Circuit Analysis 1

Chapter 3
Methods of Analysis

Dr. Ali Bou Nassif

 Methods of Analysis

3.1 Motivation
3.2 Nodal analysis.
3.3 Nodal analysis with voltage sources.
3.4 Mesh analysis.
3.5 Mesh analysis with current sources.
3.7 Nodal versus mesh analysis.

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 3.1 Motivation (1)
If you are given the following circuit, how can
we determine (1) the voltage across each
resistor, (2) current through each resistor. (3)
power generated by each current source, etc.

What are the things which we need to

know in order to determine the answers?
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 3.1 Motivation (2)
Things we need to know in solving any resistive circuit
with current and voltage sources only:

• Kirchhoff’s Current Laws (KCL)

• Kirchhoff’s Voltage Laws (KVL)
• Ohm’s Law

How should we apply these laws to

determine the answers?

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 3.2 Nodal Analysis (1)
It provides a general procedure for analyzing circuits
using node voltages as the circuit variables.

Steps to determine the node voltages:

1. Select a node as the reference node
(ground/earth).
2. Assign voltages v1,v2,…,vn-1 to the
remaining n-1 nodes. The voltages are
referenced with respect to the
reference node.
3. 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.
4. Solve the resulting simultaneous equations
to obtain the unknown node voltages.
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 3.2 Nodal Analysis (2)
Example 1 – circuit independent current source only

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 3.2 Nodal Analysis (3)
Example 1 – circuit independent current source only
Current flows from a higher potential to a lower potential in a resistor.

Apply KCl at node 1 Apply KCl at

node 1 and 2

Apply KCl at node 2

Reference node
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 3.2 Nodal Analysis (4)
Example 1 – circuit independent current source only

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 3.2 Nodal Analysis (5)
Example 2 – circuit independent current source only

Apply KCl at
node 1 and 2 v1 v2

i2
i1 i3

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 3.2 Nodal Analysis (6)
v1 v2
KCL at node 1
i1 i2 i3
1= v1 /2 + (v1- v2) / 6
4 v1 – v2 = 6 1

KCL at node 2
(v1- v2) / 6 = v2 / 7 + 4
7 v1 – 13 v2 = 168 2

From equations 1 and 2

v1 = -2 volt
v2 = -14 volt

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 3.2 Nodal Analysis (7)
Example 3 – Circuit with dependent current source

From equations 1 and 2 and 3

v1 = 4.8 volt v2 = 2.4 volt v3 = -2.4 volt 11
3.3 Nodal Analysis with Voltage Source (1)

Example 4 –circuit with independent voltage source

Case1: 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

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3.3 Nodal Analysis with Voltage Source (2)

Example 5 –circuit with independent voltage source

Case2: If the voltage source (dependent or independent) is connected

between two non-reference node

How to handle the 2V voltage source?

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3.3 Nodal Analysis with Voltage Source (3)

A super-node is formed by enclosing a (dependent

or independent) voltage source connected between
two non-reference nodes and any elements
connected in parallel with it.

*Note: We analyze a circuit with super-nodes using

the same three steps mentioned above except that
the super-nodes are treated differently.

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3.3 Nodal Analysis with Voltage Source (4)

Basic steps:

1. Take off all voltage sources in super-

nodes and apply KCL to super-nodes.

2. Put voltage sources back to the nodes

and apply KVL to relative loops.

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3.3 Nodal Analysis with Voltage Source (5)

Example 5 – circuit with

independent voltage source
Super-node => 2-i1-i2-7 = 0
i1=v1/2 and i2=v2/4

Apply KVL => -v1-2+v2 = 0

2 equations, 2 unknowns. Solve for v1 and v2 (v1=-7.33 and v2=-5.33)
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3.3 Nodal Analysis with Voltage Source (6)

Example 6 – circuit with two voltage sources

(independent and dependent)

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3.3 Nodal Analysis with Voltage Source (7)
Example 6 – circuit with two voltage sources
(independent and dependent)

4 equations, 4 unknowns. Solve for v1 , v2 , v3 and v4 18

 Solving Systems of Equations using
Cramer’s Rule
Example 7 – Solving Systems of Equations using
Cramer’s rule

A system of equations can be easily solved using Cramer’s Rule.

