EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

DC Circuits:
Methods of Analysis
Hasan Demirel
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Nodal Analysis
Steps to Determine Node Voltages:
1. Select a node as the reference node. Assign voltage 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
Ohms law to express the branch currents in terms of
node voltages.
3. Solve the resulting simultaneous equations to obtain the
unknown node voltages.
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Nodal Analysis
Steps to Determine Node Voltages:
Common symbols for indicating a reference node:
(a) common ground, (b) ground, (c) chassis.
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Nodal Analysis
Typical circuit for nodal analysis
(a) Given circuit, (c) voltages v1 and v2 are assigned with
respect to the reference node (i.e ground).

Reference Node
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Nodal Analysis
Typical circuit for nodal analysis:
Apply KCL to each non-reference node.

I1 I 2 i1 i2 vhigher vlower
I 2 i2 i3 i
R
v1 0
i1 or i1 G1v1
R1
v1 v2
i2 or i2 G2 (v1 v2 )
R2
v2 0
i3 or i3 G3v2
R3
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Nodal Analysis
Typical circuit for nodal analysis:
Apply KCL to each nonreference node.
v1 v1 v2
I1 I 2
R1 R2
v1 v2 v2
I2
R2 R3
I1 I 2 G1v1 G2 (v1 v2 )
I 2 G2 (v1 v2 ) G3v2
G1 G2 G2 v1 I1 I 2

G2 G2 G3 v2 I 2
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Nodal Analysis
Example 3.1: Calculate the node voltages in the
circuit shown below.
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Nodal Analysis
Example 3.1: Calculate the node voltages in the
circuit shown below.
At node 1:

i1 i2 i3
v1 v2 v1 0
5
4 2
(Multiply each term by 4)

20 v1 v2 2v1
3v1 v2 20
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Nodal Analysis
Example 3.1: Calculate the node voltages in the
circuit shown below.
At node 2:
i2 i4 i1 i5
i2 10 5 i
5 i5 i2
v2 0 v1 v2
5
6 4
v v v
5 2 2 1 (Multiply each term by 12)
6 4
60 2v2 3v2 3v1
3v1 5v2 60
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Nodal Analysis
Example 3.1: Calculate the node voltages in the
circuit shown below.

node 1 : 3v1 v2 20 (1)

node 2 : 3v1 5v2 60 ( 2)
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Nodal Analysis
Example 3.1: Calculate the node voltages in the
circuit shown below. node 1 : 3v1 v2 20 (1)
node 2 : 3v1 5v2 60 ( 2)
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Nodal Analysis
Example: Calculate the node voltages in the circuit
shown below.
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Nodal Analysis
Example 3.2: Determine the voltages at nodes 1, 2
and 3.
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Nodal Analysis
Example 3.2: Determine the voltages at nodes 1, 2 and 3.
At node 1:

3 i1 ix
v1 v3 v1 v2
3
4 2
(Multiplying by 4 and rearranging terms)

3v1 2v2 v3 12
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Nodal Analysis
Example 3.2: Determine the voltages at nodes 1, 2 and 3.
At node 2:
ix i2 i3
v1 v2 v2 v3 v2 0

2 8 4

(Multiplying by 8 and rearranging terms)

4v1 7v2 v3 0
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Nodal Analysis
Example 3.2: Determine the voltages at nodes 1, 2 and 3.
At node 3:

i1 i2 2ix
v1 v3 v2 v3 2(v1 v2 )

4 8 2
(Multiplying by 8 and rearranging terms)

2v1 3v2 v3 0
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Nodal Analysis
Example 3.2: Determine the voltages at nodes 1, 2 and 3.
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Nodal Analysis
Example 3.2: Determine the voltages at nodes 1, 2 and 3.
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Nodal Analysis: Cramer's Rule

 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Nodal Analysis with Voltage Sources

Case 1: The voltage source is connected between a
nonreference node and the reference node: The
nonreference node voltage is equal to the magnitude of
voltage source and the number of unknown nonreference
nodes is reduced by one.

Case 2: The voltage source is connected between two

nonreference nodes: a generalized node (supernode) is
formed.
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Nodal Analysis with Voltage Sources

A circuit with a supernode.
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Nodal Analysis: Supernode

A supernode is formed by enclosing a (dependent or

independent) voltage source connected between two
nonreference nodes and any elements connected in
parallel with it.

