Node Equations

Introduction
The circuits in this problem set consist of resistors and independent sources. We will analyze these circuits by writing and solving a set of node equations. This analysis is accomplished by doing two things: 1. Express the element currents and voltages in terms of the node voltages. 2. Apply KCL at nodes of the circuit. In particular, we will express the resistor currents in terms of the node voltages. Consider these two resistors.

(a)

(b)

In (a) a resistor is connected between two nodes, node 1 and node 2. The corresponding node voltages are v1 and v 2 . Apply KVL in (a) to get
v R + v 2 v1 = 0 v R = v1 v 2

Then apply Ohms law to get iR = vR 25 = v1 v 2 25

In (b) a resistor is connected between node 2 and the reference node. The node voltage at node 2 is v 2 . Apply Ohms law in (b) to get i2 = v2 9

2 To summarize: 1. Consider a resistor having resistance R connected between node i and node j. The current vi v j directed from node i to node j is . R 2. Consider a resistor having resistance R connected between node i and the reference node. vi The current directed from node i to the reference node is . R

We will also express the voltages of voltage sources currents in terms of node voltages. Consider these two independent voltage sources.

(a)

(b)

In (a) a voltage source is connected between two nodes, node 1 and node 2. The corresponding node voltages are v1 and v 2 . Apply KVL in (a) to get
25 + v 2 v1 = 0 v1 v 2 = 25 V

There is no easy way to express the voltage source current in terms of the node voltages. In (b) a voltage source is connected between node 2 and the reference node. The node voltage at node 2 is v 2 . We see that
v2 = 9 V

Again, there is no easy way to express the voltage source current in terms of node voltages.

3 To summarize: 1. Consider a voltage source having voltage V s connected between node i and node j. Suppose the + node of the voltage source is connected to node i. Then v i v j = V s . 2. Consider a voltage source having voltage V s connected between node i and the reference node. Suppose the + node of the voltage source is connected to node i. Then v i = V s . 3. Consider a voltage source having voltage V s connected between node i and the reference node. Suppose the + node of the voltage source is connected to the reference node. Then v i = V s . 4. There is no easy way to express the voltage source current in terms of the node voltages.

Worked Examples
Example:

Analyze this circuit by writing and solving a set of node equations. Solution: Emphasize and label the nodes:

Noticing the 24 V source connected between node 3 and the reference node, we determine that node voltage at node 3 is v 3 = 24 V Apply KCL at node 1 to get v1 8 In this equation v1 + v1 v 2 25

+2=0 v1 v 2

is the 8 25 current directed from left to right in the 25 resistor. We will simplify this equation by doing two things: 1. Multiplying each side by 8 25 = 200 to eliminate fractions. 2. Move the terms that dont involve node voltages to the right side of the equation. The result is
33 v1 8 v 2 = 400

is the current directed downward in the 8 resistor and

Next, apply KCL at node 2 to get v2 9 In this equation v2 9 + v 2 24 14 = v1 v 2 25 v 2 24 14 is the current

is the current directed downward in the 9 resistor, v1 v 2

directed from left to right in the 14 resistor and

is the current directed from left to 25 right in the 25 resistor. We will simplify this equation by doing two things:

1. Multiplying each side by 8 25 14 = 2800 to eliminate fractions. 2. Move the terms that involve node voltages to the left side of the equation and move the terms that dont involve node voltages to the right side of the equation.

The result is

( 9 14 ) v1 + ( 9 14 + 25 14 + 25 9 ) v 2 = 24 25 9 126 v1 + 701v 2 = 5400

The simultaneous equations can be written in matrix form

33 v1 8 v 2 = 400 8 v1 400 33 = 126 v1 + 701v 2 = 5400 126 701 v 2 5400

Using MATLAB to solve the matrix equation

Then

v1 10.7209 v = 2 5.7763
That is, the node voltages are v 1 = 10.7209 V and v 2 = 5.7763 V .

6 Example:

This circuit is represented by the simultaneous equations: a11 v1 + a12 v 2 = 40 a 21 v1 + a 22 v 2 = 228 Determine the values of the coefficients a 11 , a 12 , a 21 and a 22 .

Solution: Emphasize and label the nodes:

Noticing the 10 V source connected between node 3 and the reference node, we determine that node voltage at node 3 is v 3 = 10 V Apply KCL at node 1 to get v1 v1 v 2 + 0.4 + =0 10 10

In this equation

v1

10 10 the current directed from left to right in the horizontal 10 resistor. We will simplify this equation by doing two things: 1. Multiplying each side by 10 to eliminate fractions. 2. Move the terms that dont involve node voltages to the right side of the equation.

is the current directed downward in the vertical 10 resistor and

v1 v 2

7 is

The result is
2 v 1 v 2 = 4

Next, apply KCL at node 2 to get

v2 19 + v 2 ( 10 ) 22 = v1 v 2 10 + 0.4 v 2 ( 10 ) 22

In this equation

v2 19

is the current directed downward in the 19 resistor, v1 v 2

is the

is the current directed from left 10 to right in the horizontal 10 resistor. We will simplify this equation by doing two things: 1. Multiplying each side by 19 22 10 = 4180 to eliminate fractions. 2. Move the terms that involve node voltages to the left side of the equation and move the terms that dont involve node voltages to the right side of the equation. The result is
(19 22 ) v1 + (19 10 + 22 10 + 19 22 ) v 2 = 10 10 19 + 0.4 19 22 10 418 v1 + 828 v 2 = 228

current directed from left to right in the 22 resistor and

Comparing our equations to the given equations, we see that we need to multiply both sides of our first equation by 10. Then 20 v1 10 v 2 = 40 418 v1 + 828 v 2 = 228 Comparing coefficients gives
a 11 = 20 , a 12 = 10 , a 21 = 418 and a 22 = 828 .