Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Branch, Loop and Node Analysis

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd © Copyright 2006 Prentice-Hall
Chapter 9
Summary

Simultaneous Equations
Circuit analysis methods in Chapter 9 require use of
simultaneous equations.
To simplify solving simultaneous equations, they
are usually set up in standard form. Standard form
for two equations with two unknowns is
a1,1 x1  a1,2 x2  b1
a2,1 x1  a2,2 x2  b2
constants
coefficients
variables

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd © Copyright 2006 Prentice-Hall

Chapter 9
Summary

Simultaneous Equations
A circuit has the following equations. Set up the
equations in standard form.
10  270 I A  1000( I A  I B )  0
1000  I B  I A   680 I B  6  0
Rearrange so that variables and their coefficients
are in order and put constants on the right.
1270 I A  1000 I B  10
1000 I A  1680 I B  6

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd © Copyright 2006 Prentice-Hall

Chapter 9
Summary

Solving Simultaneous Equations

Three methods for solving simultaneous equations

are
 Algebraic substitution
 The determinant method
 Using a calculator

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd © Copyright 2006 Prentice-Hall

Chapter 9
Summary
Solving Simultaneous Equations
Solve for IA using substitution.
1270 I A  1000 I B  10
1000 I A  1680 I B  6
Solve for IB in the first equation:
I B  1.270 I A  0.010
Substitute for IB into the second equation:
1000 I A  1680(1.270 I A  0.010)  6
Rearrange and solve for IA.
1134 I A  10.8 IA =  mA

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd © Copyright 2006 Prentice-Hall

Chapter 9
Summary
Solving Simultaneous Equations
If you wanted to find IB in the previous example,
you can substitute the result of IA back into one of
the original equations and solve for IB. Thus,
1270 I A  1000 I B  10
1270(9.53 mA)  1000 I B  10
I B  2.10 mA

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd © Copyright 2006 Prentice-Hall

Chapter 9
Summary
Solving Simultaneous Equations
The method of determinants is another approach to
finding the unknowns. The characteristic determinant is
formed from the coefficients of the unknowns.
Write the characteristic determinant for the
equations. Calculate its value.
1270 I A  1000 I B  10
1000 I A  1680 I B  6
 1270 1000 
   1.134
 1000 1680 

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd © Copyright 2006 Prentice-Hall

Chapter 9
Summary
Solving Simultaneous Equations
To solve for an unknown by determinants, form the
determinant for a variable by substituting the constants
for the coefficients of the unknown. Divide by the
characteristic determinant.
Constants To solve for x2:
Unknown
variable  b1 a12   a11 b1 
   
b a a b
x1   2 22 
x2   21 2 
 a11 a12   a11 a12 
Characteristic    
a
 21 a 22  a
 21 a22 
determinant

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd © Copyright 2006 Prentice-Hall

Chapter 9
Summary
Solving Simultaneous Equations
Solve the same equations using determinants:
1270 I A  1000 I B  10
1000 I A  1680 I B  6

 10 1000   1270 10 
   
6 1680 1000  6
IA    IB   
 1270 1000   1270 1000 
   
 1000 1680    1000 1680 
  mA   mA

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd © Copyright 2006 Prentice-Hall

Chapter 9
Summary
Solving Simultaneous Equations
Many scientific calculators allow you to enter a set of
equations and solve them “automatically”. The
calculator method will depend on your particular
calculator, but you will always write the equations in
standard form first and then input the number of
equations, the coefficients, and the constants. Pressing
the Solve key will show the values of the unknowns.
a1,1 x1  a1,2 x2  b1
a2,1 x1  a2,2 x2  b2

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd © Copyright 2006 Prentice-Hall

Chapter 9
Summary
Branch current method
In the branch current method, you can solve for the
currents in a circuit using simultaneous equations.
Steps:
1. Assign a current in each branch in an arbitrary
direction.
2. Show polarities according to the assigned directions.
3. Apply KVL in each closed loop.
4. Apply KCL at nodes such that all branches are
included.
5. Solve the equations from steps 3 and 4.

