Chapter 3

Methods of
Analysis –
Kirchoff’s Law

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 With Ohm’s and Kirchhoff’s law established, they may now
be applied to circuit analysis.
 Two techniques will be presented in this chapter:
◦ Nodal analysis, which is based on Kichhoff current law (KCL)
◦ Mesh analysis, which is based on Kichhoff voltage law (KVL)
 Any linear circuit can be analyzed using these two
techniques.
 The analysis will result in a set of simultaneous equations
which may be solved by Cramer’s rule or computationally
(using MATLAB for example).

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 is most general method
 based on the defining voltage at each node
 Select one node as reference node (usually ground,
but not necessarily)
 All other node voltages will referenced to this node
 Defining the remaining n-1 node as the independent
variables
 Apply KCL in each of the n-1 nodes, expressing each
current in terms of the adjacent node voltage
 Solve the linear system of n-1 equations in n-1
unknown

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 Va R1 Vb R3 Va R1 Vb R3 Vd
Vd

I1 b I3 I1 b I3
I2 I2
R2 R2
each branch
current is
expressed in terms
of one or more node Vc
Vc voltages;

Apply the KCL in to the node b : Apply the KCL in to the node b :
I1  I 2  I 3  0 I1  I 2  I 3  0
Va  Vb Vb  Vc Vb  Vd
  0 Va  Vb

Vc  Vb

Vd  Vb
0
R1 R2 R3
R1 R2 R3
Apply the KCL in to the node a :
Va  Vc Va  Vb
I s  I1  I 2  0 Is   0
R1 R2

Apply the KCL in to the node b :

I 2  I3  0 equal

Apply the KCL in to the node c :

Va  Vc Vb  Vc
 I s  I1  I 3  0  Is   0
R1 R3

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KCL in to the node a :
Va  Vc Va  Vb
I s  I1  I 2  0 Is   0
R1 R2

KCL in to the node b :

Va  Vb Vb  Vc
I 2  I3  0  0
R2 R3

1 1  1 
  Va   Vb  I s
 R1 R2   R2 
 1  1 1
  Va    Vb  0
 R2   R2 R3 

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 R3

R2 Given Data:
R1=1kW ; R2=2kW ;

I1 R1 R4 I2
R3=10kW ; R4=2kW ;
I1=10 mA ; I2=50 mA

Find : All Node voltages and branch currents

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 SOLUTION
node - 1 R3 node - 2
Node – 1
R2 KCL :  I = 0
0  V1 V2  V1 V2  V1
 I 1   0
I1 R1 R4 I2 R1 R2 R3
 1 1 1   1 1 
   
 V1    V2  I1
 R1 R2 R3   R2 R3 
reference node

KCL in the Node – 2 :  I = 0

V2  V1 V2  V1 V2  0  1 1   1 1 1 
 I 2   0    V1     V2   I 2
R2 R3 R4  R2 R3   R2 R3 R4 

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From this two linear equation, after substituting all
known value we get:
1.6 V1  0.6 V2  10 V
 0.6 V1  1.1 V2  50 V

Solving this equation:

V1  13.57 V
V2  52.86 V

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11
 A supernode is formed by enclosing a voltage source (dependant or
independent) connected between two non-reference nodes and any
elements connected in parallel with it.
 Why?
◦ Nodal analysis requires applying KCL
◦ The current through the voltage source cannot be known in advance (Ohm’s
law does not apply)
◦ By lumping the nodes together, the current balance can still be described
 In the example circuit node 2 and 3 form a supernode
 The current balance would be: i1  i4  i2  i3

v1  v2 v1  v3 v2  0 v3  0
 Or this can be expressed as:   
2 4 8 6

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 In order to apply KVL to the supernode in the example, the circuit is
redrawn as shown.
 Going around this loop in the clockwise direction gives:

 Note the following properties of a supernode:

1. The voltage source inside the supernode provides a constraint equation needed to
solve for the node voltages
2. A supernode has no voltage of its own
3. A supernode requires the application of both KCL and KVL

 v2  5  v3  0  v2  v3  5

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MCA (Mesh Current Analysis)

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 I1 R1 Vs2

Mesh current:
Ic
Ia, Ib, Ic
I2 R2 I4 R4

I5 Branch current:
I3
Vs1
I1, I2, I3, I4, I5,
Ia R3 Ib R5 IS

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 Mesh 2: KVL requires that
Mesh 1: KVL requires that
-vs + v1 + v2 = 0
Where: v1 = i1R1 Where:

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 R1 R3

V2 Given Data:
V1 V3 R1= 5 W ; R2= 10 W ;
R3= 5 W ; R4= 5 W ;
R2 R4
V1=10 V ; V2= 9 V ; V3 = 1 V

Find : Mesh currents

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 SOLUTION : Choosing the clockwise mesh current direction
Apply the KVL in the mesh –1 :
R3
R1
 V =0
 V1  I1  R1  V2   I1  I 2   R2  0
V2
V1 V3
 R1  R2   I1  R2  I 2  V1  V2
I1 I2
Apply the KVL in the mesh –2 :
R4
R2  V =0
 V2  I2  R3  V3  I2  R4  I 2  I1   R2  0
 R2  I1   R2  R3  R4   I 2  V2  V3

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  R1  R2   I1  R2  I 2  V1  V2
 R2  I1   R2  R3  R4  I 2  V2  V3

With known value :

15  I1  10  I 2  1
 10  I1  20  I 2  8

Solving this linear equation :

I1  0.5 A and
I 2  0.65 A

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The MCA
Using mesh current analysis, find the voltage, v, across the
current source in the following circuit.

rev. 20
 The presence of a current source makes the mesh analysis
simpler in that it reduces the number of equations.
 If the current source is located on only one mesh, the
current for that mesh is defined by the source.
 For example:

 Here, the current i2 is equal to -5A

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 Similar to the case of nodal analysis where a voltage source shared two
non-reference nodes, current sources (dependent or independent) that
are shared by more than one mesh need special treatment
 The two meshes must be joined together, resulting in a supermesh.
 The supermesh is constructed by merging the two meshes and
excluding the shared source and any elements in series with it
 A supermesh is required because mesh analysis uses KVL
 But the voltage across a current source cannot be known in advance.
 Intersecting supermeshes in a circuit must be combined to for a larger
supermesh.

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 In this example, a 6A current course is shared between
mesh 1 and 2.
 The supermesh is formed by merging the two meshes.
 The current source and the 2Ω resistor in series with it are
removed.

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 Using the circuit from the last slide:
 Apply KVL to the supermesh

 20  6i1  10i2  4i2  0 or 6i1  14i2  20

 We next apply KCL to the node in the branch where the two meshes
intersect.
i2  i1  6

 Solving these two equations we get:

i1  3.2A i2  2.8A

 Note that the supermesh required using both KVL and KCL

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 If the network contains:
◦ Many series connected elements
◦ Voltage sources
◦ Supermeshes
◦ A circuit with fewer meshes than nodes
 If branch or mesh currents are what is being solved for.
 Mesh analysis is the only suitable analysis for transistor
circuits
 It is not appropriate for operational amplifiers because
there is no direct way to obtain the voltage across an op-
amp.

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 If the network contains:
◦ Many parallel connected elements
◦ Current sources
◦ Supernodes
◦ Circuits with fewer nodes than meshes
 If node voltages are what are being solved for
 Non-planar circuits can only be solved using nodal analysis
 This format is easier to solve by computer

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