American University of Ras Al Khaimah

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering Department

Electric Circuit Analysis I (ECEN 280), Spring 2020
Solutions to Homework II
1. Given the circuit shown in Fig. 1, determine Vx and I0 using nodal analysis.
sup ernode

10 Ω 5V 5Ω
v1 v2 v3

10 Ω I0
20 V 20 Ω 10 Ω VX
6A

Fig. 1. for Problem 1

Solution
Consider nodes 1 and 2.
Applying KCL at Supernode

v1 − 20 v1 v2 v2 − v3
+ + + =0 ⇒ 2v1 − 40 + v1 + 2v2 + 4v2 − 4v3 =0
10 20 10 5
⇒ 3v1 + 6v2 − 4v3 =
40 (1)

Applying KCL at node 3

v3 − v2 v
− 6 + 3 = 0 ⇒ 2v3 − 2v2 − 60 + v3 = 0
5 10
⇒ −2v2 + 3v3 =60 (2)

Supernode Equation:

v1 − v2 =
5 (3)

We have three equations with three unknowns and we can solve it using matrix algebra or using
substitution and successive elimination of variables.
From super node equation (3), we have

4
v1 − v2 =5 ⇒ v1 =v2 + 5 (4)

Substituting (4) into (1) for v1, we have

3v1 + 6v2 − 4v3 = 40 ⇒ 3(v2 + 5) + 6v2 − 4v3 = 40 ⇒ 3v2 + 15 + 6v2 − 4v3 = 40

9v2 − 4v3 =
25 (5)

We can combine (2) and (5) solve the simultaneous equations

=
4 × −2v2 + 3v3 60 =−8v2 + 12v3 240
 ⇒ +
=
3 × 9v2 − 4v3 25 = 27v2 − 12v3 75
19v2 = 315 ⇒ v2 = 315 / 19 = 16.58 V
⇒ v3 =(2v2 + 60) / 3 =(33.16 + 60) / 3 =93.16 / 3 =31.05 V

We can solve for v1 from the supernode equation.

v1 − v2 = 5 ⇒ v1 = v2 + 5 = 16.58 + 5 = 21.58 V

Finally,

• we can see that Vx =v3= 31.05 V

v3 31.05 V
• I= = = 3.11 A
10 Ω
o
10

2. Using mesh analysis find I0 and the voltage v0 in the circuit of Fig. 2.

6Ω

I0 i3
4Ω 2Ω

40 V i1 8Ω v0 i2 4 I0

Fig. 2. for Problem 2

5
Solution
Applying KVL to mesh1

−40 + 4(i1 − i3 ) + 8(i1 − i2 ) =0 ⇒ −40 + 4i1 − 4i3 + 8i1 − 8i2 =0

⇒ 12i1 − 8i2 − 4i3 =
40
⇒ 3i1 − 2i2 − i3 =
10 (1)

Applying KVL to mesh 2

8(i2 − i1 ) + 2(i2 − i3 ) + 4 I 0 =0 ⇒ 8i2 − 8i1 + 2i2 − 2i3 + 4 I 0 =0 but I 0 =i3

⇒ −8i1 + 10i2 + 2i3 =0
⇒ −4i1 + 5i2 + i3 =0 (2)
=
i3 4i1 − 5i2 (3)

Applying KVL to mesh3

4(i3 − i1 ) + 6i3 + 2(i3 − i2 ) =0 ⇒ 4i3 − 4i1 + 6i3 + 2i3 − 2i2 =0

⇒ −4i1 − 2i2 + 12i3 =0
⇒ −2i1 − i2 + 6i3 =0 (4)

Substituting (3) into (1) and (4) for i3, we have

3i1 − 2i2 − i3 =10 ⇒ 3i1 − 2i2 − (4i1 − 5i2 ) =10 ⇒ 3i1 − 2i2 − 4i1 + 5i2 =10
⇒ −i1 + 3i2 =10 (5)

−2i1 − i2 + 6i3 = 0 ⇒ −2i1 − i2 + 6(4i1 − 5i2 ) = 0 = 0 ⇒ −2i1 − i2 + 24i1 − 30i2 = 0

