Lecture Outcomes:

• Use supermesh analysis technique to solve for the unknown voltages and
currents in a circuit containing two or more loops
• Use node-voltage analysis to solve for the unknown voltages and currents in a
circuit containing two or more voltage sources in different branches.
• Use supernode analysis technique to solve for the unknown voltages and
currents in a circuit containing two or more loops
 1.3 SUPERMESH

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

current source in common.

Remember:
• The current source in the supermesh
provides the constraint equation
necessary to solve for the mesh currents.
• A supermesh has no current of its own.
• A supermesh requires the application of
both KVL and KCL

• Two adjoining meshes that share a current source constitute a supermesh.

 1.3 SUPERMESH
Mesh –Current Method with current sources
 1.3 SUPERMESH
Mesh –Current Method with current sources

• Supermesh: by excluding the current source and

elements that connected in series with it.
Apply KCL to a node in the branch where the two
meshes intersect.
i 2  i1  6

Apply KVL to the supermesh,

*We cannot write KVL for meshes 1 and 2 because
there is no way to express the voltage drop across the 20  6i1  10i2  4i2  0
current source in terms of the mesh currents.
6i1  14i2  20
Solving, i1= -3.2 A and i2 = 2.8 A.
Eg 1.8
 Eg 1.9

• What is the value of i in the circuit? Answer : i=2A

• Calculate i and i1 in the circuit below?

Answer :i = 16A, i1 = 15A,

i1
 1.4 Node-voltage
• Nodal analysis is a systematic method to determine the voltage at each node relative to the reference
node by repeatedly applying KCL.
• Set of equations in which the unknowns are the voltages at the principal nodes of the circuit is set up
and solved.
• A node is simply a common connection for two or more components. A node voltage is defined as the
voltage rise from the reference node to a non-reference node.

Ø a node must be the reference for specifying the

voltage at any other node.
Ø we can always write an equation of currents at a
principal node.
Ø points N and G are principal nodes.
 Eg 1.10

The voltage drop across the resistor, in the

direction of the current away from the node:
v1 - 10

Solve eqn 1 & 2:

eqn 1
v1 = (100/11) V
v2 = (120/11) V
eqn 2
 Example_Node-voltage
Eg 1.11
Find the node voltage VN from N to G. Once this voltage is known, all other voltages and currents can be
determined.

V in terms of VN

The equation of currents at node N:

I1 + I2= I3
 Eg 1.12

At node 2:

At node 1:

Solve the node voltage

 Eg 1.13

At node 1:

Eqn. 1
At node 2:

Eqn. 2

V1 =13.3V
Calculate i1
V2 = 20V until i2,
Cramer’s rule
From eqn. 1 & eqn. 2:

Eqn. 1

Eqn. 2
 Nodal analysis with voltage sources
A “floating” voltage source is one for which neither side is connected to the
reference node, e.g. VLL in the circuit below:
Let’s using the node voltage method we discussed just now

I1
I3 We don’t know RVLL
I2

supernode

Problem: We cannot write KCL at nodes a or b because we do not know the resistance of the VLL
voltage source
Solution: Define a “supernode” – that chunk of the circuit containing nodes a and b. Express KCL
for this supernode. WHAT IS SUPERNODE?
 Nodal analysis with voltage sources
A supernode is formed by enclosed a (dependent or independent) voltage source connected
between non-reference nodes and any elements connected in parallel with it.

The supernode contains the 2-V source, node 1 and 2, and the 10- resistor.

Step 1: apply KCL to the supernode

Supernode

Eqn. 1
Write i1 and i2 in terms of the node voltage
Eqn. 3

From Eqn. 2
Eqn. 4

Eqn. 2
3v1 = -22
Step 2: apply KVL to the supernode v1 = -7.33 V
v2 = -5.33 V
 Eg 1.14

Supernode Supernode

Answer:
V1=26.7 V
V2=6.7 V
V3=173.3 V
V4=-46.7 V
 Node-Voltage Method with Dependent Source
If the circuit contains dependent sources, the the constraint equations of dependent
sources shall be added in to the node-voltage equations .
Use the node-voltage method to find the iø
 Node-Voltage Method with Dependent Sources
At node 2: (x8)

At node 3:
(x8,3)

At node 1: (x4)