EE1301 Fundamentals of Electricity

Unit 2: Circuit Analyzing Techniques

2.1 Nodal Analysis

Systematic application of KVL and KCL leads to two powerful circuit analyzing techniques namely

• Nodal Analysis
• Mesh Analysis
Nodal analysis is based on the application of the KCL and node voltages are selected as the circuit
variable to be determined.
Mesh analysis is based on the application of the KVL and mesh currents are selected as the variables
to be determined.

2.1.1 Nodal Analysis without Voltage Sources

Nodal analysis provides a general procedure for analyzing circuits using node voltages as
the circuit variables. Given a circuit with 𝑛 nodes without voltage sources, the Nodal
Analysis involves the following steps.
• Select a node as the reference node (usually the node with the highest number of
branches connected).
• Assign voltages 𝑣1, 𝑣2, …𝑣(𝑛−1) to the remaining 𝑛−1 nodes. The voltages are
referenced with respect to the reference node.
• Apply KCL to each of the 𝑛−1 non reference nodes. Use Ohm’s law to express the
branch current in terms of node voltages.
• Solve the resulting simultaneous equations to obtain unknown node voltages.

Example 2.1 Calculate the node voltages of the circuits below.

(a) (b)

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2.1.2 Nodal Analysis with Voltage Sources

Case 1:
When the voltage source is connected between reference node and non-reference node, simply the
voltage at the non-reference node is set to the voltage of the voltage source. Ex: 𝑣1=10V.

Case 2:
If the voltage source (dependent or independent) is connected between two non-reference nodes,
the two non-reference nodes form a supernode by enclosing a (dependent or independent) voltage
source connected between two non-reference nodes and any elements connected in parallel with it.
Both KCL and KVL are applied to the supernode to determine the node voltages.

Example 2.2 Calculate the node voltages of the circuits below.

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