3 CIRCUIT ANALYSIS

3.1 Nodal analysis.

3.2 Nodal analysis with voltage sources.
3.3 Mesh analysis.
3.4 Mesh analysis with current sources.
3.5 Nodal versus mesh analysis.

3.1 NODAL ANALYSIS

Nodal analysis provides a general procedure for analyzing circuits using node
voltages as the circuit variables.

Nodal analysis is based on the systematic application of Kirchhoff’s current law

(KCL).

We can analyze any linear circuit by:

 obtaining a set of simultaneous equations

 solved to obtain the required values (voltage or current)
 we can solve the simultaneous equation either using Cramer’s Rule
or any other software such as MATLAB or MathCAD.

The key idea to bear in mind is that, since resistance is a passive element, by the
passive sign convention, current must always flow from a higher potential to a
lower potential.
vhigher  vlower
i
R
Steps to determine the node voltages:

1. Select a node as the reference node.

2. Assign voltages v1,v2,…,vn-1 to the remaining n-1 nodes. The
voltages are referenced with respect to the reference node.
3. Apply KCL to each of the n-1 non-reference nodes. Use Ohm’s law
to express the branch currents in terms of node voltages.
4. Solve the resulting simultaneous equations to obtain the unknown
node voltages.

3-1
Example 3.1 – circuit with independent current source only

Find the matrix equation for the circuit in Figure 3.1

R2
IB1 R1 R3 IB2

Figure 3.1

Solution :

1. Label the nodes (including the reference node)

a b
R2
IB1 R1 R3 IB2
c

2. Write the KCL equation for node a and b.

KCL at node a.

Va  Vc Va  Vb
  IB1  0
R1 R2
Va  0 Va  Vb
  IB1 ...............[1]
R1 R2

IB1 I2 IB1  I1  I 2
I1
IB1  I1  I 2  0
0  I1  I 2  IB1

KCL at node b.

Vb  Vc Vb  Va
  IB 2  0
R3 R2
Vb  0 Vb  Va
  IB 2 ...............[2]
R3 R2

3-2
3. Simplify equation [1] and [2].

Va  0 Va  Vb
  IB1 ...............[1]
R1 R2
Va Va Vb
   IB1 ...............[3]
R1 R 2 R 2

Vb  0 Vb  Va
  IB2 ...............[2]
R3 R2
Vb Vb Va
   IB2 ...............[4]
R3 R2 R2

4. Rewrite the equation in matrix form.

Va Va Vb
   IB1 ...............[3]
R1 R 2 R 2
Vb Vb Va
   IB2 ...............[4]
R3 R2 R2

 1 1   1    Va   IB1 
      
   
 R 1 R 2   R 2       
        
  1    1  1     
  R 2   R 2 R 3  Vb  IB2 

Example 3.2

Obtain the node voltages in the circuit of Figure 3.2

Figure 3.2

3-3
Solution:

The corresponding node involved is node 1, 2, and 3.

KCL at node 1:
v1 v1  v2
 1
2 6
3v1  v1  v2   6
4v1  v2  6 ………(1)

KCL at node 2:
v2 v2  v1
 40
7 6
6v2  7(v2  v1 )  168  0
 7v1  13v2  168 …….(2)

Solving the matrix equation

v1 = -2 V
v2 = -14 V

Example 3.3 - current with dependant current source

Determine the voltages at the nodes in Figure 3.3(a).

Figure 3.3

3-4
Solution:

At node 1,
v1  v3 v1  v2
3  i1  i x → 3 
4 2

Multiplying by 4 and rearranging terms, we get

3v1  2v2  v3  12 ………(1)

At node 2,
v1  v2 v2  v3 v2  0
i x  i2  i3 →  
2 8 4
Multiplying by 8 and rearranging terms,

 4v1  7v2  v3  0 …….(2)

At node 3,
v1  v3 v2  v3 2 v1  v2 
i1  i2  2i x →  
4 8 2
Multiplying by 8, rearranging terms, and dividing by 3,

2v1  3v2  v3  0 ……..(3)

We have three simultaneous equations to solve to get the node voltages

v1, v2, and v3.

Thus, v1  4.8V , v2  2.4V , v3  2.4V

3.2 NODAL ANALYSIS WITH VOLTAGE SOURCE

There are two possibilities :

Case 1
If a voltage source is connected between the reference node and a non-reference
node. Simply set the voltage at the non-reference node equal to the voltage of the
voltage source.

Consider the circuit in Figure 3.4 with current and voltage source.
a b
R2
VB R1 R3 IB
c

Figure 3.4

3-5
Node a, Va = VB ………(1)

Va  Vb Vb
Node b,  IB  ……….(2)
R2 R3

Substitute (1) into (2)

VB  Vb Vb
 IB 
R2 R3
VB Vb Vb
    IB
R2 R2 R3
VB Vb Vb
-    IB
R2 R2 R3
Vb Vb VB
  IB 
R2 R3 R2
 1 1  VB
Vb     IB 
R2 R3  R2
VB
IB 
R2
Vb 
1 1

R2 R3

Case 2
If the voltage source (dependent or independent)is connected between two non-
reference nodes.
STEP 1: Form a generalized node or supernode
STEP 2: Apply both KCL and KVL to determine the node voltages

A supernode is formed by enclosing a (dependent or independent) voltage source

connected between two non-reference nodes and any elements connected in
parallel with it.

Figure 3.5 : A circuit with supernode

3-6
Example 3.4

For the circuit shown in Figure 3.6, find the node voltages.

