Dc Circuit analysis

part-2
2. Methods of circuit analysis
Nodal analysis
 Mesh analysis
 Linearity Property
 Superposition principle
 2.5 Nodal analysis
 Nodal analysis provides a general procedure for analyzing circuits using node
voltages as the circuit variables.

 Choosing node voltages instead of element voltages as circuit variables is

convenient and reduces the number of equations one must solve simultaneously.

Steps to Determine Node Voltages :

1. Select a node as the reference node. Assign voltages v1, v2, . . . , vn−1 to the
remaining n − 1 nodes. The voltages are referenced with respect to the reference node.

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.

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 Current flows from a higher potential to a lower potential in a resistor.

Types of Nodes in Nodal Analysis

 Non Reference Node – It is a node which has a definite Node Voltage.

 Reference Node – It is a node which acts a reference point to all the other node.

Types of Reference Nodes

 Chassis Ground – This type of reference node acts a common node for more than one circuits.

 Earth Ground – When earth potential is used as a reference in any circuit then this type of

reference node is called Earth Ground.

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Examples 21 : For the following
electrical circuit count the number of nodes,
and select a reference and non-reference
nodes.
No of Nodes------ 3
• select nodes as reference -----1
• and non-reference—2 (V1 and V2)
Name branch currents
• Current flows across R1 is i1 , R2 is i2,
and R3 is i3.
• Branch current flows from a higher
potential to lower potential between
reference and non-reference nodes.
Step 1: select a reference and non- 4
 Step 2: Apply KCL at node 1 and 2
At node 2 At node 1
I2 + i2 = i3 .................(1) I1 = I2 + i1 + i2.............(2)
Therefore
i1 = i2 = i3 =
……………………………(3)
…………………………….(4)

step 3 : Solve Simultaneously equation (3) and (4).

Examples 22 : . Calculate the node voltages in the circuit as shown in Fig below

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Step I. Assign the nodes voltages as v1 and 2 and also mark the directions of branch
currents with respect to the reference nodes.

Step II. Apply KCL to Nodes 1 and 2

KCL at Node 1

Simplifying the above equation we get,

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• KCL at Node 2

• Simplifying the above equation we get

• Step III. Now solve the equations 3 and 4 to get the values of v1 and v2 as,
Using elimination method

• And substituting value v2 = 20 Volts in equation (3) we get-

• Hence node voltages are as v1 = 13.33 Volts and v2 = 20 Volts.

• Find also the branch currents i2 ,i3 ,and i5.

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 Nodal Analysis with Voltage Sources
Case I. If a voltage source is connected between the reference node and a non reference
node, we simply set the voltage at the non-reference node equal to the voltage of the
voltage source and its analysis can be done as we done with current sources. v1 = 10 Volts.

Case II. If the voltage source (Independent or Dependent) is connected between the two non
reference nodes then it forms a super node whose analysis is done as following 5V source is
connected between two non reference nodes Node – 2 and Node – 3. So here Node – 2 and
Node – 3 form the Super node.

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Properties of Super node

• A super node has no voltage of its own

• A super node requires application of both KCL and KVL to solve it.

• Any element can be connected in parallel with the voltage source forming the super
node.

Examples 23: Let’s take an example to understand how to solve circuit containing Super
node.

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• Here 2V voltage source is connected between Node-1 and Node-2 and it forms a Super
node with a 10Ω resistor in parallel.

Note – Any element connected in parallel with the voltage source forming Super node
doesn’t make any difference because v2– v1 = 2V always whatever may be the value of
resistor. Thus 10 Ω can be removed and circuit is redrawn and applying KCL to the super
node as shown in figure gives,

• Expressing and in terms of the node voltages.

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• Apply KVL to a super node by taking 2 v voltage source

• From Equation 5 and 6 we can write as

Hence, v1 = – 7.333V and v2 = – 5.333V which is required

answer.
Find also branch currents i1 and i2.

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 2.6 Mesh Analysis

 Mesh analysis provides another general procedure for analyzing circuits, using mesh
currents as the circuit variables.

 Using mesh currents instead of element currents as circuit variables is convenient and
reduces the number of equations that must be solved simultaneously.

 A mesh is a loop which does not contain any other loops within it.
  Steps to Determine Mesh Currents

Step 1 :Assign mesh currents i1, i2, . . . , in to the n meshes.

Step 2. Apply KVL to each of the n meshes. Use Ohm’s law to express the voltages in
terms of the mesh currents.

Step 3. Solve the resulting n simultaneous equations to get the mesh currents.

As the second step, we apply KVL to each mesh. Applying KVL to mesh 1, we obtain

−V1 + R1i1 + R3(i1 − i2) = 0

(R1 + R3)i1 − R3i2 = V1

For mesh 2, applying KVL gives

R2i2 + V2 + R3(i2 − i1) = 0

−R3i1 + (R2 + R3)i2 = −V2

The third step is to solve for the mesh currents

Examples 24: In the circuit shown below , find the branch currents I1, I2, and I3

using mesh analysis.