Example:
7v1 – 3v2 – 4v3 = -11
-3v1 + 6v2 – 2v3 = 3
-4v1 – 2v2 + 11v3 = 25

7 −3 −4 𝑣1 −11
Write in matrix form: −3 6 −2 𝑣2 = 3
−4 −2 11 𝑣3 25

∆1 ∆2 ∆3
Use Cramer’s rule: 𝑣1 = , 𝑣2 = , 𝑣3 =
∆ ∆ ∆

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 Solving Systems of Equations using
Cramer’s Rule
Where:
7 −3 −4
∆ = −3 6 −2
−4 −2 11
−11 −3 −4
∆1 = 3 6 −2 (same as D, but replace 1st column with results)
25 −2 11
7 −11 −4
∆2 = −3 3 −2 (same as D, but replace 2nd column with results)
−4 25 11
7 −3 −11
∆3 = −3 6 3 (same as D, but replace 3rd column with results)
−4 −2 25

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 Solving Systems of Equations using
Cramer’s Rule
Two ways to calculate ∆:

– “Official” way through Minors

7 3 4
6 2 3 4 3 4
D = 3 6  2 = 7(1)11  (3)(1)1 2  (4)(1)13
2 11 2 11 6 2
4 2 11

D = 7 [6 x 11 – (-2) x (-2)] + 3[(-3) x (11) – (-4) x (-2)] – 4[(-3) x (-2) – (-4) x (-6)] = 191

– Quick way 7 3 4 7 3
D = 3 6 2 3 6
4 2 11 4 2

D = (7)(6)(11) – (-4)(6)(-4) + (-3)(-2)(-4) – (-2)(-2)(7) + (-4)(-3)(-2)- (11)(-3)(-3) = 191

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 Solving Systems of Equations using
Cramer’s Rule
 11  3  4
3 6 2
25  2 11 (726)  (150)  (24)  (600)  (44)  (99) 191
v1 = = = =1
191 191 191

7  11  4
3 3 2
4 25 11 231  (88)  300  48  (350)  363 382
v2 = = = =2
191 191 191

 7  3  11
3 6 3
4 2 25 1050  36  (66)  264  (42)  225 573
v3 = = = =3
191 191 191

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 3.4 Mesh Analysis (1)

1. Mesh analysis provides another general

procedure for analyzing circuits using mesh
currents as the circuit variables.

2. Nodal analysis applies KCL to find unknown

voltages in a given circuit, while mesh analysis
applies KVL to find unknown currents.

3. A mesh is a loop which does not contain any

other loops within it.

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 3.4 Mesh Analysis (2)

Steps to determine the mesh currents:

1. Assign mesh currents i1, i2, …, in to the

n meshes.

2. Apply KVL to each of the n meshes. Use Ohm’s

law to express the voltages in terms of the
mesh currents.

3. Solve the resulting n simultaneous equations

to get the mesh currents.

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 3.4 Mesh Analysis (3)
Example 8 – circuit with independent voltage sources
Branch current

Mesh current

Step1: Find meshes and assign mesh currents

if a circuit has n nodes, b branches, and l independent. loops or meshes,
then l = b−n+1. Hence, l independent simultaneous equations are required to
solve the circuit using mesh analysis.
Note:
i1 and i2 are mesh current (imaginative, not measurable directly)
I1, I2 and I3 are branch current (real, measurable directly)
I1 = i1; I2 = i2; I3 = i1 - i2
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 3.4 Mesh Analysis (4)
Example 8 – circuit with independent voltage sources

Step2:

Applying KVL to mesh 1

Applying KVL to mesh 2

Step3:

Solving the two equations to get the mesh currents i1 and i2 and then
compute the branch currents I1, I2 and I3 26
 3.4 Mesh Analysis (5)
Example 9 – circuit with independent voltage sources
Applying KVL to mesh 1

Applying KVL to mesh 2

Solving the two equations using the substitution method

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 3.4 Mesh Analysis (6)
Example 10 – circuit with dependent voltage source
Use mesh analysis to find the
current I0 in the circuit shown
Applying KVL to mesh 1

