Course AC 6 – Basic Electrical Engineering

Sem/AY First Semester/2020-2021

Module No. 10
Lesson Title Laws, Theorem and Methods Used in Network Analysis: Nodal Analysis
Week
11
Duration
Date
Description This topic introduces a network analysis called Nodal Analysis. It will discuss Nodal current
of the Lesson and voltage law and how to employ them in network analysis.

Learning Outcomes

Intended Students should be able to meet the following intended learning outcomes:
Learning  Be able to determine the currents and voltages in a circuit using the Nodal Analysis
Outcomes  Be able to analyze electrical circuit with dependent and independent sources
Targets/ At the end of the lesson, students should be able to:
Objectives ● Analyze a complex circuit using Nodal Analysis.
● Understand the complex circuit with dependent and independent sources

Student Learning Strategies

Online Activities A. Online Discussion via Google Meet

(Synchronous/ You will be directed to attend in a two-hour class discussion on Nodal Analysis.
Asynchronous) To have access to the online discussion, refer to this link: ____________________.

The online discussion will happen on , from (For further

instructions, refer to your Google Classroom and see the schedule of activities
for this module)

Some useful links for YouTube lectures:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-47BfHmJvI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMnFC63m1fQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lY757QaaKs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdWJ_h463jQ

B. Learning Guide Questions:

1. Can Nodal Analysis technique be applied to simple series and parallel circuits,
or are they restricted for use in more complicated circuits that are not
combinations of series and parallel?

Note: The insight that you will post on online discussion forum using Learning
Management System (LMS) will receive additional scores in class participation.

Offline Activities Lecture Guide

(e-Learning/Self-
Paced) Nodal Analysis complements the previous lecture, the mesh analysis, in that it is
equally powerful and based on the same concepts of matrix analysis. As its name
implies, Nodal Analysis uses the “Nodal” equations of Kirchhoff’s first law (KCL) to find
the voltage potentials around the circuit. By adding together all these nodal voltages
the net result will be equal to zero. Then, if there are “n” nodes in the circuit there will
be “n-1” independent nodal equations and these alone are sufficient to describe and
hence solve the circuit.
In a nodal analysis the variables in the circuit are selected to be the node voltages.
The node voltages are defined with respect to a common point in the circuit. One node
is selected as the reference node, and all other node voltages are defined with respect
to that node. Quite often this reference node is the one to which the largest number of
branches are connected. It is commonly called ground because it is said to be at
ground-zero potential, and it sometimes represents the chassis or ground line in a
practical circuit. At each node point write down Kirchhoff’s first law equation, that is:
“the currents entering a node are exactly equal in value to the currents leaving the
node” then express each current in terms of the voltage across the branch. For “n”
nodes, one node will be used as the reference node and all the other voltages will be
referenced or measured with respect to this common node.

There are two kinds of electrical sources

 An independent source provides a fixed value of voltage or current to the
connected circuit. Independent sources are power supplies and batteries.
Power supplies provide a constant fixed value whereas batteries will not
provide a constant fixed value over time without recharging them.
 A dependent source is either a voltage source or current source whose value
depends upon a voltage or current value somewhere else in the circuit.
Dependent sources are useful tools in analyzing amplifiers.

Some Features of Nodal Analysis are as

 Nodal Analysis is based on the application of the Kirchhoff’s Current Law
(KCL).
 Having ‘n’ nodes there will be ‘n-1’ simultaneous equations to solve.
 Solving ‘n-1’ equations all the nodes voltages can be obtained.
 The number of non-reference nodes is equal to the number of Nodal equations
that can be obtained.

Types of Nodes in Nodal Analysis

 Non-Reference Node – It is a node which has a definite Node Voltage.
 Reference Node – It is a node which acts a reference point to all the other node.
It is also called the Datum Node.
 Super node - Whenever a voltage source (Independent or Dependent) is
connected between the two non-reference nodes then these two nodes form a
generalized node called the Super node

Types of Reference Nodes

 Chassis Ground – This type of reference node acts a common node for more
than one circuits.

