kirchhoff’s voltage law is applied to the resulting network.
The single path now including the effects of two mesh currents is referred to as the path of a supermesh
current.

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Applying Kirchhoff’s law:

Node a is then used to relate the mesh currents and the current source using Kirchhoff’s current law:

In the above analysis, it might appear that when the current source was removed, I1 = I2.
However, the supermesh approach requires that we stick with the original definition of each
mesh current and not alter those definitions when current sources are removed.
Example 2: Using mesh analysis, determine the currents of the network

Solution: The mesh currents are defined in Fig. The current sources are removed, and the single supermesh path is
defined in Fig.

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 Fundamentals of electricity and electronics handout

Exercise! Using the mesh analysis, find the current through each element of the networks

Nodal Analysis
A node is defined as a junction of two or more branches. If we now define one node of any
network as a reference (that is, a point of zero potential or ground), the remaining nodes of the
network will all have a fixed potential relative to this reference.
For a network of N nodes, therefore, there will exist (N-1) nodes with a fixed potential relative to
the assigned reference node. Equations relating these nodal voltages can be written by applying
Kirchhoff’s current law at each of the (N-1) nodes.
The nodal analysis method is applied as follows:
1. Determine the number of nodes within the network.
2. Pick a reference node, and label each remaining node with a subscripted value of
voltage: V1, V2, and so on.
3. Apply Kirchhoff’s current law at each node except the reference. Assume that all
unknown currents leave the node for each application of Kirchhoff’s current law. In other
words, for each node, don’t be influenced by the direction that an unknown current for
another node may have had. Each node is to be treated as a separate entity, independent
of the application of Kirchhoff’s current law to the other nodes.
4. Solve the resulting equations for the nodal voltages.
Example 1: Using nodal analysis, determine the unknown of the network

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Solution:
Steps 1 and 2: The network has two nodes, as shown in Fig. The lower node is defined as the
reference node at ground potential (zero volts), and the other node as V1, the voltage from node 1
to ground.
Step 3: I1 and I2 are defined as leaving the node in Fig. and Kirchhoff’s current law is applied as follows:

The current I2 is related to the nodal voltage V1 by Ohm’s law:

Rearranging, we have

Substituting numerical values, we obtain

The minus sign indicates simply that the current I1 has a direction opposite to that appearing in Fig.

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Example 2: Determine the nodal voltages for the network

Solution:
Steps 1 and 2: As indicated in Fig.

Step 3: Included in the above Fig. For the node V1, Applying Kirchhoff’s current law:

For node V2 the currents are defined as: Applying Kirchhoff’s current law:

Resulting in two equations and two unknowns:

Since V1 is greater than V2, the current through R3 passes from V1 to V2.

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Its value is:

Supernode
On occasion there will be independent voltage sources in the network to which nodal analysis is
to be applied. In such cases we can convert the voltage source to a current source (if a series
resistor is present) and proceed as before, or we can introduce the concept of a supernode and
proceed as follows.
Start as before and assign a nodal voltage to each independent node of the network, including
each independent voltage source as if it were a resistor or current source. Then mentally replace
the independent voltage sources with short-circuit equivalents, and apply Kirchhoff’s current law
to the defined nodes of the network. Any node including the effect of elements tied only to other
nodes is referred to as a supernode (since it has an additional number of terms). Finally, relate
the defined nodes to the independent voltage sources of the network, and solve for the nodal
voltages.
Example: Determine the nodal voltages V1 and V2

Solution: Replacing the independent voltage source of 12 V with a short-circuit equivalent will
result in the network of Fig. Even though the mental application of a short-circuit equivalent is
discussed above, it would be wise in the early stage of development to redraw the network as
shown in Fig. The result is a single supernode for which Kirchhoff’s current law must be applied.
Be sure to leave the other defined nodes in place and use them to define the currents from that
region of the network. In particular, note that the current I3 will leave the supernode at V1 and
then enter the same supernode at V2. It must therefore appear twice when applying Kirchhoff’s
current law, as shown below:

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Relating the defined nodal voltages to the independent voltage source, we have
This results in two equations and two unknowns:

Exercise! Determine the nodal voltages for the networks

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Super position theorem

It states that the current through, or voltage across, an element in a linear bilateral network is
equal to the algebraic sum of the currents or voltages produced independently by each source.
When one is applying the theorem, it is possible to consider the effects of two sources at the
same time and reduce the number of networks that have to be analyzed, but, in general,
Number of networks to be analyzed =Number of independent sources
For a two-source network, if the current produced by one source is in one direction, while that
produced by the other is in the opposite direction through the same resistor, the resulting current
is the difference of the two and has the direction of the larger. If the individual currents are in the
same direction, the resulting current is the sum of two in the direction of either current.
This rule holds true for the voltage across a portion of a network as determined by polarities, and
it can be extended to networks with any number of sources. It is not applicable to power effects
since the power loss in a resistor varies as the square (nonlinear) of the current or voltage.
NB. During analysis change voltage source to short and current source to open when to know the
effect of one source to another!
Example: Using superposition, determine the current through the 4Ω,2Ω & 12Ω resistor
respectively?