⇒ 22i1 − 31i2 =⇒
0 i2 = i 22
31 1 (6)

Substituting (6) into (5) for i2, we have

−i1 + 3i2 = 10 ⇒ −i1 + 3(22 / 31)i1 = 10 ⇒ (35 / 31)i1 = 10

⇒
= i1 310=
/ 35 8.857 A

We can calculate i2 from (6) and i1 from(3) as follows:

=
i2 =
22
i
31 1
22
31 35=
( 310 ) = 6.286 A
220
35

i3 = 4i1 − 5i2 ⇒ i1 = 4( 310

35 ) − 5( 35 ) =
220 140
35 = 4A

Finally,

• I 0= i3= 4 A

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 • v0 =
8(i1 − i2 ) =
= 35 − 35 ) =
8( 310 220 720
35 V=20.571V

−1
 3 −2 −1  i1  10   i1   3 −2 −1 10 
          
 −4 5 1   i2  =
 0  ⇒  i2  =
 −4 5 1   0 
 −2 −1 6   i   0   i   −2 −1 6   0 
  3     3     
>> A=[ 3 -2 -1; -4 5 1; -2 -1 6]

A=

3 -2 -1

-4 5 1

-2 -1 6

>> b=[10 0 0].'

b=

10

>> i=inv(A)*b

i=

8.8571

6.2857

4.0000

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 3. Use the superposition principle to find the current i0 and the voltage v0 in the circuit shown in Fig.
3.

5Ω

10 A 2i0 60 V
30 V

Fig. 3 for Question 3

Solution:
We consider the contribution of the 10 A and the 30 V sources separately taking one at a time. We live
the dependent sources intact while considering each independent source.

Let the contribution of the 10 A source is V1 and the contribution of the 30 V source is V2 to the total of
v0.

v0
v0 = V1 + V2 ⇒ i0 =
10 Ω

Case 1: Consider contribution of the 10 A source. We short circuit the 30 V source and analyze the circuit
to get V1 as shown in the circuit below.
i1 5Ω

10 A 2i1

Applying KCL at node a:

va  va − vb 
10 − −  =0 ⇒ 400 − va − 8va + 8vb =0
40  5 
−9va + 8vb = −400 (1)

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Applying KCL at node b:

 v − va  vb v −v
2i1 −  b − =0 ⇒ but i1 = a b
 5  20 5
 v − v   v − va  vb
⇒ 2 a b  −  b  − 20 =0 ⇒ 8(va − vb ) − 4(vb − va ) − vb =0
 5   5 
⇒ 8va − 8vb − 4vb + 4va − vb =0 ⇒ 12va − 13vb =0 ⇒ va =(13 / 12)vb (2)

Substituting (2) in (1) for va

−9va + 8vb =
−400 ⇒ −9(13 / 12vb ) + 8vb =
−400
⇒ −(117 / 12)vb + 8vb = −400 ⇒ −(21 / 12)vb = −400 ⇒ vb = 228.57 V
=
⇒ va (13 /=
12)vb 247.62V

Therefore the contribution due to the 12 A current source is

V1 = va − vb = 247.62 − 228.57 = 19.05 V (3)

Case 2: Consider contribution of the 30 V source. We open circuit the 10 A current source and analyze
the circuit to get V2 as shown in the circuit below.

i2 5 Ω

2i2 30 V
i2

Applying KCL at node c:

vc  v + 30  v
− + 2i2 −  c  =
0 ⇒ but i2 =− c
45  20  45
v 2v  v + 30 
⇒ − c − c − c = 0 ⇒ −4vc − 8vc − 9vc = 270
45 45  20 
vc 12.857
⇒ −21vc = 270 ⇒ vc = −12.857 V ⇒ i2 = − = = 0.2857 A
45 45
V=
2 5=
i2 1.429V

Therefore, using the superposition property

20.48 V
v0 = V1 + V2 = 19.05 V+1.429 V=20.48V ⇒ i0 = = 4.10 A
5Ω

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 4. For circuit of Fig. 4, find the Thevenin equivalent circuit between the terminals a and b.

