Chapter 4

Techniques for circuit analysis

Prepared and Presented By Dr.Yousef Alarfaj

 Agenda
• Terminology
• Introduction to the Node-Voltage Method
• The Node-Voltage Method and Dependent Sources
• The Node-Voltage Method: Some Special Cases
• Introduction to the Mesh-Current Method
• The Mesh-Current Method and Dependent Sources
• The Mesh-Current Method: Some Special Cases
• The Node-Voltage Method vs. the Mesh-Current Method
• Source Transformation
• Thévenin and Norton Equivalents
• More on Deriving Thévenin Equivalent
• Maximum Power Transfer
• Superposition
Terminology
Terminology
 Introduction to the
Node-Voltage Method

• How many essential nodes?

•
 Node-Voltage
• Voltage drop from non-
reference essential node to
reference essential nod
• Writing node-voltage
equations, is nothing but
taking KCL at certain node
• We always assume the
current is going out of the
node
 Node-Voltage
• In terms of and :
•

• KCL @ node 1:

•
𝑖 𝑖
𝑖
•

•
 Node-Voltage
• Similarly, for node 2:

• Solving the two equations with

two unknowns

•
 Example 1
• Use the node-voltage method to find 1 and 2 in the
circuit shown in figure.
Stop Here?
 The Node-Voltage Method
and Dependent Sources

• If the circuit contains dependent sources, the node-

voltage equations must be supplemented with the
constrained equations imposed by the dependent
sources.
 Example 2
• Write the node-voltage equations of the following
circuit
• Node-Voltage equation:

∆
•

• Notice: ∆

• Substitute in the above equation

•
 The Node-Voltage Method:
Some Special Cases
• Known Node-Voltage:

• How many essential nodes?

•
• How many node-voltage needed?
•
• Initially, we would need 2 node-voltage
equations. However, note that is
known, as =100 V. Therefore, we only
need one node-voltage equation.
 The Node-Voltage Method:
Some Special Cases
• Supernode:

• When a voltage source is

between two essential nodes,
we can combine the two
nodes to form a supernode.

• From the +ve to the –ve

•
• Note that:
The Node-Voltage Method:
Some Special Cases
 Example 3
• Use the node-voltage method to find the voltage
Stop Here?
 Introduction to the
Mesh-Current Method
• A mesh current: It is the current that exists only in the perimeter
of a mesh
• Number of mesh equations = number of meshes
 Example 4
• We can use KCL and several KVL equations to find the currents 1, 2,and
3.
• Or, we can create mesh-current equations: Note That:

• We should consider number of Meshes

and number of currents

Mesh#1
-

Mesh#2
-
 Example 5
• Use mesh-current method to find the power dissipated in the 5 Ω
resistor
 The Mesh-Current Method
and Dependent Sources
• If the circuit contains dependent sources, the mesh-current equations
must be supplemented with the constrained equations imposed by
the dependent sources.

•
Stop Here?
 The Mesh-Current Method:
Some Special Cases
• Known Mesh Current

• There are 3 meshes, so expect

to need 3 mesh equations.

• However, there is a known

mesh current as =20 A.

• Thus, we only need two mesh

equations
 The Mesh-Current Method:
Some Special Cases
• SuperMesh
• When a current source is between two meshes, these two
meshes can be combined to form a SuperMesh.
 The Mesh-Current Method:
Some Special Cases
• SuperMesh (a + c)

• SuperMesh Equation

• Mesh (b)

•
 Example 6
• Use the mesh-current method to find the total power dissipated
in the circuit.
 The Node-Voltage Method vs.
the Mesh-Current Method

• How to decide which method to use?

• If there is SuperNode, use the Node-Voltage method

• If there is a SuperMesh, use the Mesh-Current method

 Example 7
• Find the voltage in the circuit shown
Stop Here?
 SuperPosition
• Whenever a linear system is excited by more than one
independent source, the total response is the sum of the
individual responses.

