DECLARATION

This is a firm declaration that this Nodal Analysis Laboratory report was solely done by us and
there is zero plagiarism. References has been sited under references.
Surname Name Course Student ID Signature
Mokoko Khumo BEng Chemical 21001177
Engineering

Gotsileng Tshegofatso BEng Chemical 21000732

Engineering

Fakudze Futhi T. BEng Chemical 21000766

Engineering

Motsamai Declan T. BEng Chemical 20000126

Engineering

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We would like to acknowledge and appreciate our teaching assistants and our lab technician for
helping us in the experiment by showing us how the apparatus work before carrying out the
experiment.

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3|Page
TABLE OF CONTENTS
DECLARATION_______________________________________________________________1
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS_______________________________________________________2
TABLE OF CONTENTS_________________________________________________________2
1. ABSTRACT_______________________________________________________________2
2. OBJECTIVES______________________________________________________________3
3. MATERIALS______________________________________________________________3
4. INTRODUCTION AND THEORY_____________________________________________3
5. PROCEDURE, RESULTS AND CALCULATIONS________________________________5
6. DISCUSSION_____________________________________________________________10
7. CONCLUSION____________________________________________________________11
8. REFERENCES____________________________________________________________12
9. APPENDIX_______________________________________________________________12

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 1. ABSTRACT
The experiment for this report was aimed at finding voltages between circuit nodes with respect
to ground. Theoretical results or results obtained from computer simulation were compered with
results obtained from real components and calculations. Nodal analysis is a technique used in the
analysis of electrical circuits to calculate the voltage (potential difference) between nodes, or
sites where elements or branches link, in terms of the branch currents. When each branch of each
circuit element has an admittance representation, nodal analysis is possible. Nodal analysis
generates a set of network equations that, if they are simple, can be solved by hand or quickly
solved using linear algebra. The nodes of nodal analysis are those. As a matter of convention,
one node, generally the one with the greatest number of connections to other circuit components,
serves as the ground reference. The choice of this node has no bearing on the outcome.
The number of nodal equations for a circuit with n nodes is n-1. For each node with an unknown
voltage, variables are assigned; if the voltage is already known, no variables need be assigned.
Create an equation based on Kirchhoff's Current Law for each unknown voltage (add all currents
leaving from the node together and mark the sum equal to zero). The difference between the two
nodes' potentials, less the difference between their potentials, divided by their resistance, is the
current flowing between them. Join the two nodes as a super node if there are voltage sources
between two unknown voltages. The two nodes' respective currents are integrated into a single
equation, and a new equation is created for the voltages. The two equations are then
simultaneously solved.

2. OBJECTIVES
i. To solve the nodal voltage in a two-node circuit and compare the calculated value
with the measured value.
ii. To solve for nodal voltage in a three-node circuit and compare the calculated values
with the measured values.
iii. To solve for the nodal voltages in a three-node circuit with a voltage source
connected between two nodes and compare the calculated values with the measured
values.

3. MATERIALS
a) Two variables DC power supplies
b) Two 09-20 Vdc voltmeters or multimeter
c) Resistors of 1kΩ, 2kΩ, 6kΩ

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 4. INTRODUCTION AND THEORY
Nodal analysis is a method of finding the voltage distribution between the circuit with respect to
the ground, therefore it is called the nodal voltage analysis. Laws applied are Kirchhoff’s current
law to get the voltage at each circuit node and Ohm’s law [1].
The experiment was done in three different circuit runs which were a two-node circuit, three-
node circuit and a three-node circuit connected between two nodes. For each circuit, a reference
node which is the ground node is assigned at the bottom of each circuit. Also, for each node,
unknown symbols for voltage values are assigned to each node. However, no symbol is assigned
to the ground node. Current directions are also assigned to each circuit branch, considering
direction towards the ground.
Kirchhoff’s current law is then applied to each node excluding the reference node.
(KCL): I1 = I2 + I3 +…
The branch currents are represented in terms of the unknown nodal voltages and resistances so
that equations for the nodes are obtained, such that:
For n nodes; equations = n-1
i.e., 3 nodes; equations = 3-1 = 2 equations
Then the obtained equations are solved simultaneously to get the voltage values.
For the three-node Circuit with voltage source as shown in figure below the paragraph, the
voltage is set at the non-reference node and reference node. So, theoretically, the voltage at the
non-reference node is the same as the voltage of the voltage source and the analysis can be done
as stated on the preceding steps.

Figure 4.1: showing Nodal Analysis –Two node analysis circuit

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Figure 4.2: showing Nodal Analysis – three node analysis circuit

Figure 4.3: showing Nodal Analysis – three-node circuit with voltage source connected between
two nodes

5. PROCEDURE, RESULTS AND CALCULATIONS

Step 1: simulation and real component values for the two node circuit.