 Earth Ground – When earth potential is used as a reference in any circuit then
this type of reference node is called Earth Ground.
The steps used to in nodal analysis are provided below. The steps are illustrated in
terms of the circuit of Figure 1.
 Figure 1.
Step 1: Define reference voltage
One node will be arbitrarily be selected as a reference node or datum node. The
voltages of all other nodes in the circuit will be defined to be relative to the voltage of
this node. Thus, for convenience, it will be assumed that the reference node voltage is
zero volts. It should be emphasized that this definition is arbitrary – since voltages are
potential differences, choosing the reference voltage as zero is primarily a
convenience.
For our example circuit, we will choose node d as our reference node and define the
voltage at this node to be 0V, Vref = Vd = 0V

Step 2: Determine independent nodes

We now define the voltages at the independent nodes. These voltages will be the
unknowns in our circuit equations. In order to define independent nodes:
 “Short-circuit” all voltage sources
 “Open-circuit” all current sources
After removal of the sources, the remaining nodes (except for the reference node) are
defined as independent nodes. (The nodes which were removed in this process are
dependent nodes. The voltages at these nodes are sometimes said to be constrained.)
Label the voltages at these nodes – they are the unknowns for which we will solve.
For our example circuit of Figure 1, removal of the voltage source (replacing it with a
short circuit) results in nodes remaining only at nodes b and c. This is illustrated in
Figure 2. (Note that, node a and d become a single node due to short circuit)

Independent
Voltages

Figure 2. Independent Voltage sources Vb and Vc

Step 3: Replace sources in the circuit and identify constrained voltages

With the independent voltages defined as in step 2, replace the sources, and define the
voltages at the dependent nodes in terms of the independent voltages and the known
voltage differences.

Step 4: Apply KCL at independent nodes

Define currents and write Kirchhoff’s current law at all independent nodes. Currents
for our example are shown in Figure 3 below. The defined currents include the
assumed direction of positive current – this defines the sign convention for our
currents. The resulting equations are

I1 I2

I3

I4 I5

Figure 3. Current directions

Node b:
I1 - I3 - I4 = 0 …….. Eq. 1

Node c:
I2 + I3 - I5 = 0 …….. Eq. 2

Step 5: Use Ohm’s law to write the equations from step 4 in terms of voltages:
The currents defined in step 4 can be written in terms of the node voltages defined
Vs−V b V b−V c V b −0
previously. For example, from Figure 3: I 1= , I 3= ,∧I 4= , so
R1 R3 R4
equation 1 can be written as:

Vs−V b V b −V c V b −0
− − =0
R1 R3 R4

So the KCL equation for node b becomes:

Vs V b V b V c V b
− − + − =0
R1 R1 R3 R3 R4
Vs 1 1 1 V
R1
−V b (+ +
R1 R3 R 4 R3
+ c =0 )
Vs 1 1 1 V
R1
=V b (+ +
R1 R3 R 4 R3 )
− c … … . Eq . 3

Likewise, the KCL equation for node c can be written as:

Vs−V c V b−V c V c −0
I 2= , I 3= ,∧I 5 =
R2 R3 R5
Vs−V c V b −V c V c −0
+ − =0
R2 R3 R5
Vs V c V b V c V c
− + − − =0
R2 R2 R3 R3 R5
Vs 1 1 1 V
R2
−V c ( + +
R2 R3 R5 R3 )
+ b =0

Vs 1 1 1 V
R2
=V c ( + +
R2 R3 R5 R3 )
− b … … .. Eq . 4

Step 6: Solve the system of equations resulting from step 5

Step 5 will always result in N equations in N unknowns, where N is the number of
independent nodes identified in step 2, which is two. These equations can be solved
for the independent voltages using simultaneous equation. Any other desired circuit
parameters can be determined from these voltages.

