ENGR 210

Lecture 04 – Methods of Electric Circuit

Analysis
Elmer R. Magsino, PhD

ENGR 210 - p1
Outline
Nodal Analysis
Mesh Analysis
Nodal versus Mesh Analyses

ENGR 210 - p2
Nodal Analysis
General Procedure
1. Label all nodes in the circuit. Arbitrarily select
any node as reference (GND).
2. Define a voltage variable from every remaining
node to the reference. These voltage variables
must be defined as voltage rises with respect
to the reference node.
3. Write a KCL equation for every node except the
reference.
4. Solve the resulting system of equations.
ENGR 210 - p3
Example: Find the voltage VX using nodal analysis.

40

30  +Vb 10 + Vc
+ Va
+ Vx -
4.8V + 15 20 0.2A

REF

For node a, the voltage of the node is dictated by

the voltage source. Thus, Va=4.8 Volts.

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The KCL equations for nodes b and c are
Vb  4.8 Vb Vb  Vc
node b: 0  
30 15 10
Vc  Vb Vc  4.8 Vc
node c: 0 .2   
10 40 20
Solving simultaneously, we get
Vb = 2.4V Vc = 3.2V
Finally, we get the voltage Vx
Vx = 4.8 - Vb = 2.4V
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Example: Find the voltages Va, Vb and Vc using
nodal analysis (a voltage source between 2 nodes).
8

6 +Vb + 6V - + Vc
+ Va

3A 3 4 5A

REF

The KCL equations for node a and the supernode

Va  Vb Va  Vc
node a: 3  
6 8
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 Vb Vc Vb  Va Vc  Va
supernode: 5    
3 4 6 8
For the voltage source, we get Vb-Vc=6 volts.
The equations can be simplified into

72  7Va  4Vb  3Vc

6  Vb  Vc
120   7Va  12Vb  9Vc
Solving simultaneously, we get

Va  24 V Vb 16. 3 V Vc 10. 3 V
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Example: Find the voltages Va, Vb and Vc using
nodal analysis (dependent voltage source between
two nodes).
v
+ x -
8
6 + Vb + Vc
+ Va - +

3A 3 2vx 4 5A

REF
The KCL equations for node a and the supernode
Va  Vb Va  Vc
node a: 3  
6 8
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 Vb Vc Vb  Va Vc  Va
supernode: 5    
3 4 6 8
For the dependent voltage source, we get
Vc  Vb  2v x  2( Va  Vc )
The equations can be simplified into
72  7Va  4Vb  3Vc
0   2Va  Vb  3Vc
120   7Va  12Vb  9Vc
Solving simultaneously, we get

Va  24 V Vb  9. 6 V Vc 19. 2 V
ENGR 210 - p9
 Mesh Analysis
General Procedure
1. Count the number of “window panes” in the
circuit. Assign a mesh current to each window

pane.
2. Write a KVL equation for every mesh whose
current is unknown.

3. Solve the resulting equations.

Mesh - a loop that does not contain an inner loop.

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 I1+
16 Vx 40 40
Example: Find the 2V
- I2
voltage VX using

+
_
+
mesh analysis. 1A I3 20 - 5V

30
The KVL equations for meshes 1 and 2 are
Mesh 1: -2 = 40(I1- I2) + 16I1
Mesh 2: 5 = 40I2 + 40(I2 -I1) + 20(I2- I3)
In mesh 3, the current source dictates the value of
the mesh current. Thus, I3=1 A.
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The two equations can be simplified into

-2 = 56I1 - 40I2

25 = -40I1 + 100I2

Solving simultaneously, we get

I1 = 0.2A I2 = 0.33A

Finally, we get the voltage Vx

Vx = 40(I2 - I1) = 5.2V

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Example: Find the 5V
5 + -
currents I1, I2 and I3
using mesh I2
analysis (current 1 3
source between
+
two meshes). I1 I3
36V 3A 2
-

4
We cannot write a KVL equation for mesh 1 or for
mesh 3 because of the current source. Form a
supermesh and write a KVL equation for it.

supermesh: 36 1(I 1  I 2 )  3(I 3  I 2 )  2I 3  4I 1

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The KVL equation for mesh 2 is unchanged.

