ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

California Polytechnic State University

EE 251 Nodal Analysis Pre-Lab 2

IMPORTANT – SHOW ALL WORK!

1. For the circuit shown (all Rs in ohms), determine VA, VB, VC, and VD (include polarity).
In addition, what is the voltage across each resistor (include polarity)?

2. Repeat problem #1 with the 12V source “flipped” (“+” terminal of source connected to
node C and “-” terminal of source connected to node A).

3. For the circuit below (all Rs in ohms), determine VA, VB, VC, and VD (include polarity).
Also, determine VBC (include polarity) and determine VCB (include polarity).

11
 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
California Polytechnic State University

EE 251 Nodal Analysis Pre-Lab 2

4. The circuit of problem #3 has a 9Ω resistor connected between the source and node A as
shown below. Determine the new values for VA, VB, VC, and VD (include polarity).
In addition answer these two questions, is the voltage across the 4Ω resistor equal to VB?
Is the voltage across the 3Ω resistor equal to VC? Justify your two answers.

5. For the circuit of problem #4, show the voltage between nodes A and D is the same
regardless the path taken between the two nodes. Choose three different paths.

6. For the circuit of problem #4, connect a short between nodes B and C. Are the node
voltages VA, VB, VC, and VD the same or different than the values obtained before the
short was connected between nodes B and C. Justify your answer with analysis.

12
 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
California Polytechnic State University

EE 251 Nodal Analysis Lab 2

Objective
To determine the voltage across elements, the voltage at nodes relative to ground and voltages
relative to nodes other than ground. To also identify voltage polarity.

Workbench Equipment
 DC Power Supply, Agilent E3640A
 Digital Multi-meter, Agilent 34401A
 Resistor Box II, 10Ω/25Ω/40Ω/130Ω/269Ω/560Ω
 Resistor Box III, 1kΩ/2.5kΩ/5kΩ/10kΩ/25kΩ
 Resistor Box IV, 100Ω/250Ω/500Ω

Check-out Equipment, 20-111 window

 Banana to banana, 3 pairs, red/black
 Short leads, quantity 6, 1 bag

Background
Voltage or electric potential difference indicates the energy required to transport charge between
two nodes (connection points) in a circuit. The unit of voltage (V), the Volt, is equal to one Joule
per Coulomb (energy per unit charge). Voltage is analogous to pressure in a hydraulic system. In
order for water to flow through a pipe, a pressure difference is required between the two ends of
the pipe. Similarly, for current (moving charge) to “flow” through a circuit element, a voltage
difference is required across the circuit element nodes.

It is important to understand that current is a continuous movement of electrical charge. Since

voltage is “electrical pressure,” it DOES NOT FLOW!

Voltage across nodes (elements) / Voltage at a node

Voltage (like pressure) is analogous to height measurement. The effective height of an object is
its minimum to maximum height difference. For example, the height of Bishop’s Peak depends
on the reference height. Unless told otherwise, by convention, sea level (zero) is the reference
height. Similarly, voltage across nodes in a circuit is the difference of two voltages. Voltage
across an element is the difference of the node voltages at each end. Node voltage is referenced
to another node, usually ground (0V), i.e.: ground is an “electrical sea level.”

In addition, Potential energy is path independent; one value at the top of Bishop’s Peak for all
paths. Similarly, the voltage or electric potential across nodes is independent of the path taken
between the nodes.

13
Voltage Polarity
Voltage polarity labels the greater voltage with “+” and the lower voltage with “-.” "Height
polarity" specifies a plus sign at the top of Bishop’s Peak and a minus sign at sea level.

Resistors absorb energy; a voltage drop occurs in the direction of current flow. Hence, current
enters the node with greater voltage. Sources can either supply or absorb energy. An energy
source's greater voltage node supplies current, while energy-absorbing sources absorb current at
the greater voltage node. An example energy-absorbing source is a rechargeable battery in
charge mode. The battery charger source voltage is greater than the rechargeable battery; it
forces current into the rechargeable battery's greater voltage node. Likewise, a storage element
(capacitor or inductor) stores (absorbs) energy when current enters its greater voltage node. The
element supplies energy when current leaves its greater voltage node.

Procedure 1: Single Source Circuit, Nodal Analysis (Ungrounded Source)

Fig. 2-1 Nodal Analysis Circuit I

 Measure the 100Ω, 250Ω and 500Ω elements of resistor box IV. Record these values in
Table 2-1.
 Set current limit of E3640A Agilent power supply to 0.1A and set Vs to 8.5V.
Measure and record Vs.

