Node Voltage Method

This simplest among many circuit analysis methods is

applicable only for connected circuits N made of linear 2-
terminal resistors and current sources. The only variables in the
linear equations are the n-1 node voltages e
1
, e
2
, , e
n-1
for an
n-node circuit.
Step 1. Choose an arbitrary datum node and label the
remaining nodes consecutively , , , , and
let e
1
, e
2
, , e
n-1
be node-to-datum voltages.
Step 2. Express the current of each resistor R
j
via Ohms
law in terms of 2 node-to-datum voltages:
Step 3. Apply KCL to each node , , , with
each resistor current i
j
expressed in terms of and .
Step 4. Solve the (n-1) independent linear equations for e
1
, e
2
, , e
n-1
.
Step 5. Solve for the resistor currents via Eq.(1).
1 2
n-1
j
i
+
-
j
R
j
e
+
j
e

j
j
j
j
e
i
R
e
+

= (1)
1 2 n-1
j
e
+
j
e

5A
2A
+
-
6
v
6
i
2
e 3
e
1
e
+
-
3
v
4
v
+
-
5
v
+
-
8
6
4
2
+
-
1
v
2
v
+
-
3
5
6
i
e
=
3
i
1
1
2
2
e
i
e
=
1
2
3
4
e
i
e
=
2
4
8
i
e
=
1
2 3
KCL at :
1 3 1 2
( ) ( )
5
2 4
e e e e
+ =
1
(2)
KCL at :
1 2 2
( )
2
2 8
e e e
+ =
2
(3)
KCL at :
1 3 3
( )
2
4 6
e e e
+ =
3
(4)
matrix form :
1
2
3
3 1 1
4 2 4
1 5
0
2 8
1 5
0
4 12
5
2
2
e
e
e

(
(
( (
(
( (
(
=
( (
(
( (
(

(
(

(5)
Node
voltage
Equations
1. EXAMPLE
Recast Eqs. (2), (3),
and (4) in
3 1 1
4 2 4
1 5
0
2 8
1 5
0
4 1 2
2 0
d e t
3 8 4

(
(
(
=
(
(
(
(

1
(a) To solve for , replace column 1 of matrix from (5) and calculate e
1
1 1
5
2 4
5
2 0
8
5
2 0
1 2
1 1 5
d e t
9 6

(
(
(
=
(
(
(
(

Cramer's Rule
1
1
115 20
23
96 384
V e

| | | |
= = =
| |

\ . \ .
2
(b) To solve for , replace column 2 of matrix from (5) and calculate e
2
2
76 20
15.2
96 384
e V

| | | |
= = =
| |

\ . \ .
3
(c) To solve for , replace column 3 of matrix from (5) and calculate e
3
3
93 20
18.6
96 384
e V

| | | |
= = =
| |

\ . \ .
2
3 1
5
4 4
1
2 0
2
1 5
2
4 1 2
7 6
d e t
9 6

(
(
(
=
(
(
(
(

3
3 1
5
4 2
1 5
2
2 8
1 2
0
4 1 2
9 3
d e t
9 6

(
(
(
=
(
(
(
(

( 6 )
( 7 )
( 8 )
( 9 )
(1 0 )
(1 1 )
Solving eq. (5) by Cramer's Rule (or any other method) :
Cramer's Rule
Cramer's Rule
{ }
1 2 3
Once the node-to-datum voltages , , are found, e e e
all resistor currents and voltages are found trivially via
KVL, KCL, and Ohm's law :
1 2 1 1
7.8
7.8 , 3.9
2
v V i A e e = = = =
1 3 2 2
4.4
4.4 , 1.1
4
v V i A e e = = = =
3 3 3 2
3.4 , 2 v V e e i A = = =
2 4 4
15.2
15.2 , 1.9
8
v V i e A = = = =
3 5 5
18.6
18.6 , 3.1
6
v V i e A = = = =
1 6 6
23 , 5 v V i e A = = =
Verification of Solution
Tellegen's The App o ly : rem
6
1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4
1
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
j j
j
v i v i v i v i v i
=
= + + +

