BEE1133 : Circuit Analysis I

Chapter 3: Method of Analysis

(dc)
Method of Analysis : Syllabus
3.1 Nodal analysis
3.2 Application of Cramer’s rule
3.3 Nodal analysis with voltage sources: supernode
3.4 Mesh analysis
3.5 Mesh analysis with current sources: supermesh
3.6 Nodal versus mesh analysis
Nodal Analysis

• Without voltage source

• With voltage sources
Nodal Analysis:Lesson Outcomes

• Understand the concept of nodal voltage

• Analyze dc circuit using nodal analysis
• Apply Cramer rule to solve simultaneous equations
• Understand the concept of supernode
Nodal Analysis

• Nodal analysis applies KCL to find unknown

voltages value.
• To analyze a circuit using nodal analysis, node
voltages are used as a circuit variables instead of
element voltages  to reduce number of equations.
• In the first section, circuits with no voltage sources
are considered.
Nodal Analysis : Steps

Steps to determine node voltages:

1. Choose a reference node.
2. Assign node voltages to the other nodes.
3. Apply KCL to each node other than the reference
node; express currents in terms of node voltages.
4. Solve the resulting system of linear equations.
 Nodal Analysis w/o voltage source

Example
Find the voltages at a and b for the circuit below

a b
2

5A 1 4 4A
Nodal Analysis w/o voltage source

Step 1 : Choose a reference node.

Step 2 : Assign node voltages to the other nodes.

V1 V2
2

1 4

V0

Reference node
Nodal Analysis w/o voltage source

Step 3 : Apply KCL to each node other than the reference node (in
term of node voltage).
At node a :
i1 = i2 + i3 (apply KCL)

V1  V2 V1  V0
5  (in term of node voltage)
2 1 V 1 V2
i1 i2 2 i2 i5
i3 i4
At node b :
i2 = i4 + i5 (apply KCL) 1 4
5A 4A
V1  V2 V2  V0
 4 V0
2 4
Nodal Analysis w/o voltage source

Step 4 : Solve the resulting system of linear equations.

0 0
V1  V2 V1  V0 V1  V2 V2  V0
5   (1)   4 (2)
2 1 2 4
V1  V2 V1 V1  V2 V2
5   4
2 1 2 4
10  V1  V2  2V1 2(V1  V2 )  V2  16
10  3V1  V2 2V1  3V2  16
3V1 V2  10
Nodal Analysis w/o voltage source

 The above equations can be solved by using 2

methods:
i) Simultaneous equations / elimination technique
ii) Cramer’s rule
 For elimination technique:
3V1 V2  10 (x3)  9V1  3V2  30 … (1)
(1) – (2)
2V1  3V2  16 … (2)
By subtracting eq.(2) from (1) and solving for
9V1  2V1  30V116
& V14
2 2V1  3V2  16
V1  2V  3V2  16  4 V2  4V 11
 Application of Cramer’s rule
 To use Cramer’s rule, we need to put the equations in
matrix form as below:
3  1 V1  10
2  3 V   16
  2   
 Determinant of the matrix is:
3 1
  (3  3)  (1 2)  7
2 3
 Solve for V1 and V2
10  1 3 10
1 16  3  30  16  2 2 16 48  20
V1    ? V2    ?
  7
12
  7
Nodal Analysis w/o voltage source

Exercise 1 (prob 4.3-4)

 Consider the circuit below. Find the value of R1 and
R2 if the voltages across those resistors are vR1 = 1 V
and vR2 = 2 V .

500 

+ +
3 mA R1 VR1 R2 VR2 5 mA
_ _

13
Nodal Analysis w/o voltage source

Exercise 2 (prob 4.3-5)

 Consider the circuit below. Find the voltage value at
each non-reference node.

250 

125  250 
v1 v2 v3

1 mA
Ans: V1 = ?
500  500  V2 = ?
V3 = ? 14
Nodal Analysis with voltage source

 There are 2 possibilities of a circuit with voltage source:

i) A voltage source between reference node and a non-
reference node
ii) A voltage source between two non-reference nodes
(these two nodes form a supernode)
 For the case in (i), we simply set the voltage at the non-
reference node equal to the voltage source value.
 The rest of the non-reference nodes are treated like
previous steps for nodal analysis.
 Nodal Analysis with voltage source

Example (case i)
Using nodal analysis, find vo for the circuit below

8 3
10 

+
6 45 V _
+
_ 90 V
Nodal Analysis with voltage source

Step 1 : Choose a reference node.