40 Ω

40 V
20 Ω 40 Ω

20 Ω

20 Ω 20 Ω

40 V

Fig. 4. for Problem 4

Solution: We need to fin Vth and Rth for the circuit between terminals a and b. To find Rth the two
independent voltage sources will be short-circuited and the independent current source will be open
circuited. The two 40Ω resistors are in parallel giving:
−1
 1 1 
40 Ω / /40Ω=  +  = 20Ω
 40 40 
The circuit is re-drawn as follows

20 Ω 20 Ω

20 Ω
20 Ω
20 Ω

The center Y- connected resistors can be converted to ∆ as follows:

20 × 20 + 20 × 20 + 20 × 20 3 × 20 × 20
∆ resistor = = =60 Ω
20 20

10
 60 Ω

20 Ω
60 Ω 60 Ω

20 Ω 20 Ω

From the above circuit, the equivalent Thevenin resistance between the terminals a and b can be easily
determined.

RTh = [ (20 Ω / /60 Ω) + (20 Ω / /60 Ω) ] / /60 Ω

  1 1  
−1

= 2 ×  +   / /60 Ω= [ 2 × 15Ω] / /60 Ω= 30Ω / /60Ω

  20 60  
−1
 1 1  30 × 60 1800 Ω
=
 +  = = =
20 Ω
 30 60  (30 + 60) 90

To find Vth, we can change the 5A current source to a voltage source using source transformation.
Similarly, we firstly change the 40 V voltage source with the 40 Ω series resistor to a 1 A current source
and 40 Ω parallel resistor, then find the equivalent resistance of the two 40 Ω parallel resistors that gives
20 Ω resistor and finally change back the 1 A current source to a voltage source. We can re-draw the
circuit as follows:

20 V
20 Ω 20 Ω

20 Ω 20 Ω
20 Ω

40 V 100 V

Now, we can use KVL to the loops 1 and 2 to find i1 and i2 then the voltages Va and Vb.

Applying KVL for loop 1:

−40 + 20i1 + 20i1 + 20(i1 − i2 ) + 100 =

0 ⇒ 60i1 − 20i2 =
−60 ⇒ 3i1 − i2 =
−3 (1)

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Applying KVL for loop 2:

−100 + 20(i2 − i1 ) + 20i2 − 20 + 20i2 = 0 ⇒ −20i1 + 60i2 = 120 ⇒ −i1 + 3i2 = 6 (2)

We can combine (1) and (2) to solve for i1 and i2.

3 × 3i1 − i2 =−3

+ −i1 + 3i2 = 6
3
8i1 =−3 ⇒ i1 =− =−0.375 A ⇒ i2 =3 + 3i1 =3 − 1.125 =1.875 A
8
The voltage at points a and b are calculated as follows:

va = 40 − 20i1 = 40 − 20(−0.375) = 40 + 7.5 = 47.5 V (3)

vb =
20i2 =
20 × 1.875 =
37.5 V (4)

Therefore , VTh = va − vb = 47.5 − 37.5 = 10 V

5. Calculate the output voltage vo in the op-amp circuit shown in Fig. 5.

100 kΩ

20 kΩ 20 kΩ
100 V

10 kΩ 10 kΩ

Fig. 5. for Problem 5

Solution:
Consider the two nodes v1 and v2 as shown below. Since the op-amp is an ideal circuit v1=v2 and i1=i2
=0.

12
 100 kΩ
v1
20 kΩ 20 kΩ i1
100 V

10 kΩ 10 kΩ i2

v2

Fig. 5. for Problem 5

Applying KCL at node 1

v1 − v0 v1 v1 − 100
+ + =0 ⇒ v1 − v0 + 5v1 + 5v1 − 500 =0
100 20 20
⇒ v0 = 11v1 − 500 (1)

Looking at the circuit, node 1 and node 2 are at the same potential, that is v1=v2
Applying KCL at node 2

v2 v2 − 100
+ =0 ⇒ 2v2 =100 ⇒ v2 =50 V =v1 (2)
10 10

Substituting 2 in (1) for v1, we have

v0 =11v1 − 500 =11 × 50 − 500 =550 − 500 =50 V

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