MODULE 4

NETWORK ANALYSIS: USING MESH

AND NODAL THEOREMS
 MODULE 4A

MAXWELL MESH
THEOREM
At the end of this module, the student
should be able to:
1. Develop a set of mesh current
equations.
2. Solve the mesh current of the given
circuit.

MESH CURRENT METHOD

MESH
• A mesh is a loop which Count the number of meshes
does not contain any in this circuit
other loops within it.
NOTE:
Mesh analysis is only
applicable to a circuit
that is planar.
A planar circuit is one
that can be drawn in a
plane with no branches
crossing one another;
otherwise it is
nonplanar.
A circuit may have
crossing branches and
still be planar if it can be
redrawn such that it has
no crossing branches.
IS THIS PLANAR? IS THIS PLANAR?
• Mesh analysis is based Branch and Mesh
on a systematic Currents
application of Kirchhoff’s
voltage law (KVL).
• Mesh analysis applies
KVL to determine
unknown currents.
• The current through a
mesh is known as mesh
current.
Voltage defined by Steps to Determine
Branch Currents in terms Mesh Currents
of Mesh Currents
1. Assign mesh currents to the n
meshes.
2. Apply KVL to each of the n
meshes. Use Ohm’s law to
express the voltages in terms
of the mesh currents.
3. Solve the resulting n
simultaneous equations to
get the mesh currents.
Example 1.
Example 2.
 Check Your
Understanding
Determine the (a) current through
the 2 Ω
(b) voltage across 1 Ω and (c) the
power dissipated by 5 Ω resistor.
 Check Your
Understanding
Determine the (a) current through
the 20 Ω
(b) voltage across 40 Ω and (c) the
power dissipated by 10 Ω resistor.
Listen and Understand
Revel and Learn
Listen and Understand

When a current source exists only in

one mesh:
When a current source exists between two
meshes:
When a current source exists between two
meshes:
A supermesh results when two meshes have
a (dependent or independent) current
source in common.
Note the following properties of a supermesh:
1. The current source in the supermesh is not completely ignored; it
provides the constraint equation necessary to solve for the mesh
currents.
2. A supermesh has no current of its own.
3. A supermesh requires the application of both KVL and KCL
First Equation: KVL
Second Equation:KCL
Second Equation:KCL
Revel and Learn

Use mesh analysis to determine i1, i2 and i3.

Revel and Learn
Use mesh analysis to determine i1, i2 and i3.
SEATWORK

Determine io
SEATWORK
Determine io

Answer: -1.733 A
 MODULE 4
NETWORK ANALYSIS: USING MESH
AND NODAL THEOREMS
 MODULE 4B

NODAL ANALYSIS
At the end of this module, the student
should be able to:
1. Understand the concept of Nodal
Analysis
2. Develop a node voltage equations.
3. Apply the node voltage equations to
solving related problems.

NODE VOLTAGE METHOD

• A reference node is indicated by any of the three symbols.

• The type of ground in (b) is called a chassis ground and is used in devices
where the case, enclosure, or chassis acts as a reference point for all
circuits.
• When the potential of the earth is used as reference, we use the earth
ground in (a) or (c).

NODES

• A reference node or datum node is commonly called the ground since it

is assumed to have zero potential.
• A non-reference node is a non-zero potential node.
• Nodal analysis provides a general procedure for analyzing circuits using
node voltages as the circuit variables.
• Choosing node voltages instead of element voltages as circuit variables
is convenient and reduces the number of equations one must solve
simultaneously.
• In nodal analysis, we are interested in finding the node voltages given in
a circuit with n nodes.
• Keep in mind that the node voltages are defined with respect to the
reference node.
Node Voltages

• The voltage drop from a node to the reference node (ground) is called
the node voltage.
• To keep definition simple, node voltages are usually defined with
positive polarities.

Reference Node
• Usually the node connected to the negative polarity of the source
• Connected with most elements
• Bottom of the circuit diagram
Nodal Analysis

Six steps

1. Chose one node as the reference node

2. Label remaining nodes V1, V2, etc.
3. Label any known voltages
4. Apply Kirchhoff’s current law to each unknown node
5. Solve simultaneous equations to determine voltages
6. If necessary calculate required currents
http://www.ee.hacettepe.e
du.tr/~usezen/ele110/mesh
_nodal_analysis-6p.pdf
Label node voltages in the circuit.
• Two of the nodes have 4 elements connected to them. These are the
best candidates to be reference node.
• Two of the nodes have 4 elements connected to them. These are the
best candidates to be reference node.
• Now, we define node voltages for the remaining nodes. These node
voltages represent the voltage between the non-reference node and the
reference node.
• Now, we define node voltages for the remaining nodes. These node
voltages represent the voltage between the non-reference node and the
reference node.
• When there is a voltage source between a non-reference node and the
reference node, the node voltage corresponds exactly to the voltage of
the voltage source.
• If there is a voltage source between two non-reference nodes, the
difference between the corresponding node voltages equals to the
voltage of the source.
Circuit with Independent Current Sources
Circuit with Independent Current Sources
Circuit with Independent Current Sources
NOTE

• The key idea to bear in mind is that, since resistance is a passive

element, by the passive sign convention, current must always flow from
a higher potential to a lower potential.
Listen and Understand
Obtain the node voltages in the circuit.
Listen and Understand
Obtain the node voltages in the circuit.
Obtain the node voltages in the circuit.
Listen and Understand

Label the nodes.

Listen and Understand

Obtain the node voltages in the circuit.

Listen and Understand

Obtain the node voltages in the circuit.

12V, 14V
Label the nodes.
Write the node voltage equations.
Revel and Learn
Label the nodes.
Revel and Learn
Write the node voltage equations.
 Revel and Learn
Label the nodes.
 Revel and Learn
Write the node voltage equations.
Revel and Learn
Revel and Learn
Write the node voltage equations.
Revel and Learn
Test Your Understanding
Label the nodes.
Test Your Understanding
Determine the current through the 4 Ω resistor, the voltage across the 2
Ω and the power dissipated by the 6 Ω resistor.