The required two equations for regulating the two

nonreference node voltages are obtained by the KCL of the
supernode and the relationship of node voltages due to
the voltage source.
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Nodal Analysis: Supernode

Find the node voltages of the circuit below.
2 7 i1 i2 0
v1 v2 v1 v2
2 7 0 5 2v1 v2 20
2 4 2 4
v1 v2 2

2v1 v2 20
v1 v2 2

22
3v1 22 v1 = 7.33V
i1 i2 3
22 16
v2 +2= = 5.33V
3 3
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Nodal Analysis: Supernode

Find the node voltages of the circuit below.
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Nodal Analysis: Supernode

Find the node voltages of the circuit below.
Apply KCL to the two supernodes.
At supernode 1-2:
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Nodal Analysis: Supernode

Find the node voltages of the circuit below.
Apply KCL to the two supernodes.
At supernode 3-4:
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Nodal Analysis: Supernode

Find the node voltages of the circuit below.
Apply KVL around the loops:
Loop1:

Loop2:

Loop3:
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Nodal Analysis: Supernode

Find the node voltages of the circuit below.
In matrix form:
(KCL from supernode 1-2)

(KCL from supernode 3-4)

(KVL from loop1)

(KVL from loop2)

(KVL from loop3) Only 4 equations are enough

(ignore the 5th equation)

5 1 1 2 v1 60
4 2 5 16 v 0
2
1 1 0 0 v3 20

3 0 1 2 v4 0
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Nodal Analysis: Supernode

Find the node voltages of the circuit below.
You can use Matlab to solve large matrix equations:
5 1 1 2 v1 60
4 2 5 16 v 0 We now use MATLAB to solve the matrix Equation. The
2 Equation on the left can be written as
1 1 0 0 v3 20
AV =B V= B/A= A-1B
3 0 1 2 v4 0
>> A=[5 1 -1 -2
4 2 -5 -16
1 -1 0 0
3 0 -1 -2];
>> B= [60 0 20 0]';
>> V=inv(A)*B
Matlab Code
v1 26.67 V V=
v2 6.67 V 26.6667
6.6667
v3 173.33 V 173.3333
-46.6667
v4 46.67 V
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Mesh Analysis
1. Mesh analysis: another procedure for analyzing circuits,
applicable to planar circuits.
2. A Mesh is a loop which does not contain any other loops
within it.
3. Nodal analysis applies KCL to find voltages in a given circuit,
while Mesh Analysis applies KVL to calculate unknown
currents.
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Mesh Analysis
A circuit is planar if it can be drawn on a plane with no branches crossing
one another. Otherwise it is nonplanar.
The circuit in (a) is planar, because the same circuit that is redrawn(b) has
no crossing branches.
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Mesh Analysis
A nonplanar circuit.
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Mesh Analysis
Steps to Determine Mesh Currents:
1. Assign mesh currents i1, i2, .., in to the n meshes.
2. Apply KVL to each of the n meshes. Use Ohms law to
express the voltages in terms of the mesh currents.
3. Solve the resulting n simultaneous equations to get
the mesh currents.
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Mesh Analysis
A circuit with two meshes.
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Mesh Analysis
A circuit with two meshes.

Apply KVL to each mesh. For mesh 1,

V1 R1i1 R3 (i1 i2 ) 0
( R1 R3 )i1 R3i2 V1
For mesh 2, R2i2 V2 R3 (i2 i1 ) 0
R3i1 ( R2 R3 )i2 V2
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Mesh Analysis
A circuit with two meshes.

Solve for the mesh currents.

R1 R3 R3 i1 V1

R3 R2 R3 i2 V2

Use i for a mesh current and I for a branch current.

Its evident from the circuit that:

I1 i1 , I 2 i2 , I 3 i1 i2
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Mesh Analysis: Example 3.5

A circuit Find the branch currents I1, I2, and I3 using mesh
analysis.
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Mesh Analysis: Example 3.5

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
We can find i1 and i2 by substitution method or Cramers
rule. Then,
I1 i1 , I 2 i2 , I 3 i1 i2
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Mesh Analysis: Example 3.6

Use mesh analysis to find the current Io in the circuit below.
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Mesh Analysis: Example 3.6

Apply KVL to each mesh. For mesh 1,

24 10(i1 i2 ) 12(i1 i3 ) 0
11i1 5i2 6i3 12

For mesh 2,

24i2 4(i2 i3 ) 10(i2 i1 ) 0

5i1 19i2 2i3 0
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Mesh Analysis: Example 3.6

For mesh 3,
4 I 0 12(i3 i1 ) 4(i3 i2 ) 0
At node A, I 0 I1 i2 ,
4(i1 i2 ) 12(i3 i1 ) 4(i3 i2 ) 0
i1 i2 2i3 0
In matrix from:
11 5 6 i1 12
5 19 2 i2 0
1 1 2 i 0
3

we can calculate i1, i2 and i3 by Cramers rule, and find I0.

 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Mesh Analysis: with Current Source

Consider the following circuit with a current source.
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Mesh Analysis: with Current Source

Possibe cases of having a current source.
Case 1
Current source exist only in one mesh
mesh 2:
mesh 1:
One mesh variable is reduced

Case 2
Current source exists between two meshes, a super-mesh is
obtained.
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Mesh Analysis: with Current Source

Possibe cases of having a current source.
A supermesh is considerred when two meshes have a
(dependent/independent) current source in common.
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Mesh Analysis: with Current Source

Applying KVL in the supermesh below:

Apply KCL at node 0 above: KVL in the supermesh above:

 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Mesh Analysis: with Current Source

Properties of a Supermesh

1. The current is not completely ignored

provides the constraint equation necessary to solve for the
mesh current.

