Lecture 8

Starting Chapter 4
Node Voltage Method of Circuit
Analysis
Sumit Chaudhary
sumitc@iastate.edu

Reading and HW

Read at least first 3 sections of chapter 4

More HW problems are being posted daily.
Homework will be due next wed (feb 5)
Exam 1 mid of Feb (17th Monday)

Chapter 4
Terms for Describing Circuits
Node: A point where two or more circuit
elements join
Essential node: A node where three or more
circuit elements join
Path: A trace of adjoining basic elements with
no elements included more than once
Branch: A path that connects two nodes

Chapter 4
Terms for Describing Circuits
Essential Branch: A path which connects two
essential nodes without passing through an
essential node
Loop: A path whose last node is the same as
the starting node
Mesh: A loop that does not enclose any other
loops

Node Voltage Method

Workhorse of Circuit Analysis

Node Voltage Method

Chose a reference node (ground or 0 Volts)

Often best to pick the one with the most connections

Define unknown node voltages

Those which are not fixed by source voltages

Write KCL at each node, expressing current going out in

terms of node voltages (using the I-V relationships of
branch elements for current going out)
Special case: Floating voltage sources

Solve the set of unknown node voltages

N equations for N unknown voltages

Node Voltage Method

(Node voltage is defined as the voltage rise from the reference to non-

reference node)

Chose a reference node (ground.. 0 Volts)

At node 1:
At node 2:

v1 10 v1 v1 v2
+ +
=0
1
5
2
v2 v1 v2
+ 2=0
2
10

Solving 2 equations: V1 = 9.09 V

V2 = 10.91 V

Lets do a couple examples:

Assessment Problems 4.1 and 4.2
from Nilsson (Page 95)