Vs = _______ Volts

 Construct the circuit of Fig. 2-1.

 Using measured R values, calculate resistor voltages and node voltages, record in Table
2-1.
 Measure the voltage across all resistors and record in Table 2-1.
 Measure voltage nodes A, B and C relative to node D (reference node), record in Table 2-
1. Connect the DVM's black LO port to node D.
o If the DVM leads are reversed (red HI input to node D), how is the voltmeter
display affected?
 Compare (calculate % error) measured values to expected theoretical values.
Nominal Measured Measured Calculated % Measured Calculated %
Resistors Resistors R Voltages R Voltages Error Node Voltages NodeVoltages Error
() (V) (V) (V) (V)
100Ω VA =

250Ω VB =

500Ω VC =

14
 Table 2-1 Nodal Analysis Circuit I

Procedure 2: Nodal Analysis of Circuit II

Fig. 2-2 Nodal Analysis Circuit II

 Measure the four resistances in Fig. 2-2 and record these values in Table 2-2.
o Note: K = 1,000, i.e.: 2.5K = 2,500Ω.
 Set current limit of E3640A Agilent power supply to 0.1A and set voltage output to 20V.
Measure and record Vs.

Vs = _______ Volts

 Construct the circuit of Fig. 2-2.

 Using measured R values, calculate resistor voltages and node voltages, record in Table
2-2. Also calculate V_BC (node B voltage relative to node C voltage) and V_CB
(opposite node reference), record in Table 2-2.
 Measure the voltage across all resistors and record in Table 2-2.
 Measure voltage nodes A, B and C relative to node D, record in Table 2-2. As in
procedure 1, connect the DVM's black LO port to node D.
 Measure VBC and VCB; record in Table 2-2.
 Compare measured values to expected theoretical values.
Nominal Measured Measured Calculated % Measured Calculated %
Resistors Resistors R Voltages R Voltages Error Node Voltages Node Voltages Error
() (V) (V) (V) (V)
250Ω VA =

500Ω VB =

1,000Ω VC =

2,500Ω VBC =
VCB =
Table 2-2 Nodal Analysis Circuit II

15
Procedure 3: Nodal Analysis of Circuit III

Fig. 2-3 Nodal Analysis Circuit III

 Measure the 560Ω resistor, record in Table 2-3. Use measured values of other four
resistors from Table 2-2. Resistors are most likely at their thermal equilibrium resistance.
 As shown in Figure 2-3, insert a 560Ω resistor between the 20V source and node A of the
Fig. 2-2 (Procedure 2)
 Using measured R values, calculate resistor voltages and node voltages, record in Table
2-3. Also calculate V_BC and V_CB, record in Table 2-3.
 Measure the voltage across all resistors and record in Table 2-3.
Measure voltage nodes A, B and C relative to node D, record in Table 2-3. As in
Procedures 1 & 2, connect the DVM's black LO port to node D.
 Measure VBC and VCB; record in Table 2-3.
 Compare measured values to expected theoretical values.

Nominal Measured Measured Calculated % Measured Calculated %

Resistors Resistors R Voltages R Voltages Error NodeVoltages NodeVoltages Error
() (V) (V) (V) (V)
250Ω VA =

500Ω VB =

1,000Ω VC =

2,500Ω VBC =

560Ω VCB =
Table 2-3 Nodal Analysis Circuit III

Procedure 4: Nodal Analysis of Circuit IV

 Turn off power supply.

 Connect a short between nodes B and C of Nodal Analysis Circuit III (Fig. 2-3). Turn on
power supply and repeat last five steps of procedure 3. Record data in Table 2-4.

16
Nominal Measured Calculated % Measured Calculated %
Resistors R Voltages R Voltages Error Node Voltages Node Voltages Error
(V) (V) (V) (V)
250Ω VA =

500Ω VB =

1,000Ω VC =

2,500Ω VBC =

562Ω VCB =
Table 2-4 Nodal Analysis Circuit IV
Discussion:

1. Explain the difference between the sign of a voltage (i.e.: positive vs. negative valued
voltages) and voltage polarity. Hint: VBC & VCB of experimental circuits in this lab.
2. Calculate current through the 560Ω resistor, include current direction, if an ideal ammeter
is connected between nodes B and C of Nodal Analysis Circuit III (use nominal R
values).
3. What accounts for the small values of VBC & VCB in Table 2-4? Why are the ideal values
of VBC & VCB equal to zero?

17