Applying KVL to mesh 2

Applying KVL to mesh 3

But 3

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 3.4 Mesh Analysis (7)
Write equations 1, 2
and 3 in Matrix form

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3.5 Mesh Analysis with Current Source (1)

Example 11 –circuit with independent current source

Case1: If a current source exists only in one mesh,

then the mesh current is equal to the current source

And write a mesh equation for the other mesh

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3.5 Mesh Analysis with Current Source (2)
Case2: If a current source exists between two meshes, then we
create a super-mesh

A super-mesh results when two meshes have a (dependent or

independent) current source in common as shown in (a).

We create a super-mesh by excluding the current source and any

elements connected in series with it as shown in (b).

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3.5 Mesh Analysis with Current Source (3)

Applying KVL to the super-mesh shown in (b) gives:

We apply KCL to a node in the branch where the two meshes intersect

Solving the two equations gives:

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3.5 Mesh Analysis with Current Source (4)
The properties of a super-mesh:

1. The current source in the super-mesh is not

completely ignored; it provides the constraint
equation necessary to solve for the mesh
currents.

2. A super-mesh has no current of its own.

3. A super-mesh requires the application of both

KVL and KCL.

4. If a circuit has two or more supermeshes that

intersect, they should be combined to form a
larger supermesh
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 Mesh Analysis Example 1
For the circuit shown below , find I1, I2, I3 and I4 using mesh analysis.

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2
4
Meshes
We have, 5 nodes, 8 branches 
we have 4 meshes
Super-Meshes
meshes 1 and 2 form a supermesh since they have an independent
current source in common.
Also, meshes 2 and 3 form another supermesh
The two supermeshes intersect and form a larger supermesh 34
 Mesh Analysis Example 1 – cont’d

Applying KVL to the larger supermesh, gives

1

For the independent current source, we apply KCL to node P: 2

For the dependent current source, we apply KCL to node Q:

3

Applying KVL to mesh 4, gives 4

From eq. 1 to eq. 4 35

 Examples

2 meshes
0 Supermesh
-17+i1x1+(i1-i2)x3=0 3 meshes
(i2-i1)x3+i2x2+10=0 0 Supermesh
i1=4, i2=-2
-3+(i3-i2)x4+(i3-i1)x2+6xi3=0
I1
3 meshes I4
0 Supermesh 1
I2 1 I3
-12+i1x1+(i1-i2)x4+(i1-i3)x2=0
(i2-i1)x4+i2x3-11+ (i2-i3)x6=0
(i3-i1)x2+(i3-i2)x6+i3x5=0
4 meshes 2
I2 I3
3 meshes
1 Supermesh, 1 mesh
1 Supermesh, 1 mesh
i4x4 + i3x6 + (i2-i1)x3 + 1x(i4 – i1) =0
-6 + i1x1 + i2x2 +(i2-i3)x2 + (i1-i3) x1=0
i1=2
i3=2
KCL at 1: 2+i4=2i +i3
KCL: 4+i1=i2
KCL at 2: i3 = 2+i2 36
 Practice Problem
Use mesh analysis to determine i1, i2, and i3

3 meshes
1 mesh, 1 Supermesh
2xi3 + 4x(i3-i2) + 2x(i3-i1)=0  8xi3 – 4xi2 -2xi1=0
-6 + 2x(i1-i3) + 4x(i2-i3) + 8xi2=0  2xi1 +12xi2 - 6xi3=6
KCL: i2 + 3= i1
i1= 3.474, i2 = 0.4737, i3 = 1.1052

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 3.7 Nodal versus Mesh Analysis
To select the method that results in the smaller number of
equations. For example:

1. Choose nodal analysis for circuit with fewer nodes than

meshes.
*Choose mesh analysis for circuit with fewer meshes
than nodes.
*Networks that contain many series connected
elements, voltage sources, or supermeshes are
more suitable for mesh analysis.
*Networks with parallel-connected elements, current
sources, or supernodes are more suitable for nodal
analysis.
2. If node voltages are required, it may be expedient to
apply nodal analysis. If branch or mesh currents are
required, it may be better to use mesh analysis.

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