Elements of Electrical Engineering (EE110):

Method of Circuit Analysis

Krishnan C.M.C
Assistant Professor, EEE,
NITK Surathkal

Reference:
[1] Alexander, Charles K., and Matthew Sadiku. Fundamentals of electric
circuits. Qinghua University Press, 2000.
[2] Hayt, William Hart, Jack Ellsworth Kemmerly, and Steven M. Durbin.
Engineering circuit analysis. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1986.
 Contents
 Node method of circuit analysis

 Nodal analysis with voltage sources

 Mesh method of circuit analysis

 Mesh analysis with current sources

 Concluding comments

 Problems

EE110, Dept. of E & E, NITK Surathkal

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 Contents
 Node method of circuit analysis

 Nodal analysis with voltage sources

 Mesh method of circuit analysis

 Mesh analysis with current sources

 Concluding comments

 Problems

EE110, Dept. of E & E, NITK Surathkal

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Nodal Analysis
 To simplify, we take only circuits with current sources and
resistances.
 Finding nodal voltages by following these 3 steps
1. Select a node as the reference node. Assign 𝑣1 , 𝑣2 … , 𝑣𝑛−1 to the
remaining 𝑛 − 1 non-reference nodes.
2. Apply KCL to each of the 𝑛 − 1 non-reference nodes. Use Ohm’s law to
express the branch currents in terms of node voltages.
3. Solve the resulting simultaneous equations to obtain the unknown node
voltages.
 Reference node: is also known as datum or ground node.
 Reference node is assumed to have zero-potential

Common symbols for a

ref. node

(a) & (c) are known as earth ground

(b) is known as a chassis ground
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Nodal Analysis (problems)

𝑣1 = 13.33 𝑉, 𝑣2 = 20 𝑉 𝑣1 = −2 𝑉, 𝑣2 = −14 𝑉

𝑣1 = 4.8 𝑉, 𝑣2 = 2.4 𝑉, 𝑣3 = −2.4 𝑉

EE110, Dept. of E & E, NITK Surathkal
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Nodal Analysis (problems)

Home Work

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 Contents
 Node method of circuit analysis

 Nodal analysis with voltage sources

 Mesh method of circuit analysis

 Mesh analysis with current sources

 Concluding comments

 Problems

EE110, Dept. of E & E, NITK Surathkal

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Nodal Analysis with voltage sources

supernode

Try writing nodal equations

Difficulty with 5 V source

Whereas 10 V source
makes the analysis simpler

A supernode is formed by enclosing a (dependent or independent) voltage

source connected between two nonreference nodes and any elements
connected in parallel with it.
In this case nodes 2 and 3 together form a super node
Additionally, here 𝑣1 = 10 V
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Nodal Analysis with voltage sources

It takes away one equation

Apply KVL for the mesh with 5V

source
Results in 𝑣2 − 𝑣3 = 5 V

𝑣2 = 9.2 𝑉, 𝑣3 = 4.2𝑉

Properties of a supernode
• A supernode has no voltage of its own
• A supernode requires the application of both KCL and KVL
• The voltage source inside the supernode provides a constraint
equation needed to solve for the node voltages
EE110, Dept. of E & E, NITK Surathkal
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Nodal Analysis with voltage sources

Find 𝑖 & 𝑣

𝑣1 = −7.33 𝑉, 𝑣2 = −5.33 𝑉 𝑣 = −0.2 𝑉, 𝑖 = 1.4 𝐴

𝑣1 = 26.667 𝑉,
𝑣2 = 6.667 𝑉
𝑣3 = 173.33 𝑉,
𝑣4 = −46.667 𝑉

EE110, Dept. of E & E, NITK Surathkal

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 Nodal Analysis with voltage sources

𝑣1 = 3.043 𝑉, 𝑣2 = −6.956 𝑉,
𝑣3 = 0.6522 𝑉

Finding nodal voltages by following these 3 steps

1. Select a node as the reference node. Assign 𝑣1 , 𝑣2 … , 𝑣𝑚−1 to the remaining 𝑛 −
1 non-reference nodes.
2. Apply KCL to each of the 𝑛 − 1 non-reference nodes. Use Ohm’s law to express
the branch currents in terms of node voltages.
3. Solve the resulting simultaneous equations to obtain the unknown node voltages.
In case of a supernode
• A supernode has no voltage of its own.
• A supernode requires the application of both KCL and KVL.
• The voltage source inside the supernode provides a constraint equation needed to
solve for the node voltages.
EE110, Dept. of E & E, NITK Surathkal
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 Contents
 Node method of circuit analysis