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Table 5.1: simulation and real component values.
Simulation value Real components value (+/- 15%)
V1 2V V1 2.228V
V2 6V V2 6.071V
Va 3V Va 3.161V

Figure 5.1: simulation for two node circuit.

Step 2: Calculated value for Va.

V a V 1−V a V 2−V a
− − =0
R2 R1 R2

Va 2.228 V −V a 6.071 V −V a
− − =0
6.178 kΩ 0.986 kΩ 1.971 kΩ

12.01 ( 6.178V kΩ − 2.228

a V −V
a
0.986 kΩ
−
1.971 kΩ )
6.071V −V a
=0

1.944 V a +12.18 1 V a +6.093 V a−27.139−36.991=0

20.218 V a=64.13

64.13
V a=
20.218

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V a =3.171926007V =3.172V

Question 6.0

The calculated and measured values of Va are similar within a tolerance.

Step 3: Simulation and real component values for Va and Vb in the three-node circuit.

Table 5.2: Simulation and real component values in the three-node circuit.
Simulation values Real component values (+/-15%)
V1 10V 9.849V
V2 10V 10.117V
Va 5V 4.953V
Vb 5V 5.011V

Figure 5.2: simulation for the three-node circuit (terminals for the multimeter measuring the
voltage at Va were switched hence the negative value).

Step 4: Calculated values of Va and Vb.

V a V 1−V a V b−V a
− − =0
R4 R1 R3

Va 9.849−V a V b −V a
− − =0
1.968 1.967 1.967

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7.614 ( Va
1.968
−
9.849−V a V b−V a
1.967
−
1.967
=0)
3.869 V a +3.871V a+ 3.871V a −3.871V b−38.65=0

11.611V a−3.871 V b=38.65

38.65+3.871 V b
V a=
11.611

V b V 2−V b V a−V b
− − =0
R5 R2 R3

Vb 10.117−V b V a −V b
− − =0
1.959 1.972 1.967

7.599 ( Vb
1.959
−
10.117−V b V a−V b
1.972
−
1.967
=0 )
11.586 V b−3.863 ( 38.65+11.611
3.871V
b
)=38.981
11.586 V b−1.288 V b =38.981+12.859

51.84
V b= =5.033987182 V =5.034 V
10.298

38.65+3.871 ( 5.034 )
V a= =5.007029024 V =5.007 V
11.611

Va=5.007V, Vb=5.034V

Question 6.1

The calculated and measured values of Va are similar only having a slight difference.

The calculated and measured values of Vb are also similar with a very slight difference.

Step 5: Simulation and Real component values for Va and Vb in the three-node circuit with
voltage source connected between two nodes.

Table 5.3: simulation and real component values three node circuit with voltage source
connected between two nodes.
Simulation values Real components values (+/-15%)

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V1 10V 10.117V
V2 15V 15.015V
Va -5V -5.095V
Vb 10V 10.020V

Figure 5.3: simulation for the three node circuit with voltage source connected between two
nodes(terminals for the multimeter measuring the voltage at Va were switched hence this was
accounted for).

Step 6: Calculated value for Va and Vb.

−V a V 1 −V a
+ =0
R2 R1

−V a 10.117−V a
+ =0
1.968 1.967

3.871 ( 1.968
−V a
+
1.967 )
10.117−Va
=0

−1.967 V a−1.968V a=19.910

19.910
V a=
−3.953

V a =−5.059720452V =−5.060V

V 1−V a V b V b V a
− = +
R1 R 4 R 3 R2

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14.95 ( 15.177
−
Vb
1.967 1.972 )
=14.95 ( Vb
−
5.060
1.959 1.968 )
115.35−7.581 V b =7.631V b −38.439

−15.212 V b=−153.789

−153.789
V b=
−15.212

V b =10.101971601V =10.110 V

Question 6.2

The calculated values of Va and Vb are similar to the measured values having very slight
differences.

