‫بسم هللا الرمحن الرحي‬

Hashemite University
Faculty of Engineering
Electrical Engineering Department

Electrical Circuits Lab

Section <3>
Experiment #3
Techniques of Circuit Analysis (1)

1- Mohammad Abdel-Basit Khasawneh 2239465

2- Ahmad Omar Abu-Khmaish 2238562
3- Mustafa Mohammad Radwan 2044812

Objectives:
➢ to analyze resistive circuits in DC employing:

➢ the node-voltage method.

➢ the mesh-current method.

➢ superposition method.
Methodology:
Techniques of Circuits Analysis:
➢The purpose of circuit analysis is to determine the current in each
branch can be defined as a single path in the network, composed of one
simple element and the node at each end of that element - where the
current is unknown.

➢In a circuit with n nodes, n -1 equations are formulated by applying

Kirchhoff’s current law (KCL) to any set of n -1 nodes and the remainder
b – (n -1) equations can be written by applying Kirchhoff’s voltage law (KVL)
to that number of meshes in the circuit.

➢However, by introducing new variables (node voltages and mesh

current), the circuit can be described with just ne–1 equations or just be –
(ne -1) equations.

Techniques of Linear Circuit Analysis:

➢Techniques that can only apply to only specific circuits not for all
circuits, linear circuits are one of this type of circuits.

➢Linear element: passive element that has a linear voltage-current

relationship, by a “Linear voltage-current relationship” we simply mean
that multiplication of current through the element by a constant K result in
the multiplication of the voltage across the element by the same
constant K.

➢Linear dependent source: dependent current or voltage source whose

output current or source is proportional only to the first power of a
specified current or voltage variable in the circuit or to the sum of such
quantities.

➢Linear circuit: circuit composed entirely of independent sources,

linear dependent sources, and linear elements.

Node-Voltage Method (Nodal Analysis):

➢In this circuit three essential nodes can be identified (ne ═ 3), therefore
two (ne -1) node-voltage equations describe the circuit. To select the set of
ne -1 nodes to perform the analysis, one of the essential nodes is selected
as a reference node.
➢If there is a ground node, it is usually most convenient to select it as the
reference node, otherwise the node with the most branches is chosen.

➢The equations are then written by applying KCL to each non reference
node expressing the branch currents in terms of the node voltages.

➢Once the equation system is solved and the node voltages are known,
all the branch currents can be calculated.

Mesh Current Method (Mesh Analysis):

➢The mesh-current method permits the description of a circuit in terms of
b – (ne -1) equations.

➢In this circuit five essential nodes (ne ═ 5) and eight essential branches
(be= 8) can be identified, therefore b – (ne -1) four mesh-current equations
describe the circuit.

➢The equations are formulated by applying KVL to each mesh, expressing

the voltages across the elements on the mesh currents.

➢Once the equation system is solved and the mesh currents are known,
all the branch currents (and any other parameter of interest) can be
calculated.
The Superposition Principle:
➢Some circuits have more than one current or voltage source,
superposition theorem defines a method to determine the currents and
voltages in such a circuit.

➢This is done by considering each source at a time, while all other

sources are replaced by their internal resistances (Short – Open circuits).
The superposition theorem states:

➢Current (or voltage) in any given branch of a multiple-source linear

circuit can be found by determining the currents (or voltages) in a
particular branch, produced by each source acting alone, with all other
sources replaced by their internal resistances. The total current (or
voltage) in the branch is the algebraic sum of the individual source
currents (or voltages) in that branch.
The steps in applying the theorem are as follows:
1 .Choose one source at a time and replace all other voltages sources with
a short circuit (R=0), and all other current sources with an open circuit
(R=∞).
2 .Determine the currents and voltages required.
3 .Repeat steps 1 & 2 for each source in the circuit.
4. The total current or voltage in a branch is the algebraic sum of the
individual source currents or voltages in that branch.

Equipment:
Power supply (PS), Digital Multimeter (DMM), Breadboard, Resistors,
Wires.

Procedure:
1- Get your resistors in hand, using DMM measure the resistance for each
and mark each for its value.
2- after knowing the resistors values, connect the resistors to the
breadboard by the right connections provided in your report (regard each
node and connect correctly).
 3- after connecting the circuit correctly, power on the supply and set it to
10v and the other to 5v then connect the pins to your circuit nodes
correctly.
4- using DMM push the DCV button and measure the voltages each.
5- Kill each source alone then measure the values of V' and V'' (To kill a
source unplug a wire (red or black) and plug it to the other wire hole)
6- finally disconnect the PS and measure your equivalent resistor values.