 Nodal analysis with voltage sources

 Mesh method of circuit analysis

 Mesh analysis with current sources

 Concluding comments

 Problems

EE110, Dept. of E & E, NITK Surathkal

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Mesh Analysis
 To simplify, we take only circuits with voltage sources and
resistances.
 A mesh is a loop which does not contain any other loop in it.
 Ex: abefa and bcdeb are meshes, but abcdefa is not.
 Finding mesh currents by following these 3 steps
1. Assign mesh currents 𝑖1 , 𝑖2 … , 𝑖𝑛 to 𝑛 meshes.
2. Apply KVL to each of the 𝑛 meshes. Use Ohm’s law to express the
voltages in terms of mesh currents.
3. Solve the resulting 𝑛 simultaneous equations to obtain the unknown mesh
currents.

EE110, Dept. of E & E, NITK Surathkal

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Mesh Analysis (problems)

2
𝑖1 = 𝐴, 𝑖2 = 0 𝐴 𝑖1 = 1 𝐴, 𝑖2 = 1 𝐴
3

𝑖0 = −5 𝐴 𝑖1 = 2.25 𝐴, 𝑖2 = 0.75 𝐴, 𝑖3 = 1.5 𝐴

EE110, Dept. of E & E, NITK Surathkal

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 Contents
 Node method of circuit analysis

 Nodal analysis with voltage sources

 Mesh method of circuit analysis

 Mesh analysis with current sources

 Concluding comments

 Problems

EE110, Dept. of E & E, NITK Surathkal

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 Mesh Analysis with current sources
Case 1: When a current source exist only in one mesh

Equivalent to having a known

voltage in case of nodal analysis
Set 𝑖2 = −5 𝐴 and solve

Case 2: When a current source exist between two or more meshes

supermesh

Remove the supermesh and

apply KVL followed by KCL
A supermesh results when two meshes have a (dependent or independent)
current source in common. The elements connected in series with it also
forms a part of the supermesh.
EE110, Dept. of E & E, NITK Surathkal
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Mesh Analysis with current sources
Step 1: Applying KVL to the circuit without supermesh

6𝑖1 + 10𝑖2 + 4𝑖2 = 20

Step 2: Apply KCL at a common node between mesh 1 and mesh 2

𝑖1 + 6 = 𝑖2

Solving: 𝑖1 = −3.2 𝐴, 𝑖2 = 2.8 𝐴

Properties of a supermesh
• A supermesh has no mesh current of its own
• A supermesh requires the application of both KVL and KCL
• The current source inside the supermesh provides a constraint
equation needed to solve for the mesh currents
EE110, Dept. of E & E, NITK Surathkal
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Mesh Analysis with current sources
supermesh

𝑖1 = −7.5 𝐴, 𝑖2 = −2.5 𝐴, 𝑖3 = 3.93 𝐴, 𝑖4 = 2.143 𝐴

𝑖1 = 3.474 𝐴, 𝑖2 = 0.4737 𝐴, 𝑖3 = 1.1052 𝐴

EE110, Dept. of E & E, NITK Surathkal
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 Contents
 Node method of circuit analysis

 Nodal analysis with voltage sources

 Mesh method of circuit analysis

 Mesh analysis with current sources

 Concluding comments

 Problems

EE110, Dept. of E & E, NITK Surathkal

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 Concluding remarks
 Which method to choose? Factors to consider:
 nature of the particular network:
◦ Networks that contain many series-connected elements analysed with
mesh analysis
◦ circuit with fewer meshes than nodes is better analysed using mesh
analysis.
◦ Results in lower number of equations
 The kind of information required:
◦ If node voltages are required, it may be expedient to apply nodal
analysis.
 Some problems prefer a particular method:
◦ mesh analysis is the only method to use in analysing transistor circuits
◦ mesh analysis cannot easily be used to solve an op amp circuit, because
there is no direct way to obtain the voltage across the op amp.
◦ For nonplanar networks, nodal analysis is the only option, because
mesh analysis only applies to planar networks.

