Lecture 5

Nodal Analysis

1
 Nodal Analysis

One of the systematic ways to determine every voltage

and current in a circuit

2
 Steps In Nodal Analysis
• Steps in Nodal Analysis
1. Pick one node as a reference node
2. Label the voltage at the other nodes
3. Label the currents flowing through each of the
components in the circuit
4. Use Kirchoff’s Current Law
5. Use Ohm’s Law to relate the voltages at each node
to the currents flowing in and out of them.
6. Solve for the node voltage
7. Once the node voltages are known, calculate the
currents.
 Steps In Nodal Analysis
• What are the voltages of the three nodes a,b,c
below?
 Steps In Nodal Analysis
Step 1
• Pick one node as a reference node
- Its voltage will be arbitrarily defined to be zero
 Steps In Nodal Analysis
Step 2
• Label the voltage at the other nodes
 Steps In Nodal Analysis
Step 3
• Label the currents flowing through each of the
components in the circuit
 Steps In Nodal Analysis
Step 4
• Use Kirchoff’s Current Law
From Node b:
i1+i2+i3=0
 Steps In Nodal Analysis
Step 5
• Use Ohm’s Law to relate the voltages at each node
to the currents flowing in and out of them.

i1 =
(Vb − Va ) (Vb − 6 )
=
4Ω 4Ω

i2 =
(Vb − 0 ) (Vb )
=
3Ω 3Ω

i3 =
(Vb − Vc ) (Vb − 12 )
=
8Ω 8Ω
 Steps In Nodal Analysis
Step 6
• Solve for node voltages
Node Vb , current out = current in
i1 + i2 + i3 = 0
(Vb − 6 ) + Vb + (Vb − 12 ) = 0
4Ω 3Ω 8Ω
Steps In Nodal Analysis
(Vb − 6V ) + Vb + (Vb − 12V ) = 0
4Ω 3Ω 8Ω
(Vb ) − 6V + Vb + (Vb ) − 12V = 0
4Ω 4Ω 3Ω 8Ω 8Ω
 1 1 1   6V 12V 
Vb  + + = + 
 4Ω 3Ω 8Ω   4Ω 8Ω 
 17  24V
Vb  =
 24Ω  8Ω
(24V * 24Ω)
Vb =
(8Ω *17)
Vb = 4.235V
 Steps In Nodal Analysis
Step 7
• Solve for currents
Currents :

i1 =
(Vb − 6 )
= −0.44 A
4Ω
Vb
i2 = = 1.41A
3Ω

i3 =
(Vb − 12 )
= −0.97 A
8Ω