Calculations:
Theorical value Measured Value
R1 5.1k 5.09k
R2 15k 14.97k
R3 6.2k 6.18k
R4 3.9k 3.912k

Nodal analysis:
Value VA VB VC VD
Measured 10.014v 4.019v -1.529v -5.008v
Theoretical 10v 4.051v -1.504v -5v

𝑉𝐴 − 10 = 0 → 𝑉𝐴 = 10
𝑉𝐷 + 5 = 0 → 𝑉𝐷 = −5
KCL at node B:
𝜮𝑰𝒊𝒏 = 𝜮𝑰𝒐𝒖𝒕 ,
𝑽𝑩 −𝑽𝑨 𝑽𝑩 𝑽𝑩 −𝑽𝑪 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏𝟎
+ + → ( + + ) 𝑽𝑩 − 𝑽𝑪 = …. (1)
𝑹𝟏 𝑹𝟐 𝑹𝟑 𝟓.𝟏𝒌 𝟏𝟓𝒌 𝟔.𝟐𝒌 𝟔.𝟐𝒌 𝟓.𝟏𝒌

KCL at node C:
𝜮𝑰𝒊𝒏 = 𝜮𝑰𝒐𝒖𝒕 ,
𝐕𝐂 −𝐕𝐃 𝐕𝐂 −𝐕𝐁 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 −𝟓
+ →( + ) 𝐕𝐂 − 𝐕𝐛 = …. (2)
𝐑𝟒 𝐑𝟑 𝟑.𝟗𝐤 𝟔.𝟐𝐤 𝟔.𝟐 𝟑.𝟗𝐤

Plugging to calculator we obtain: 𝑽𝑩 = 𝟒. 𝟎𝟓𝟏𝒗 , 𝑽𝒄 = −𝟏. 𝟓𝟎𝟒𝒗

Superposition calculations:
Value VB ' VB'' V c' Vc''
Measured 5.39v -1.37v 2.078v -3.60v
Theoretical 5.42v -1.35v 2.092v -3.63v

Killing the 5v source:

𝑉𝐴 = 10𝑣
KCL at node B:
𝑽𝑩 ′ −𝑽𝑨 𝑽𝑩 ′ 𝑽𝑩 ′ −𝑽𝒄 ′ 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏𝟎
+ + → ( + + ) 𝑽𝑩 ′ − 𝑽𝒄 ′ = …. (1)
𝑹𝟏 𝑹𝟐 𝑹𝟑 𝟓.𝟏𝒌 𝟏𝟓𝒌 𝟔.𝟐𝒌 𝟔.𝟐𝒌 𝟓.𝟏𝒌

KCL at node C:
𝑽𝒄 ′ −𝑽𝑩 ′ 𝑽𝒄 ′ 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
+ → ( + ) 𝑽𝒄 ′ − 𝑽𝑩 ′ = 𝟎 …. (2)
𝑹𝟑 𝑹𝟒 𝟔.𝟐𝒌 𝟑.𝟗𝒌 𝟔.𝟐𝒌

Plugging to calculator we obtain: 𝑽𝑩 ′ = 𝟓. 𝟒𝟐𝒗 , 𝑽𝒄 ′ = 𝟐. 𝟎𝟗𝟐𝒗

Killing the 10v source:

𝑉𝐷 = −5𝑣
KVL at mesh 1:
𝑰𝟏 𝑹𝟏 + (𝑰𝟏 − 𝑰𝟐 )𝑹𝟏 = 𝟎 → 𝟓. 𝟏𝒌(𝑰𝟏 ) + 𝟏𝟓𝒌(𝑰𝟏 − 𝑰𝟐 ) = 𝟎 …. (1)
KVL at mesh 2:
𝑹𝟐 (𝑰𝟐 − 𝑰𝟏 ) + 𝑹𝟑 𝑰𝟐 + 𝑹𝟒 𝑰𝟐 − 𝟓 = 𝟎 →
𝟏𝟓𝒌(𝑰𝟐 − 𝑰𝟏 ) + 𝟔. 𝟐𝒌𝑰𝟐 + 𝟑. 𝟗𝒌𝑰𝟐 = 𝟓 …. (2)
Plugging to calculator we obtain: 𝑰𝟏 = 𝟎. 𝟐𝟔𝒎𝑨 , 𝑰𝟐 = 𝟎. 𝟑𝟓𝒎𝑨
𝑽′′𝑩 = (𝑰𝟏 − 𝑰𝟐 )𝑹𝟐 = (𝟎. 𝟐𝟔𝒎𝑨 − 𝟎. 𝟑𝟓𝒎𝑨)𝟏𝟓𝒌 = −𝟏. 𝟑𝟓𝒗
𝑽′′𝒄 = (𝑰𝟐 )𝑹𝟒 − 𝟓 = (𝟎. 𝟑𝟓𝒎𝑨)𝟑. 𝟗𝒌 − 𝟓 = −𝟑. 𝟔𝟑𝒗
Theoretically, the sum of sub-voltages is equal to the original voltage so,

𝑽𝑩 = 𝑽′𝑩 + 𝑽′′𝑩 → 𝑽𝑩 = 𝟓. 𝟒𝟐 − 𝟏. 𝟑𝟔𝟖 = 𝟒. 𝟎𝟓𝟐𝒗 ✔

𝑽𝒄 = 𝑽′𝒄 + 𝑽′′𝒄 → 𝑽𝑩 = 𝟐. 𝟎𝟗𝟑 − 𝟑. 𝟓𝟗𝟖 = −𝟏. 𝟓𝟎𝟓𝒗 ✔

Conclusions:
➢We learned to use nodal, mesh analysis and the superposition theorem
techniques practically.

➢The nodal analysis technique is basically applying KCL at each non

reference node to find the voltages by assuming currents out the nodes.

➢The mesh analysis technique is basically applying KVL at each mesh (a

loop that has no inner loops) to find the currents with respect to voltages.

➢The superposition theorem states that the sum of sub-voltages (voltages

due to one independent source only) is equal to the main voltage before
killing the sources.

➢Circuit solving techniques are multiple, use the easiest and most fit to
analyze a complex circuit