(7.8)(3.9) (4.4)(1.1) (3.4)( 2) = + +

5 5 6 6
( ) ( ) v i v i + +
(15.2)(1.9) (18.6)(3.1) ( 23)(5) + + +
?
0 =
Modified Node Voltage Method
Circuit N
+
v
1
e
1
e
2
6V
2A
3
4
i
4
i
2
i
1
i
3
_
v
3
v
4
+
-
+
_
+
_
v
2
+
1
3
2
_
1
1
2
4
e
i
e
=
1
2
3
i
e
=
KCL at :
1 1 2
( )
2
3 4
e e e
+ =
1 (1)
KCL at :
1 2
3
( )
0
4
i
e e
+ =
2
(2)
For each voltage source , add an equation .
j j
j s j s
v e v e
+
=
2
6 e = (3)
Substituting (3) into (1), we obtain :
1 1
1
( 6)
2 6
3 4
e e
V e

+ = =
(4)
Substituting (4) into (2), we obtain :
3
0 i =
(5)
1 2
When the circuit contains " " voltages , , , , use
s s s
v v v

"
1 2
their associated currents , , , when applying KCL.
s s s
i i i

"
Step 1.
Step 2.
Step 3.
1 2
1 2 1
Solve the ( -1) + equations for , , , , , .
n s s s
n i e e e i i

" "
Explicit matrix form of Node Voltage Equations
Assumption: Circuit N contains only linear resistors and
independent current sources which do not form cut sets.
Step 1. Delete all current sources from N and draw the
reduced digraph G of the remaining pure resistor circuit.
Assume G has n nodes and b branches.
Step 2. Pick a datum node and label the node-to-datum voltages
{ e
1
, e
2
, , e
n-1
}, and derive the reduced-incidence matrix A.
Define the branch admittance matrix Y
b
and independent
current source vector i
s
as follow:
Step 3. Form the Node voltage equation
b
Y
1
2
1 1 1
2 2 2
0 0 0
0 0 0
(1) , (2)
0 0 0
s
s
s
b b b
s
i
i Y v
i
i Y v
i Y v
i

(
( ( (
(
( ( (
(
( ( (
=
(
( ( (
(
( ( (
( ( ( (


i
"
"

# # # # # # #
#
"
i
v
1
where , resistance of branch .
j j
j
Y R j
R
=
current = algebraic of all sources node su , m
m
s
i entering
1, 2, , -1. m n =
m
n s
= Y e i
(3)
where is called the .
T
n b
node - admittance mat Y AY A rix
Deriving the Node Voltage Equation
The current sources can be
deleted since they can be trivially accounted
for by representing their net contribution at
each node m by the algebraic sum of all
current sources entering node m , m = 1, 2,
, n-1. The KCL equations therefore takes
the augmented form
Substituting (1) for i in (4), we obtain
Substituting KVL
for v in (5), we obtain
s
= A i i
b s
= A Y v i
T
= v A e
( )
T
b s
= A Y A e i
n
Y
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
( )
n s
= Y e i
Writing Node-Admittance Matrix
Y
n
By Inspection
n
Y
(8)
: Node Votage Equation
1
2
1
11 12 1, 1
21 22 2, 1
1,1 1,2 1, 1
1
2
1
n
s
n
s n
n n n
s
n
n
i
Y Y Y
i Y Y Y
Y
e
Y
e
Y
i
e

(
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
=
(
(
(
(
(
(
( ( (



"
"
# # " #
#
"
#
e
s
i
Diagonal Elements of
n
Y
1
= sum of admittances of all resistors
mm j
j
Y Y
R

connected to node , 1, 2, , - 1 m m n =
Off-Diagonal Elements of
n
Y
1
= sum of admittances of all resistors
jk j
j
Y Y
R
- (
connected across node and node j k )
Symmetry Property:
symmetric matri i s a , i.e., x
n jk kj
Y Y = Y
Proof :
( )
T
T T T T T
n b b b n
= = = = Y AY A AY A AY A Y
Since in (1) is a diagonal matrix,
T
b b b
= Y Y Y
5A
2A
+
-
6
v
6
i
2
e 3
e
1
e
+
-
3
v
4
v
+
-
5
v
+
-
8
6
4
2
+
-
1
v
2
v
+
-
3
5
6
e
i =
3
i
1 2
1
2
e e
i

=
1 3
2
4
e e
i

=
2
4
8
e
i =
1
2
3
KCL at :
1 3 1 2
( ) ( )
5 4
2 4
e e e e
+ =
1
(2)
KCL at :
1 2 2
( )
4 2 3
2 8
e e e
+ =
2
(3)
KCL at :
1 3 3
( )
2 1
4 6
e e e
+ = +
3
(4)
Matrix Form :
1
2
3
3 1 1
4 2 4
1 5
0
2 8
1 5
0
4 12
1
1
3
e
e
e