6. DISCUSSION
Experiment was carried out successfully as the experimental objectives were met. Nodal voltages
were determined by means of calculation and measurement both simulation and real
components. The values were compared and found to be consistent suggesting that the
calculation by nodal voltage circuit analysis were within experimental accuracy. Calculation
values and simulation values were equal whilst the real component values had slight deviation
which is expected as real components have their own degree of uncertainty in general. However,
the deviation was negligible as real component value were approximately equal to those of the
calculation.
Figure 5.1 which was a two-node circuit with two voltage sources, V 1 = 2V and V2 = 6V
respectively and a R1 = 1kΩ resistor connected in series with two resistors, R 2 = 6kΩ and R3 =
2kΩ connected in parallel, was analyzed using the nodal voltage circuit analysis method.
Simulation results gave a value of Va = 3V (Figure 5.1) and calculated value of V a = 3.172V.
Real component value was measured at Va = 3.161V. The real component value had a slight
deviation due to the values of the other circuit elements. The circuit elements were valued at, V 1
= 2.228V, V2 = 6.071V, R1 = 0.986kΩ, R2 = 6.178kΩ and R3 = 1.971kΩ.
Figure 5.2 which was a three-node circuit with two voltage sources, V 1 = 10V and V2 = 10V
respectively and five resistors, R1 = R2 = R3 = R4 = R5 = 2kΩ connected accordingly, was
analyzed using the nodal voltage circuit analysis method. Simulation results gave a value of V a =
Vb = 5V (Figure 5.2) and calculated value of Va =5.007V Vb = 5.034V. Real component value
was measured at Va = 4.953V and Vb = 5.011V. The real component value had a slight deviation
due to the values of the other circuit elements. The circuit elements were valued at, V 1 =
9.9849V, V2 = 10.117V, R1 = R3 = 1.967kΩ, R2 = 1.972kΩ, R4 = 1.968kΩ, R5 = 1.959kΩ.

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Figure 5.3 which was a three-node circuit with two voltage sources, one in between two nodes,
V1 = 10V and V2 = 15V respectively and five resistors, R 1 = R2 = R3 = R4 = R5 = 2kΩ connected
accordingly, was analyzed using the nodal voltage circuit analysis method. Simulation results
gave a value of Va = 5V, Vb = 10V (Figure 5.3) and calculated value of V a = -5.060V, Vb =
10.110V. Real component values were measured at V a = -5.059V and Vb = 10.020V. The real
component value had a slight deviation due to the values of the other circuit elements. The
circuit elements were valued at, V1 = 10.117V, V2 = 15.115V, R1 = 1.967kΩ, R2 = 1.968kΩ, R3 =
1.959kΩ, R4 = 1.972kΩ. The value of the simulated V a gave a positive number because the
terminals of the voltmeter were switched when connected to the circuit.
The differences in calculated values compared to the measured values in the real components
could have been caused to rounding numbers to four significant figures during calculation. Due
to the fact fact that the multimeter never fully stabilized, the values of resistors and voltages had
to be taken while it was still moving, this may have been the cause of the minor deviations. The
values are all within a small acceptable tolerance so the differences can be ignored or taken as
insignificant.

7. CONCLUSION
The theory of nodal voltage circuit analysis to find the voltages in a circuit with multiple nodes
and two voltage sources was a success.

In the circuit of figure 5.1, the simulated, measured and calculated values of Va were found to be
3V, 3.161V and 3.172V respectively. These values are different with slight differences which
shows that nodal voltage circuit analysis can be used to find voltage at a node for this type of
circuit.

In the circuit of figure 5.2, the simulated, measured and calculated values of Va and Vb were also
very close and similar to one another. The simulated, measured and calculated values of Va were,
5V, 4.953V and 5.007V respectively. The simulated, measured and calculated values of Vb were,
5V, 5.011V and 5.034V. The nodal voltage circuit analysis method was also successful in this
case.

In the circuit of figure 5.3, the simulated, measured and calculated values Va were, 5V, -5.095V
and -5.060V which are similar to one another ignoring the error of the switched voltmeter
terminals in the simulation that caused a positive voltage value. The simulated, measured and
calculated values of Vb were, 10V, 10.012V and 10.111V which are also very similar. The nodal
voltage circuit analysis method was also successful in this case.

In conclusion it can be said that the experiment was a success as the theory of nodal voltage
circuit analysis was proven and the simulated, measured and calculated nodal voltages were
similar for all the comparable nodes.

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 8. REFERENCES

[1] B. Raveendran, "BYJU'S," BYJU'S, 1 January 2008. [Online]. Available:

https://byjus.com/physics/nodal-analysis/. [Accessed 12 October 2022].

9. APPENDIX

Table 1: Real component resistor values for step 1

R1 0.986kΩ
R2 6.178kΩ
R3 1.971kΩ

Table 2: Real component resistor values for step 3 and step 5.

R1 1.967kΩ
R2 1.972kΩ
R3 1.967kΩ
R4 1.968kΩ
R5 1.959kΩ

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Figure 5.1.1: Real components for two node circuit.

Figure 5.2.1: Real components for the three-node circuit

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Figure 5.3.1: Real components for the three node circuit with voltage source connected between
two nodes

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