EE110, Dept. of E & E, NITK Surathkal

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 Contents
 Node method of circuit analysis

 Nodal analysis with voltage sources

 Mesh method of circuit analysis

 Mesh analysis with current sources

 Concluding comments

 Problems

EE110, Dept. of E & E, NITK Surathkal

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Additional problems
Find the node voltages, currents through all branches.
Ans:
𝑣1 = 3 𝑉, 𝑣2 = 3.93 𝑉, 𝑣3 = 4.44 𝑉, 𝑣4 = 1.02 𝑉
𝑖1Ω = 0.93 𝐴 (←), 𝑖2Ω(𝑙𝑒𝑓𝑡) = 0.99 𝐴 → ,
𝑖3Ω = 0.34 𝐴 (↓), 𝑖4Ω = 0.855 𝐴 ← ,
𝑖2Ω 𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 = 2.22 𝐴 ← ,

𝑖3𝑉 = 𝑖1Ω − 𝑖2Ω 𝑙𝑒𝑓𝑡 = 0.06 𝐴 (←)

𝑖0.15𝑣𝑥 = 4−𝑖1Ω = 3.07 𝐴 (→)

6 unknowns!

1 2 3 4 5 Calculate the voltages without nodal

analysis
𝑣3 = 7𝑉 𝑣2 = 3𝑉 𝑣6 = 3 × 2 = 6𝑉
6 Now find the rest with nodal analysis
𝑣1 = 2𝑉 𝑣4 = 1𝑉 𝑣5 = −3𝑉
EE110, Dept. of E & E, NITK Surathkal
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Additional problems (2)
6 unknowns!

1 2 3 4 5 Calculate the voltages without nodal

analysis
𝑣3 = 7𝑉 𝑣2 = 3𝑉 𝑣6 = 3 × 2 = 6𝑉
6 Now find the rest with nodal analysis
𝑣1 = 2𝑉 𝑣4 = 1𝑉 𝑣5 = −3𝑉
Finding the currents
𝑖1Ω = 1𝐴 ← 𝑖7𝑉 = 3𝐴 ↑

Finding the power

𝑃1Ω = 1 𝑊 𝑃2Ω = 18 𝑊 𝑃3Ω = 12 𝑊

𝑃3𝐴 = −12 𝑊 𝑃4𝑉(𝑙𝑒𝑓𝑡) = 4 𝑊 𝑃7𝑉 = −21 𝑊 𝑃2𝐴 = −10 𝑊

𝑃4𝑉 (𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡) = 8 𝑊
Total power absorbed/generated = ±43 𝑊
EE110, Dept. of E & E, NITK Surathkal
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Additional problems (3)
Using suitable method, find the currents through all branches.

Use mesh analysis.

𝐼 = 4.5 𝐴
2𝐴 1.5𝐴
4.5𝐴
0.5𝐴 𝐼

Using suitable method, find 𝑣1 and the power supplied by each source.

𝑣1 = 0.48 𝑉

𝑃2𝐴 = −11.2 𝑊 (gen)

𝑃𝑣1 = −2.458 𝑊 (gen)

𝑃4𝑣1 = 4.76 𝑊 (abs)
EE110, Dept. of E & E, NITK Surathkal
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Additional problems (4)
Using mesh analysis (defining clockwise currents) , find the mesh currents.

1 9
𝑖1 = 𝐴 𝑖2 = − 𝐴
14 28

9 39
𝑣𝑥 = 𝐴 𝑖3 = 𝐴
14 140

𝑖1 = 1.4 𝐴

𝑖2 = 2.4 𝐴

𝑖3 = 3.4 𝐴

EE110, Dept. of E & E, NITK Surathkal

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Additional problems (5)
Using nodal analysis, find 𝑖0 and 𝑣0 .

𝑣0 = 20 𝑉

𝑖0 = 0 𝐴

Find more problems from:

[1] Alexander, Charles K., and Matthew Sadiku. Fundamentals of electric circuits.
Qinghua University Press, 2000.
[2] Hayt, William Hart, Jack Ellsworth Kemmerly, and Steven M. Durbin.
Engineering circuit analysis. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1986.

EE110, Dept. of E & E, NITK Surathkal

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 Questions?

EE110, Dept. of E & E, NITK Surathkal

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