Figure 3.6

Solution:

The supernode contains the 2 V source, nodes 1 and 2, and the 10 Ω resistor.
Applying KCL to the supernode as shown in Figure 3.7(a) gives

2  i1  i2  7

Figure 3.7(a)

Expressing i1 and i2 in terms of the node voltages

v  0 v2  0
2 1  7 → 8  2v1  v2  28
2 4
or
v2  20  2v1 …….(1)

To get the relationship between v1 and v2, we apply KVL to the circuit in Figure
3.7(b),
 v1  2  v2  0 → v2  v1  2 …….(2)

From equation (1) and (2),

v2  v1  2  20  2v1

3-7
or
3v1  22 → v1  7.333V

and v2 = v1 +2 = -5.333 V. Note that the 10 Ω resistor does not make any
difference because it is connected across the supernode.

Figure 3.7(b)

3.3 MESH ANALYSIS

Mesh analysis provides another general procedure for analyzing circuits using
mesh currents as the circuit variables.

Nodal analysis applies KCL to find unknown voltages in a given circuit, while
mesh analysis applies KVL to find unknown currents.

A mesh is a loop which does not contain any other loops within it.
The direction of the mesh current is arbitrary (clockwise or counterclockwise) and
does not affect the validity of the solution.

Example 3.5

For the circuit in Figure 3.8, find the branch currents I1, I2, and I3 using mesh
analysis.

Figure 3.8

3-8
Solution:

From Loop i1
5i1 + 10(i1-i2) + 10 – 15 = 0
15i1 - 10i2 = 5
3i1 - 2i2 = 1 …….(1)

From Loop i2
6i2 + 4i2 – 10 + 10(i2-i1) = 0
i1 - 2i2 = -1 ……..(2)

From Eq.(1) and (2)

I1 = i1 = 1 A
I2 = i2 = 1 A
I3 = i1 – i2 = 0 A

3.4 MESH ANALYSIS WITH CURRENT SOURCES

The presence of the current sources reduces the number of equations.

Two possible cases.

Case 1 : When a current source exists only in one mesh.

Write a mesh equation for the other mesh in the usual way

Case 2 : When a current source exists between two meshes

Create a supermesh by excluding the current source and any elements connected
in series with it.

A supermesh results when two meshes have a (dependent or independent) current

source in common.

Figure 3.9

3-9
 Example 3.6

Find V3 in Figure 3.10(a) using mesh analysis.

2A 2A

I1
4Ω 1Ω 4Ω 1Ω
 V3   V3 

38V 3Ω 38V I2 I3 3Ω
5A 5A supermesh

(a) (b)

Figure 3.10

Solution :

From Loop i1
i1 = 2 A

Supermesh equation
4(i2 –i1) + 1(i3 – i1) + 3i3 - 38 = 0
4i2  4i1  i3  i1  3i3  38
 5i1  4i2  4i3  38

Support equation
i3  i2  5 A

Solving the equation

i2 = 3.5 A
i3 = 8.5 A

Thus v3  4(i2  i1 )  4(3.5  2)  6V

3.5 NODAL VERSUS MESH ANALYSIS

Nodal analysis is normally used when a circuit has fewer node equations than
mesh equations.
Mesh analysis is normally used when a circuit has fewer mesh equations than
node equations.
If node voltages are required, it maybe suitable to apply nodal analysis.
If branch or mesh currents are required, it maybe suitable to apply mesh analysis.

3-10
Tutorial 3 : Circuit Analysis

Q1. Determine v1, v2, and the power dissipated in all the resistors in the circuit
of Figure Q1.

Figure Q1

Q2. For the circuit in Figure Q2, obtain v1 and v2.

Figure Q2

Q3. Obtain v0 in the circuit of Figure Q3 using nodal analysis.

Figure Q3

3-11
Q4. Find the voltages at nodes a and b in Figure Q4 using nodal analysis.

Figure Q4

Q5. Using nodal analysis, find v0 in the circuit in Figure Q5.

Figure Q5

Q6. Apply nodal analysis to find io and the power dissipated in each resistor in
the circuit of Figure Q6.

Figure Q6

Q7. Determine voltages v1 through v3 in the circuit of Figure Q7 using nodal

analysis.

Figure Q7

3-12
Q8. For the circuit in Figure Q8, find v1 and v2 using nodal analysis.

Figure Q8

Q9. Determine v1 and v2 in the circuit in Figure Q9 using nodal analysis.

Figure Q9

Q10. Use nodal analysis to find io in the circuit shown in Figure Q10.

Figure Q10

3-13
Q11. Determine the mesh currents i1 and i2 in the circuit shown in Figure Q11.

Figure Q11

Q12. For the bridge network in Figure Q12, find Io using mesh analysis.

Figure Q12

Q13. Apply mesh analysis to find i in Figure Q13.

Figure Q13

3-14
Q14. Use mesh analysis to find vab and io in the circuit in Figure Q14.

Figure Q14

Q15. Find vo and io in the circuit of Figure Q15 using mesh analysis.

Figure Q15

Answers

Q1. υ1 = 9.143 V, υ2 = -10.286 V Q2. v1 = 0 V, v2 = 12 V

P8Ω = 10.45 W, P4Ω = 94.37 W,
P2Ω = 52.9 W
Q3. υo = 20 V Q4. υa = -0.0556 V, υb = -3.444 V
Q5. υo = 1.111 V Q6. io = 29.45 A
P6S = 144.6 W, P5S = 129.6 W,
P3S = 12 W
Q7. v1 = 18.858 V, v2 = 6.286 V Q8. v1 = 1V, v2 = 3 V
V3 = 13 V
Q9. v1 = -10.91 V, v2 = -100.36 V Q10. io = 4.06 mA
Q11. i1 = 0.8 A, i2 = -0.9 A Q12. io = 4.286 mA
Q13. i = 1.188 A Q14. νab = 53.33 V, io = 1.778 A
Q15. νo = 33.78 V, io = 10.667 A

3-15