2. A supermesh has no current of its own.

3. Several current sources in adjacency form a bigger
supermesh.
4. A supermesh requires the application of both KVL and
KCL.
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Mesh Analysis: with Current Source

Apply KVL in the supermesh (mesh 1 + mesh 2 + mesh 3):

Apply KCL at node P:

Apply KCL at node Q:

4 equations for 4 variables. Using Cramers Rule

1 3 6 4 i1 0
0
0 4 5 i2 5 Apply KVL in mesh 4:

1 1 0 0 i3 5

0 1 1 3 i4 0
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Nodal and Mesh Analysis by Inspection

The analysis equations can be obtained by direct
inspection
a) For circuits with only resistors and
independent current sources. (nodal
analysis)

b) For planar circuits with only resistors

and independent voltage sources.
(mesh analysis)
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Nodal and Mesh Analysis by Inspection

a) For circuits with only resistors and independent
current sources. (nodal analysis).

Consider the following example:

The circuit has two nonreference nodes and the node
equations:

In Matrix form:
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Nodal and Mesh Analysis by Inspection

In general, if a circuit with independent current sources has N
nonreference nodes, the node-voltage equations can be
written in terms of conductances as:

G is called the conductance matrix, v is the output vector, and i is

the input vector.
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Nodal and Mesh Analysis by Inspection

b) For planar circuits with only resistors and independent
voltage sources. (mesh analysis)

Consider the following example:

The circuit has two meshes and the mesh

equations :
In Matrix form:
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Nodal and Mesh Analysis by Inspection

In general, if a circuit has N meshes, mesh-current equations
can be expressed in terms of resistances as:

R is called the resistance matrix, i is the output vector, and v is the

input vector.
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Nodal and Mesh Analysis by Inspection

Example 3.8: Write the node-voltage matrix equations in
the following circuit.
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Nodal and Mesh Analysis by Inspection

Example 3.8: Write the node-voltage matrix equations in the
following circuit.
The circuit has 4 nonreference nodes, so the diagonal terms of G are:
1 1 1 1 1
G11 0.3, G22 1.325
5 10 5 8 1
1 1 1 1 1 1
G33 0.5, G44 1.625
8 8 4 8 2 1
The off-diagonal terms of G are:
1
G12 0.2, G13 G14 0
5
1 1
G21 0.2, G23 0.125, G24 1
8 1
G31 0, G32 0.125, G34 0.125
G41 0, G42 1, G43 0.125
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Nodal and Mesh Analysis by Inspection

Example 3.8: Write the node-voltage matrix equations in the
following circuit.
The input current vector i in amperes:

i1 3, i2 1 2 3, i3 0, i4 2 4 6

The node-voltage equations can be calculated by:

0.3 0.2 0 0 v1 3
0.2 1.325 0.125 1 v 3
2
0 0.125 0.5 0.125 v3 0
0 1 v 6
0.125 1 .625 4
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Nodal and Mesh Analysis by Inspection

Example 3.9: Write the mesh-current equations in in the
following circuit.
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Nodal and Mesh Analysis by Inspection

Example 3.9: Write the mesh-current equations in in the
following circuit.
The input voltage vector v in volts :

v1 4, v2 10 4 6,
v3 12 6 6, v4 0, v5 6
The mesh-current equations are:

9 2 2 0 0 i1
2 10 4 1 1 i2 4
6
2 4 9 0 0 i3 6
0 1 3 i4 0
6
0 8

0 1 0 3 4 i5
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Nodal versus Mesh Analysis

Both nodal and mesh analyses provide a systematic way of
analyzing a complex network.
The choice of the better method dictated by two factors.

First factor: nature of the particular network.

The key is to select the method that results in the

smaller number of equations.

Second factor: information required.

 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Nodal versus Mesh Analysis: Summary

Both nodal and mesh analyses provide a systematic way of
analyzing a complex network.
The choice of the better method is dictated by two factors.

1. Nodal analysis: Apply KCL at the nonreference nodes.

(The circuit with fewer node equations)
2. A supernode: Voltage source between two nonreference nodes.

3. Mesh analysis: Apply KVL for each mesh.

(The circuit with fewer mesh equations)
4. A supermesh: Current source between two meshes.
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Application: DC Transistor Circuits: BJT Circuit Models

(a)An npn transistor,
(b) dc equivalent model.
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Application: DC Transistor Circuits: BJT Circuit Models

Example 3.13: For the BJT circuit in Fig.3.43, =150 and VBE = 0.7 V.
Find v0.
 EENG223: CIRCUIT THEORY I

Application: DC Transistor Circuits: BJT Circuit Models

Example 3.13: For the BJT circuit in Fig.3.43, =150 and VBE = 0.7 V.
Find v0.

Use mesh analysis

or nodal analysis