Apply KVL for Mesh current 1 and 2.

For mesh 1

−15 + 5i1 + 10(i1 − i2) + 10 = 0

3i1 − 2i2 = 1

For mesh 2

6i2 + 4i2 + 10(i2 − i1) − 10 = 0

-i1 +2i2 = 1
 Mesh Analysis with current Source

Rule 1 :When a current source exists only in one mesh

Consider the circuit We set i2 = −5 A and write a mesh equation for the other mesh in the usual
way, that is −10 + 4i1 + 6(i1 − i2) = 0 ⇒ i1 = −2 A

Rule 2 : When a current source exists between two meshes: A super mesh results when two
meshes have a (dependent or independent) current source in common.

Here we apply both KCL and KVL to a super mesh.

In (a) apply KCL to a node in the branch where the two meshes intersect.

Applying KCL to node 0 in gives

i2 = i1 + 6 A………………………………………….(1)

Applying KVL to a loop in gives

−20 + 6i1 + 10i2 + 4i2 = 0

6i1 + 14i2 = 20…………………………………….(2)

Solving Eqs.(1) and (2) gives

i1 = −3.2 A, i2 = 2.8 A
Example 25 : Use mesh analysis to find the current io in the circuit in Fig. below
Example 26: For the circuit in Fig below find i1 to i4 using mesh analysis.

Note that meshes 1 and 2 form a super mesh since they have an independent current source
in common. Also, meshes 2 and 3 form another super mesh.

because they have a dependent current source in common.

o The two super meshes intersect and form a larger super mesh as shown. Applying KVL to the
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larger super mesh,
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2.6 Linearity Property
 Linearity is the property of an element describing a linear relationship between cause and
effect.

 The property is a combination of both the homogeneity (scaling) property and the
additivity property.

 A linear circuit is one whose output is linearly related (or directly proportional) to its input.

 The linear circuit has no independent sources inside it. It is excited by a voltage source
vs, which serves as the input. The circuit is terminated by a load R. We may take the
current i through R as the output. Suppose vs = 10 V gives i = 2 A.

 According to the linearity principle, vs = 1 V will give i = 0.2 A.

 By the same token, i = 1 mA must be due to vs = 5 mV.

Examples 27. For the circuit in find io when vs = 12 V and vs = 24 V.
 2.7 Superposition
 The superposition principle states that the voltage across (or current through) an bear a linear
relationship to one another.

 Element in a linear circuit is the algebraic sum of the voltages across (or currents through) that
element due to each independent source acting alone.

Steps to Apply Superposition Principle :

1. Turn off all independent sources except one source. Find the output (voltage or current) due to that
active source using nodal or mesh analysis.

• (Turn off current source I OPEN circuit)

 (Turn off voltage source V short circuit)

2. Repeat step 1 for each of the other independent sources.

3. Find the total contribution by adding algebraically all the contributions due to the independent
sources.
 Examples 28. Use the superposition theorem to find v in the circuit in Fig. below

Solution:

 Since there are two sources, let v = v1 + v2,where v1 and v2 are the contributions due to the 6-V
voltage source and 3A respectively .

 To obtain v1, we set the current source to zero. Applying KVL to the loop in 12i1 − 6 = 0 ⇒ i1 =
0.5 A

v1 = 4i1 = 2 V

We may also use voltage divider rule to get v1 by writing

 To get v2, we set the voltage source to zero, Using current division,

=2A

V2 = 4 i3 = 8 V
 V = V1 + V2 = 2V + 8V = 10 V

Examples 29 . Find the current through 3 Ω resistor using superposition theorem.

• Let I1 and I2 are the currents flowing through the 3 Ω resistor, due to the voltage sources
.
20 v and 40 v respectively
( i) To find I1. Consider 20 v voltage source alone. Hence, Short circuit the other voltage
source and the circuit is redrawn as below,

• 6 Ω and 3 Ω are connected in parallel and connected with 5 Ω in series.

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 o ii) To find I2. Consider 40 v voltage source alone. Hence, Short circuit the other voltage
source and the circuit is redrawn as below,

5 Ω and 3 Ω are connected in parallel and connected with 6 Ω in series.

• By superposition theorem, the total current is determined by adding the individual currents
produced by 20 v and 40 v.
• Thus the current through 3 Ω resistor is = I1 + I2 = 1.904 + 3.174 = 5.078 A
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Problem 1: Find the voltage across through 15 Ω resistor using superposition theorem.

Hint use superposition principle

Problem 2 : For the circuit in Fig. below find Vo when is = 15 and is = 30 A.

Hint use linearity principle

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Problem 3 : Use mesh analysis to determine i1,i2, and i3 in Fig. below?

Hint : use mesh analysis of a network

Problem 4 :Find the Nodal voltage v1,v2 and the current flow through a resistors ?

Hint : use a nodal analysis.

2 A
v1  v2

5 
10  20  4 A

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