Step 2 : Assign node voltages to the other nodes.

V1
8 3
10 

V2 +
6 45 V _
+
_ 90 V

V0
Nodal Analysis with voltage source

Step 3 : Apply KCL to each node other than the reference node (in
term of node voltage).
At node V1 :
i1 + i2 = i3 (apply KCL)

V3  V1 V2  V1 V1  V0
  (in term of node voltage) 3
3 18 6 V1
8  i2 i1
At node V2 and V3 : i3 V3

V2 = 90 V V2 10 
+
6 _
V3 = 45 V +
_ 90 V
45 V

V0
Nodal Analysis with voltage source

Step 4 : Solve the resulting system of linear equations.

0
V3  V1 V2  V1 V1  V0
 
3 18 6
45  V1 90  V1 V1  0
 
3 18 6
6  (45  V1 )  90  V1  3V1
270  6V1  90  V1  3V1
10V1  360
V1  36V
Nodal Analysis with voltage source

Exercise 3 (prob 3.14)

 Using nodal analysis, find v1 and v2 for the circuit
below.
5A
V2 V1

2 8

1
+ _
V1 4 +
_ 20 V
+
_ 40 V

Ans: V1 = 27.27
20
V2 = 42.73
Nodal Analysis with voltage source

Exercise 4 (prob 4.4-8)

 Using nodal analysis, find voltage value at each
non-reference node for the circuit below.

1A

V1 2 V2 2 V3

12 V +
_
Ans: V1 = ?
V2 = 12.0
4 3
V3 = ? 21
Nodal Analysis with voltage source

 A supernode is formed by enclosing:

i) A voltage source connected between 2 non-
reference nodes
ii) and any elements connected in parallel with it.
 Below are the properties of supernode:
i) voltage source inside supernode provides constraint
equation to solve for node voltages
ii) Supernode has no voltage of its own
iii)Supernode requires the application of both KCL &
KVL.
 Nodal Analysis with voltage source
Example (case ii)
Using nodal analysis, find vo for the circuit below

+ _

8V

+
500  500 
Vo
3 mA 5 mA
_
Nodal Analysis w/o voltage source

Step 1 : Choose a reference node.

Step 2 : Assign node voltages to the other nodes.

V1 V2
+ _

8V

+
500  500 
Vo
3 mA 5 mA
_

V0

Reference node
Nodal Analysis w/o voltage source

Step 3 : Apply KCL to each node other than the reference node (in
term of node voltage).
At supernode :
i1 + i2 = i3 + i4 (apply KCL)

V1  V0 V2  V0
3 mA + 5 mA   (in term of node voltage)
500 500 V 1
_
V2
+
i1 i2
i3 8V i4
Apply KVL at supernode :
V1 = V2 + 8 (apply KVL) 3 mA 5 mA
500  500 
Nodal Analysis w/o voltage source

Step 4 : Solve the resulting system of linear equations.

0 0
V1  V0 V2  V0
8 mA   V1  V2  8
500 500
V1 V2  4 …(1) V1 V2  8 …(2)

Solve above equations by using elimination technique:

(1) – (2) :
V1  V2  (V1  V2 )  4  8
V2  2  V0 V1  6
Nodal Analysis with voltage source

Exercise 5 (exp 8.22)

 Using nodal analysis, find voltage value at V1 and
V2 for the circuit below.