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd © Copyright 2006 Prentice-Hall

Chapter 9
Summary
Branch current method
5.4.
3.
2.1. Solve
Apply
Show
Apply
Assign
the
polarities
KCL
KVL
aequations
current
at
innodes
each
according
infrom
each
closed
suchsteps
branch
that
toloop.
the
3alland
in
assigned
Resistors
branches
an4 arbitrary
are
are
(see
included.
directions.
entered
direction.
nextin
slide).
k in this example.
0.270 I1  1.0 I 2  10  0
1.0 I 2  0.68I 3  6.0  0
I1  I 3  I 2

+ R1 A R3
+
VS1 270 W 680 W VS2
+ R2
10 V 1.0 kW 6.0 V

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd © Copyright 2006 Prentice-Hall

Chapter 9
Summary
Branch current method
In standard form, the equations are
(Continued) 0.270 I1  1.0 I 2  0  10
0  1.0 I 2  0.68 I 3  6.0
I1  I2  I3  0
Solving: I1 = 9.53 mA, I2 = 7.43 mA, I3 = 2.10 mA
R1 R3
The negative result for
I3 indicates the actual 270 W 680 W
VS1 R2 VS2
current direction is
10 V 1.0 kW 6.0 V
opposite to the
assumed direction.

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd © Copyright 2006 Prentice-Hall

Chapter 9
Summary
Loop current method
In the loop current method, you can solve for the
currents in a circuit using simultaneous equations.
Steps:
1. Assign a current in each nonredundant loop in an
arbitrary direction.
2. Show polarities according to the assigned direction
of current in each loop.
3. Apply KVL around each closed loop.
4. Solve the resulting equations for the loop currents.

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd © Copyright 2006 Prentice-Hall

Chapter 9
Summary
Loop current method
1. Show
2.
3.
4. Solve
Assign
Applypolarities
the
KVL
a current
resulting
around
according
in equations
each
eachnonredundant
closed
to the
for loop.
assigned
the loop
Resistors
loop in
an
direction
currents
arearbitrary
entered
(see
of in
current
direction.
following
k ininthis
each
slide).
example.
loop.
10  0.270 I A  1.0  I A  I B   0 Notice that the
polarity of R3 is
1.0  I B  I A   0.68I B  6.0  0 based on loop B
and is not the
same as in the
branch current
+ R1 + R3 method.
VS1 270 W 680 W VS2
+ R2
10 V Loop A 1.0 kW Loop B 6.0 V
+

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd © Copyright 2006 Prentice-Hall

Chapter 9
Summary
Loop current method
Rearranging the loop equations into standard form:
(Continued)
1.270 I A  1.0 I B  10 I1=IA = 9.53 mA
1.0 I A  1.68 I B  6.0
I2= IAIB = 7.43 mA
I A  9.53 mA
I B  2.10 mA I3=IB = 2.10 mA
+ R1 + R3
VS1 270 W 680 W VS2
+ R2
10 V Loop A 1.0 kW Loop B 6.0 V
+

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd © Copyright 2006 Prentice-Hall

Chapter 9
Summary
Loop current method applied to
circuits with more than two loops
The loop current method can be applied to more
complicated circuits, such as the Wheatstone bridge.
The steps are the same as shown previously.

R1 R3 The advantage to the

Loop A 680 W Loop B 680 W
VS R5
loop method for the
+15 V bridge is that it has
560 W
R2 Loop C R4 only 3 unknowns.
680 W 1.0 kW

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd © Copyright 2006 Prentice-Hall

Chapter 9
Summary

Write the loop current equation for Loop A in the

Wheatstone bridge:
15  0.68  I A  I B   0.68  I A  I C   0

R1 R3
Loop A 680 W Loop B 680 W
VS R5
+15 V
560 W
R2 Loop C R4
680 W 1.0 kW

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd © Copyright 2006 Prentice-Hall

Chapter 9
Summary
Node voltage method
In the node voltage method, you can solve for the
unknown voltages in a circuit using KCL.
Steps:
1. Determine the number of nodes.
2. Select one node as a reference. Assign voltage
designations to each unknown node.
3. Assign currents into and out of each node except the
reference node.
4. Apply KCL at each node where currents are assigned.
5. Express the current equations in terms of the voltages
and solve for the unknown voltages using Ohm’s law.

