METHODS OF ANALYSIS

• Nodal analysis

• Mesh Analysis
 Nodal Analysis

An analysis technique to solve electrical circuit where the node voltages

are used as the circuit variables

It involves systematic steps with an objective to solve the node voltages

With node voltages known, current in every branch can be calculated

v1, v2 : node voltages

v1 6 v2

If v1 and v2 are known,

1A 2 7 4A current in all branches
can be calculated

Reference node
 Nodal Analysis
Example 1

6

1A 2 7 4A
 Nodal Analysis
Example 1
v1 6 v2

1A 2 7 4A

Step 1
Determine the reference node: typically the one with the most branches
 bottom node

Step 2
Assign the rest of the nodes with node voltages (referred to the reference node)
 Nodal Analysis
Example 1
v1 6 v2

1A 2 7 4A

Step 3
Write down equations using KCL for every non-reference node in terms of node
voltages
 if there are N nodes, there should be (N-1) equations

Step 4
Obtain the node voltages by solving the simultaneous equations in step 3
Nodal Analysis
Example 2 Determine the current in every branch
9k v1 3k v2 9k

12 V
+
6k 4k 3k


Step 1
Determine the reference node : bottom node

Step 2
Assign the rest of the nodes with nodal voltages
Note: only nodes with 3 or more branches are assigned
Nodal Analysis
Example 2 Determine the current in every branch
9k v1 3k v2 9k

12 V
+
6k 4k 3k


Step 3
Write down equations using KCL for every non-reference node in terms of node
voltages

Step 4
Obtain the node voltages by solving the simultaneous equations in step 3
Nodal Analysis
Example 3 Circuit containing dependent current source
v1 6k v2

2io
12k 3k 2mA

io

Step 1
Determine the reference node

Step 2
Assign the rest of the nodes with node voltages
Nodal Analysis
Example 3 Circuit containing dependent current source
v1 6k v2

2io
12k 3k 2mA

io

Step 3
Write down equations using KCL for every non-reference node in terms of node
voltages

Step 4
Obtain the node voltages by solving the simultaneous equations in step 3
Once we have selected a reference node, we
assign voltage designations to nonreference nodes.
Consider, for example, the circuit in Fig. (a). Node 0
is the reference node (v 0), while nodes 1 and 2 are
assigned voltages v1 and v2, respectively. Keep in
mind that the node voltages are defined with
respect to the reference node. As illustrated in Fig.
(a), each node voltage is the voltage rise from the
reference node to the corresponding nonreference
node or simply the voltage of that node with respect
to the reference node.
Obtain the node voltages in the circuit of Fig.
3.4.
METHODS OF ANALYSIS

• Nodal analysis

• Mesh Analysis
Nodal Analysis 2
Nodal Analysis with Voltage Sources (Supernode)
Nodal Analysis 2 There is no way of knowing the current
Nodal Analysis with Voltage Sources (Supernode) through a voltage source in advance. However,
KCL must be satisfied at a supernode like any
other node. Hence, at the supernode in Fig. 3.7
Nodal Analysis 2
Supernode
10

2V
 +

+ +
2A 7A
v1 2 4 v2
 

Determine v1 , v2
Nodal Analysis 2
Supernode
10

v1 2V v2
 +

+ +
2A 7A
v1 2 4 v2
 

Step 1
Determine the reference node

Step 2
Assign the rest of the nodes with node voltages
Nodal Analysis 2
Supernode
10

v1 2V v2
 +

+ +
2A 7A
v1 2 4 v2
 

Step 3
Write down equations using KCL for every non-reference node in terms of node
voltages

We cannot write equation for current with branch containing 2V voltage source !

To avoid this, we will combine nodes 1 and 2 to form a SUPERNODE

Nodal Analysis 2
Supernode supernode
10

v1 2V v2
 +

+ +
2A 7A
v1 2 4 v2
 

We will use KCL to sum all current going out of supernode:

v1 v 2
 2   7 0
2 4
To avoid this, we will combine nodes 1 and 2 to form a SUPERNODE
Nodal Analysis 2
Supernode supernode
10

v1 2V v2
 +

+ +
2A 7A
v1 2 4 v2
 

We need another equation in order to solve v1 and v2

v1 v 2
 2  v   v 720
2 2 41
Applying KVL for the loop,
Nodal Analysis 2
Supernode
10

v1 2V v2
 +

+ +
2A 7A
v1 2 4 v2
 

Step 4
Obtain the node voltages by solving the simultaneous equations in step 3
v1 v 2
 2   7 0 and v 2  v 1 2
2 4

v 1  7.333 V v 2  5.333 V
Example

Find the node voltages.

Example
 Nodal Analysis 2
Supernode

To summarize ….
We form a supernode when there is a voltage source in
between 2 non-reference nodes

For example: Supernode needed since Vs in

between non-reference node

+
Vs
+

 Nodal Analysis 2
Supernode

To summarize ….
We form a supernode when there is a voltage source in
between 2 non-reference nodes

For example:
Supernode needed
since va in between
non-reference node
v1 v2 v3
+ 
va
+
We don’t need to form vb 
supernode.
Also note that v1 = Vb
 Nodal Analysis 2
Supernode

To summarize ….
We form a supernode when there is a voltage source in
between 2 non-reference nodes

For example:

3io
 + + 
 Nodal Analysis 2
Supernode

To summarize ….
We form a supernode when there is a voltage source in
between 2 non-reference nodes

Since we have combined two nodes, we lost 1 equation to

solve the circuit.  we need one more equation to solve the
circuit

We write an equation (using KVL) that defines the voltage

relationship between the two non-reference nodes that forms
the supernodes