(
(
( (
(
( (
(
=
( (
(
( (
(

(
(

(5)
Node
Equations
EXAMPLE
1A
4A
3A
Mesh Current Method
The next simplest among many circuit
analysis methods is applicable only for
connected planar circuit N (with a planar
digraph) made of 2-terminal linear resistors
and voltage sources. The only variables in the
equations are l conceptual mesh currents
circulating in the l meshes in
a clockwise direction (by convention) :
1 2

, , ,
l
m m m
l l l "
1
R
10
i
11
i
13
i
12
i
3
i
7
i
2
i
4
i
5
i
6
i
9
i
8
i
1
i
2
R
3
R
4
R
5
R
6
R
7
R
8
R
9
R
10
R
11
R
12
R
13
R
1

i
2

i
5

i 4

i
6

i
3

i
j
i
j
R

c
i

a
i

b
i

d
i

a b j
i i i =
Mesh Current Method
The next simplest among many circuit
analysis methods is applicable only for connected
planar circuits made of 2-terminal linear resistors and
voltage sources. The only variables in the associated
mesh-current equations are l mesh current
which we define to be circulating in the
l meshes in a clockwise direction (by convention).
Unlike node-to-datum voltages in the node voltage
method which are physical in the sense they can be
measured by a volt meter, the mesh currents are
abstract variables introduced mathematically for
writing a set of equations whose solution can be used
to find each resistor current i
j
trivially via
Where is the circulating current flowing
through R
j
in the same (resp., opposite) direction as the
reference current i
j
.
2

, ,
l
m m
l l "
1

,
m
l

j a b
i i i =

(resp., )
a b
i i
1
2
3

6 0 2 2

0 14 8 2

2 8 10 5
i
i
i
(

( (
(
( (
=
(
( (
(
( (



(1)
Then calculate :
1 3 1
3

10
i i i = =
1 2 3
13 8 19

, ,
20 20 20
i i i = = =
2 1
13

20
i i = =
3 1 2
5

20
i i i = =
4 3 2
11

20
i i i = =
5 2
8

20
i i = =
6 3
19

20
i i = =
1 1
6
2
10
v i = =
2 2
13
4
5
v i = =
3
2 v =
4 4
22
8
5
v i = =
5 5
12
6
5
v i = =
6
5 v =
Mesh
Current
Equations
Verification by Tellegen's Theorem :
6
j=1
j j
v i =

( ) ( )
6 3 13 13 5 22 11 12 8 19
2 5
10 10 5 20 20 5 20 5 20 20
| || | | || | | | | || | | || | | |
+ + + + +
| | | | | | | | | |
\ .\ . \ .\ . \ . \ .\ . \ .\ . \ .
?
0 =
,
,
,
,
,
,
(2)
(3)
2V
+
-
6
v
6
i
+
-
3
v
4
v
+
-
5
v
+
-
8
6
4
2
+
-
1
v
2
v
+
-
5
i
3
i
2
i
4
i
1
i
3

i
1

i
2

i
+
1 3 1

i i i =
2 1

i i =
3 1 2

i i i =
4 3 2

i i i =
5 2

i i =
( )
1 3 1

2 v i i =
2 1

4 v i =
3
2 v =
( )
4 3 2

8 v i i =
5 2

6 v i =
6
5 v =
,
,
,
,
,
,
6 3

i i =
Loop equation around mesh 1:
1 2 3 3 1 1

0 2( ) 4 2 0 v v v i i i + + = + =
1 3

6 2 2 i i =
Loop equation around mesh 2:
3 5 4 2 3 2

0 ( 2) 6 8( ) 0 v v v i i i + = + =
2 3

14 8 2 i i =
5V
+
-
Loop equation around mesh 3:
6 1 4 3 1 3 2

0 5 2( ) 8( ) 0 v v v i i i i + + = + + =
1 2 2

2 8 10 5 i i i + =
(1)
( 2 )
( 3)
5V
2V
+
-
6
v
6
i
+
-
3
v
4
v
+
-
5
v
+
-
8
6
4
2
+
-
1
v
2
v
+
-
5
i
3
i
2
i
4
i
1
i
3