• Steps for applying the SuperPosition:

1. Deactivate independent sources except one
a. Independent Voltage source will be short-circuit
b. Independent Current source will be open-circuit
c. Do not deactivate dependent sources
2. Find response ′
3. Repeat (1) for other sources and find ′′ … etc.
4. The total response is the sum of the individual responses:
= ′+ ′′+ ′′′
 Example 8
For the following circuit, Apply Superposition principle then use
Mesh-Current method to find and
 Example 9
Use the principle of superposition to find in the circuit shown in
the circuit below
Stop Here?
 Source transformation

• If a voltage source is in series with a resistor, then the source can

be transformed to a current source in parallel with the same
resistor.

• If a current source is in parallel with a resistor, then the source

can be transformed to a voltage source in series with the same
resistor.
Source transformation
 Source transformation
Important Notes
1. If there is a resistor in parallel
with the voltage source, it can be
omitted from the source
transformation.

2. If there is a resistor in series

with the current source, it can be
omitted from the source
transformation.
 Example 10
• Use a series of source transformation until a single loop is created
to find in the circuit.
 Thevenin Equivalent
• An independent voltage source is in series with a resistor . They
are used to describe behavior of a terminal.
 Thevenin Equivalent
How to find the and ?

1. Open-circuit at terminals to find

 Thevenin Equivalent
How to find the and ?

2. Short-circuit at terminals − to find

 Norton Equivalent
• An independent current source is in parallel with a resistor .
They are used to describe behavior of a terminal.
 Thevenin Equivalent
How to find the and ?

1. Short-circuit at terminals − to find

 Thevenin Equivalent
How to find the and ?

2. Open-circuit at terminals to find

 Notes
• Norton equivalent circuit is simply the source transformation of a
Thévenin equivalent circuit.
Stop Here?
 Finding
• To find , we need to KILL ALL INDEPENDENT
SOURCES (Voltage source  Short circuit, Current
source  Open circuit) and find the equivalent
resistance between node a-b

• If there are a dependent sources in the circuit, then

we apply either a voltage test ), or a current test
( ) to the Thevenin terminals a-b, then we apply
Ohm’s law
 Usefulness of
Thevenin & Notron
 Summary of Finding
Thevenin & Norton Equivalent
Open-Circuit to find 𝑶𝑪 :
• The terminal − will be left open-circuited
• Determine the open-circuit voltage

Short-Circuit to find 𝑺𝑪 :
• The terminal − will be left short-circuited
• Determine the short-circuit current

Kill-Source Method to find 𝑻𝒉 = 𝑵 :

• Deactivate all sources (which must be independent only). Recall that:
o Voltage source → short circuit
o Current source → open circuit
• Determine the equivalent resistance looking from the point view of the terminal
 Summary of Finding
Thevenin & Norton Equivalent
Test-Source Method to find 𝑻𝒉 = 𝑵 :
• Deactivate all independent sources. Again:
o Voltage source → short circuit
o Current source → open circuit
• Connect to terminal and a test voltage source with current delivered by
the source
• Or, Connect to terminal and a test current source with voltage
delivered by the source
• Use the equation:
Summary
Summary
Summary
 Example 11
• Find the Thévenin equivalent circuit with respect to the terminals
a-b for the circuit shown.
 Example 12
• Find the Norton equivalent circuit with respect to the terminals
a-b for the circuit shown.
 Example 13
• Find the Thévenin equivalent for the circuit containing
dependent sources shown in Figure below
Stop Here?
 Maximum Power
Transfer

• Circuit analysis plays an

important role in the analysis of
systems designed to transfer
power from a source to a load.

• We need a load resistor that

will allow for maximum power
transfer to it.
 Maximum Power
Transfer
• This occurs when:

• We can find the value of this maximum

power transferred:

•
• Whereas
( )

• When Power transferred is maximum,

 Maximum Power
Transfer
• If ,

• Then the Maximum power  

• If Norton equivalent circuit is used, then the equation can be re-

written as:
 Example 14
• In the circuit shown, find for maximum power transfer and the
maximum power transferred to the load.
Thank You
Any Questions?