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd © Copyright 2006 Prentice-Hall

Chapter 9
Summary
Node voltage method
Solve the same problem as before using the node
voltage method.
1. Write
2.
3.
4.
5. There
B
Apply
Currentsare 4 in
is selected
KCL
KCL arenodes.theAreference
atassigned
asterms
node Aisinto
of the and
(for
the one unknown
voltages
this
node.
out
case). nodenode.
of(next slide).
A.
VS 1  VA VA VS 2  VA
I1  I2  I3 
R1 R2 R3
I1  I 3  I 2 R1 A R3

VS1 270 W 680 W VS2

R2
10 V 1.0 kW 6.0 V
B

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd © Copyright 2006 Prentice-Hall

Chapter 9
Summary
Node voltage method
VS 1  VA VS 2  VA VA
+ 
(Continued) R1 R3 R2
10  VA 6.0  VA VA
+ 
0.27 0.68 1.0
0.68  10  VA   0.27  6.0  VA   0.183VA
VA  7.45 V
R1 A R3

VS1 270 W 680 W VS2

R2
10 V 1.0 kW 6.0 V
B

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd © Copyright 2006 Prentice-Hall

Chapter 9
Key Terms
Branch One current path that connects two nodes.

Determinant The solution of a matrix consisting of an array

of coefficients and constants for a set of
simultaneous equations.
Loop A closed current path in a circuit.

Matrix An array of numbers.

Node The junction of two or more components.

Simultaneous A set of n equations containing n unknowns,

equations where n is a number with a value of 2 or more.

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd © Copyright 2006 Prentice-Hall

Chapter 9
Quiz

1. In a set of simultaneous equations, the coefficient

that is written a1,2 appears in
a. the first equation
b. the second equation
c. both of the above
d. none of the above

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd © Copyright 2006 Prentice-Hall

Chapter 9
Quiz

2. In standard form, the constants for a set of

simultaneous equations are written
a. in front of the first variable
b. in front of the second variable
c. on the right side of the equation
d. all of the above

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd © Copyright 2006 Prentice-Hall

Chapter 9
Quiz

3. To solve simultaneous equations, the minimum number of

independent equations must be at least
a. two
b. three
c. four
d. equal to the number of unknowns

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd © Copyright 2006 Prentice-Hall

Chapter 9
Quiz

4. In the equation a1,1x1 +a1,2x2 = b1, the quantity b1

represents
a. a constant
b. a coefficient
c. a variable
d. none of the above

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd © Copyright 2006 Prentice-Hall

Chapter 9
Quiz

 3 5
5. The value of the determinant   is
 2 8 
a. 4
b. 14
c. 24
d. 34

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd © Copyright 2006 Prentice-Hall

Chapter 9
Quiz

6. The characteristic determinant for a set of simultaneous

equations is formed using
a. only constants from the equations
b. only coefficients from the equations
c. both constants and coefficients from the equations
d. none of the above

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd © Copyright 2006 Prentice-Hall

Chapter 9
Quiz

7. A negative result for a current in the branch method

means
a. there is an open path
b. there is a short circuit
c. the result is incorrect
d. the current is opposite to the assumed direction

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd © Copyright 2006 Prentice-Hall

Chapter 9
Quiz

8. To solve a circuit using the loop method, the equations

are first written for each loop by applying
a. KCL
b. KVL
c. Ohm’s law
d. Thevenin’s theorem

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd © Copyright 2006 Prentice-Hall

Chapter 9
Quiz

9. A Wheatstone bridge can be solved using loop

equations. The minimum number of nonredundant loop
equations required is
a. one
b. two
c. three
d. four

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd © Copyright 2006 Prentice-Hall

Chapter 9
Quiz

10. In the node voltage method, the equations are

developed by first applying
a. KCL
b. KVL
c. Ohm’s law
d. Thevenin’s theorem

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd © Copyright 2006 Prentice-Hall

Chapter 9
Quiz

Answers:
1. a 6. b
2. c 7. d
3. d 8. b
4. a 9. c
5. b 10. a

Principles of Electric Circuits - Floyd © Copyright 2006 Prentice-Hall