i
1

i
2

i
1 3

Mesh 1: 6 2 2 i i =
2 3

Mesh 2: 14 8 2 i i =
1 2 3

Mesh 3: 2 8 10 5 i i i + =
1 1 3
1 2

Solving from (1)
3 3
i i i =
2 2 3
4 1

Solving from (2)
7 7
i i i =
Substituting (4) and (5) into (3)
(5) and (6)
3
19

12
i A =
2
8

20
i A =
1
13

20
i A =
(4) and (6)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
+
-
+
1
i
2
i
4
i
6
i
3
i
5
i
We can redraw this circuit so that there are
no intersecting branches.
1
2
3
4
1
i
2
i
4
i
3
i
5
i
1
2
3
4
6
i
Hence the above circuit is planar and it is possible
to formulate mesh current equations.
1
i
2
i
4
i
6
i
3
i
5
i
We can redraw this circuit so that there are
no intersecting branches.
1
2
3
4
1
i
2
i
4
i
3
i
5
i
1
2
3
4
6
i
Hence the above circuit is planar and it is possible
to formulate mesh current equations.
2
4
8
6
5V
2V
2
5V
2V
6
4
8
+
+
+
+
-
+
All branch voltages and currents can be trivially
calculated from e
1
and i
3
.
1
2 1 1 1
0 , 0
4
v
v V e i A e = = = =
1
2
2 2
6 , 2
3
v
v e V i A = = = =
2 3 3
6 , 0 v V i e A = = =
1 4 4
6 , 2 A e v V i = = =
Verification of Solution Tellegen's Theor by : em
4
1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4
1
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
j j
j
v i v i v i v i v i
=
= + + +

(0)(0) (6)(2) (6)(0) ( 6)(2) = + + +

?
0 =
Note:
The unknown variables in the
modified node voltage method consist
of the usual n-1 node-to-datum
voltages, plus the unknown currents
associated with the voltage sources.
Hence, if there are voltage
sources, the modified node voltage
method would consist of (n-1)+
independent linear equations involving
(n-1)+ unknown variables
{ }
1 2
1 2 1
, , , , , , .
n s s s
i e e i e i

" "
(n-1) node-to-datum
variables
current
variables
Conservation of Electrical
Energy
The algebraic sum of
electrical energy flowing into all
devices in a connected circuit is
zero for all times . t >
Proof .
Tellegen's Theorem
1
( ) ( ) 0
b
t
j j
j
v t i t dt

=
=

for all . t
1 1
0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1
0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
0 1 0 0 0 4 0 0 0
0 0 1 0 0 0 3 0 0
0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6
0
t
2 1
de

A
1
A
4 4
0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1
0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
0 0 1 0 0 4 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0
0 0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
6 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2
det

= A
4
A
9 9
0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1
0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
0 0 1 0 0 0 4 0 0
0 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 0
0 0 0 0 1
0
0
0
0
0 0 0
0
0
0
0
6 0
0 0 0
det
0 0 1 2 0 0 0

A
9
A
11 11 21 21 31 31 41 41 51 51
61 61 71 71 81 81 91 91 10,1 10,1
1
a A a A a A a A a A
a A a A a A a A a A
+ + + +

=

+ + + + +

( )
91 91 10,1 10,1 11 21 81
1
, because 0 a A a A a a a = + = = =

"
( )
( )
10,1
91
91 10,1
A
A
a a = +

11
k
12
k
11 12
6 2 k k = +
11 1 12 1 s s
k v k i = +
1
1
e

=

Instantaneous Power
of a 2-terminal device
D
+
-
( ) v t
( ) i t
1
2
( ) ( ) ( ) p t v t i t
Under Associated Reference Convention,
1
( ) 0 at p t t T > =
1
means ( ) Watts of power ent ers p T
1.
( ) flow at s into t T = D
2
( ) 0 at p t t T < =
2
means ( ) Watts of power lea ves p T
2.
flows out of ( ) at t T = D
1 2
Energy entering from time to : T T D
2
1 2
1
( ) ( )
T
T T
T
W v t i t dt

Instantaneous Power
of an n-terminal device
1
1
( ) ( ) ( )
n
j j
j
p t v t i t

=
=

1 2
Energy entering from time to : T T D
2
1 2
1
1
1
( ) ( )
n
T
T T j j
T
j
W v t i t dt

=
=

D
k
n
1
2
n-1
1
i
2
i
k
i
1 n
i

1
v
2
v
k
v
1 n
v

Tellegens Theorem has many deep
applications. For this course, it can be used to
check whether your answers in homework
problems, midterm and final exams are
correct.