Exercise! Find V0 & I0 respectively in Fig using superposition:

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THEVENIN’S THEOREM
It states that Any two-terminal, linear bilateral dc network can be replaced by an equivalent circuit
consisting of a voltage source and a series resistor.
Always keep in mind that the Thévenin equivalent circuit provides an equivalence at the terminals
only(the internal construction and characteristics of the original network and the Thévenin equivalent
are usually quite different).
The following sequence of steps will lead to the proper value of RTh and ETh.
Preliminary:
1. Remove that portion of the network across which the Thévenin equivalent circuit is to be
found.
2. Mark the terminals of the remaining two-terminal network. (The importance of this step will
become obvious as we progress through some complex networks.)
RTh:
3. Calculate RTh by first setting all sources to zero (voltage sources are replaced by short circuits,
and current sources by open circuits) and then finding the resultant resistance between the two
marked terminals. (If the internal resistance of the voltage and/or current sources is included in the
original network, it must remain when the sources are set to zero.)
ETh:
4. Calculate ETh by first returning all sources to their original position and finding the open-circuit
voltage between the marked terminals. (This step is invariably the one that will lead to the most
confusion and errors. In all cases, keep in mind that it is the open-circuit potential between the two
terminals marked in step 2.)
Conclusion:
5. Draw the Thévenin equivalent circuit with the portion of the circuit previously removed replaced
between the terminals of the equivalent circuit. This step is indicated by the placement of the resistor
RL between the terminals of the Thévenin equivalent circuit.
Example: Find the Thévenin equivalent circuit for the network in the shaded area of the network of
Fig. belowThen find the current through RL for values of 2 Ω, 10Ω, and 100Ω?

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Exercise! Use Thévenin’s theorem to find Vo in the network:

NORTON’S THEOREM
It states that Any two-terminal linear bilateral dc network can be replaced by an equivalent circuit
consisting of a current source and a parallel resistor.
The steps leading to the proper values of IN and RN are now listed similar to thevenin.
Preliminary:
1. Remove that portion of the network across which the Norton equivalent circuit is found.
2. Mark the terminals of the remaining two-terminal network.
RN:
3. Calculate RN by first setting all sources to zero (voltage sources are replaced with short circuits,
and current sources with open circuits) and then finding the resultant resistance between the two
marked terminals. (If the internal resistance of the voltage and/or current sources is included in the
original network, it must remain when the sources are set to zero.), Since RN = RTh, the procedure and
value obtained using the approach described for Thévenin’s theorem will determine the proper value
of RN.
IN :
4. Calculate IN by first returning all sources to their original position and then finding the short-circuit
current between the marked terminals. It is the same current that would be measured by an ammeter
placed between the marked terminals.

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Conclusion:
5. Draw the Norton equivalent circuit with the portion of the circuit previously removed replaced
between the terminals of the equivalent circuit.
The Norton and Thévenin equivalent circuits can also be found from each other by using the source
transformation:

Example: Find the Norton equivalent circuit for the network in the shaded area:

Exercise! Use Norton’s theorem, find Vo in the network:

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MAXIMUM POWER TRANSFER THEOREM

It states that A load will receive maximum power from a linear bilateral dc network when its
total resistive value is exactly equal to the Thévenin resistance of the network as “seen” by the
load.
Maximum power will be delivered to the load when

From past discussions, we realize that a Thevenin equivalent

circuit can be found across any element or group of elements
in a linear bilateral dc network.
The condition for maximum power to a load using the Norton equivalent circuit is:
The power to the load is determined by:
( )
( ( ))
( )

The power delivered to RL under maximum power conditions are:

Example: Determine the RL necessary to transfer maximum power to RL, and calculate the
power of RL under these conditions?

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Exercise! Determine the RL necessary to transfer maximum power across RL, and calculate the
power of RL under these conditions?

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