10 

V1 _ V2
+
12 V

6A 2 4 4A

Ans: V1 = -10.67
27
V2 = -1.33
Nodal Analysis with voltage source

Exercise 6 (prob 4.4-4)

 Using nodal analysis, find voltage value at each
non-reference node for the circuit below.
+ _

8V
125  250 
V1 V2 V3

+
12 V _
Ans: V1 = ?
500  500  V2 = 12.0
28
V3 = 4.0
Mesh Analysis

• Without current source

• With current sources
Mesh Analysis:Lesson Outcomes

• Understand the concept of mesh current

• Analyze dc circuit using mesh analysis
• Understand the concept of supermesh
• Evaluate the better method between nodal and mesh
analysis for a particular circuit problem
Mesh Analysis

• Mesh analysis applies KVL to find unknown currents

value.
• Using mesh currents instead of element currents as
circuit variables is easier because it reduces the number
equations to be solved simultaneously.
• A mesh is loop that does not contain any other loop
within it.
 Steps of Mesh Analysis
1. Identify mesh (loops).

Mesh Analysis : Steps 2. Assign a current to each

mesh.
3. Apply KVL around each
loop to get an equation in
terms of the loop currents.
4. Solve the resulting system
Steps to determine mesh currents: of linear equations.

1. Identify mesh (loops).

2. Assign a current to each mesh.
3. Apply KVL around each loop to get an equation in
terms of the loop currents.
4. Solve the resulting system of linear equations.
Mesh Analysis w/o current source

Example
For the circuit below, find the branch currents i1, i2 and
i3 using mesh analysis

i1 i2
15  10 
i3

+ 12 V
_ 5
Mesh Analysis w/o current source

Step 1 : Identify mesh (loops).

Step 2 : Assign a current to each mesh.

15  10 

Ia Ib

12 V
+ Mesh 1 Mesh 2
_ 5
Mesh Analysis w/o current source

Step 3 : Apply KVL around each loop to get an equation in terms

of the loop currents.
For mesh 1: -Vs + VR15 + VR5 = 0
-12 + 15Ia + 5(Ia - Ib) = 0
20Ia - 5Ib = 12
15  10 

For mesh 2: VR10 + VR5 = 0

Ia Ib
10Ib + 5(Ib - Ia) = 0 +
_ 5
-5Ia + 15Ib = 0 12 V
Mesh Analysis w/o current source

Step 4 : Solve the resulting system of linear equations.

• The above equations can be solved by using 2 methods:
i) Simultaneous equations / elimination technique
ii) Cramer’s rule
• For elimination technique:
20Ia - 5Ib = 12 (x3)  60 Ia - 15 Ib = 36 …(1)
-5 Ia + 15 Ib = 0 …(2)
By adding eq.(2) from (1) and solving for Ia & Ib
60 Ia - 5 Ia = 36  Ia = 36/55 = 0.65 A
From eq. (2) Ib = (5 x 0.65)/15 = 0.22 A
 Application of Cramer’s rule
 To use Cramer’s rule, we need to put the equations in
matrix form as below:
 20  5  I a  12
 5 15   I    0 
  b   
 Determinant of the matrix is:
20  5
  (20 15)  (5  5)  275
 5 15
 Solve for Ia and Ib
12  5 20 12
 a 0 15 180  b  5 0 0  60
Ia     0.65 A I b     037.22 A
  275   275
Mesh Analysis w/o current source

Exercise 7 (exa 8.18)

 Find the current through the 10  resistor of the
circuit below by using mesh analysis.

IR10
10 
8 5

+
_ 15 V 3 2

Ans: IR10 = 1.22

38
A
Mesh Analysis w/o current source

Exercise 8 (exer 4.6-1)

 Use mesh analysis to determine the current, IR2 for
the circuit shown below.

6 I

_
+ 28 V 2 4 12 

8V
_ +

Ans: IR2 = 1 A39

 Mesh Analysis with current source

 There are 2 possibilities of a circuit with current source:

i) A current source exist only in one mesh
ii) A current source exist between two meshes. (these
requires a supermesh analysis)
 For the case in (i),
Steps of Mesh Analysis
1. Identify mesh (loops).
2. Assign a current to each
mesh.
3. Apply KVL around each
loop to get an equation in
terms of the loop currents.
4. Solve the resulting system
of linear equations.
Mesh Analysis with current source

Exercise 2 (prob 2.35)

 Given voltage supply VS = 50 V, calculate the voltages
across 70  resistor, V1 and 5  resistor, V0.

41
Conclusion
The End