 5 5 I 2  3( I 2  I 3 )  1( I 2  I1 )

The third equation is dictated by the current source.

I 1  I 3 3 A

Solving simultaneously, we get

I 1  5. 45 A I 2  0. 86 A I 3  2. 45 A

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Example: Find the currents I1, I2 and I3 using mesh
analysis
(dependent source I2
1 2
included). 3
15A I1 1 + vx -
v 9 x

I3 1
2

The current in mesh 1 is dictated by the current

source. Thus, I1=15 Amps.
The KVL equation for mesh 2 is

0  2I 2  3(I 2  I 3 )  1(I 2  I 1 )
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We cannot write a KVL equation for mesh 3. Can’t
form a supermesh either. However, we can write an
equation for the dependent source.

1 1
I 3  I 1  v x  [ 3 ( I 3  I 2 )]
9 9

Solving simultaneously, we get

I 1 15 A I 2 11 A I 3 17 A

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Example: Using + I0
mesh analysis, find i1 i2
6V 2k 4k
I0 . -
2k
Mesh 2:
2mA
1mA
0  4kI 2  2k(I 2  I 4 ) 6k i3 i4 2k

 2k(I 2  I 1 )
Supermesh: 6  2k(I 1  I 2 )  2k(I 4  I 2 )
 2kI 4  6kI 3
Current Source: 2 mA  I 3  I 1
Current Source: 1 mA  I 3  I 4

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Solving simultaneously, we get

I 1   0. 9 mA
I 2   0. 2 mA
I 3 1. 1 mA
I 4  0. 1 mA
Thus
I 0  I 1  I 2   0. 9  0. 2   0. 7 mA

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 Choice of Method
Given the choice, which method should be used?
Nodal analysis or mesh analysis?

Nodal analysis: The number of voltage variables

equals the number of nodes minus one. Every
voltage source connected to the reference node
reduces the number of unknowns by one.
Mesh Analysis: The number of current variables
equals the number of meshes. Every current
source in a mesh reduces the number of
unknowns by one.

Note: Choose the method with less unknowns.

ENGR 210 - p19
 10
Example: Write the nodal
and mesh equations that
describe the circuit shown. 4A
+ Va + Vb + Vc
+ Vd
We need 4 4 6 8
voltage 3A 2 5 5A
variables.
REF
The nodal equations are
Va Va  Vb
node a: 3 
2 4
Vb  Va Vb Vb  Vc Vb  Vd
node b:  4    
4 5 6 10
ENGR 210 - p20
 Vc  Vb Vc  Vd
node c: 4 
6 8
Vd  Vb Vd  Vc
node d:  5  
10 8
10
There are 5 meshes but the
3A and 5A current sources 4A
flow in distinct meshes. We I3
need to define 3 current I2
variables.
4 6 8
3A 3A 2 I1 5 5A 5A

ENGR 210 - p21

The mesh equations are

mesh 1: 0  2(I 1  3)  4I 1  5(I 1  5)

supermesh: 0  6(I 2  5)  10I 3  8(I 3  5)
4A source: 4 I 2  I 3

Note: We need either three current variables or

four voltage variables to describe the circuit. It is
preferable to use mesh analysis.

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Problem Solving
Using nodal and mesh analyses, find v O in the
circuit below.

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Problem Solving
Using nodal and mesh analyses, find v ab and iO
in the circuit below.

ENGR 210 - p24

Problem Solving

Using nodal and mesh analyses, find iO in

the circuit below.

ENGR 210 - p25

Problem Solving
 Use nodal analysis to determine V1, V2, and V3.
 Use mesh analysis to determine IS and Ix.

8A - V1 +
IS

14  Ix 4
+ +
100 V 24  V2 8 10 A V3
-
-

ENGR 210 - p26