Example

1. Find the voltage V for the circuit shown below:

Solution;

Choosing the reference voltage as shown below. Determining the value of V with
the equation V = Va - Vb. Identifying voltages at dependent nodes, and defining
voltages Va and Vb at the independent nodes a and b results in the circuit diagram
shown below:

Dependent Node,
V = 6V

I1
I2
I3 I4

Reference Node,
Vref = 0
At node a,
I1 + I2 – I3 = 0
Vs−V a V b−V a V a−0
+ − =0
2 1 2
Vs V a V b V a V a
− + − − =0
2 2 1 1 2
6 1 1 1 Vb
2 (
−V a + + + =0
2 1 2 1 )
3−2V a+V b=0
3=2V a−V b … .. eq .1
At node b,
16 - I2 – I4 = 0
V b−V a V b−0
16− − =0
1 0.5
V b Va Vb
16− + − =0
1 1 0.5
1 1
16−V b +(
1 0.5 )
+V a=0
16−3 V b +V a=0
16=3 V b−V a … .. eq . 2
16=−V a +3 V b

By simultaneous equation we can solve for V a and Vb, thus we can determine the value
of the unknown, V, which is V = Va - Vb.

Let’s take eq. 1

3=2V a−V b
V b =2V a −3

Substitute Vb to eq. 2 and solve for Va

16=3 V b−V a
16=3(2 V a−3)−V a
16=6 V a−9−V a
16+ 9=6 V a −V a
25=5V a
5 V =V a
Hence,
V b =2V a −3
V b =2(5)−3
V b =7 V

Therefore,
V =V a−V b
V =5−7
V =−2V
again, the negative sign denotes that the assume direction of current is opposite.

2. Find the current flowing in the 20Ω Resistor.

Solution:

Let us assume first the current direction for the circuit shown. And taking node b as
the reference node.

V3
To determine I3, the equation will be I 3=
R3
, where V 3=V a−¿V b ¿

Using Kirchhoff’s Current Law, KCL the equations are given as:

At node a:    I1 + I2 - I3 … eq. 1
V 1−V a V 2−V a V a−V b
+ − =0
5 10 20 I I2
1
Since node b is the reference node, Vb = 0
V 1−V a V 2−V a V a−0 I3
+ − =0
5 10 20
V1 Va V 2 Va Va
− + − − =0
5 5 10 10 20
V1 1 1 1 V
5 (
−V a + +
5 10 20 10 )
+ 2 =0

10 1 1 1 20
5 (
−V a + + + =0
5 10 20 10 )
10 1 1 1 20
5 (
−V a + + + =0
5 10 20 10 )
7
2+2=V a
20 ( )
80
V =V a
7
Determining I3
80
V3 Va 7
I 3= = = =0.57 A
R3 R3 20
Compare the answer to one we have from our previous lecture, the Kirchhoff’s Law.

3. Find the currents that flows in the circuit shown below.

Solution:

Assuming the current directions and assign the nodes 1 and 2 while taking reference node
as node 3.

1 2

V 1 −V 3 V 1
I 1= =
5 5

V 1−V 2
I 2=
10

V 2−V 3 V 2
I 3= =
15 15

At node 1

I s−I 1−I 2=0

V 1−V 3 V 1−V 2
I s− − =0
5 10
V 1−0 V 1−V 2
I s− − =0
5 10
V1 V1 V2
I s− − + =0
5 10 10
 1 1 V2
10−V 1 + ( )
+ =0
5 10 10
3 1
10=V 1
10 ( ) ( )
−V 2
10
…. eq. 1

At node 2

I 2−I 3 −I L =0
V 1−V 2 V 2 −V 3
− −I L =0
10 15
V 1−V 2 V 2 −0
− −5=0
10 15
V1 V2 V2
− − −5=0
10 10 15
V1 1 1
10
−V 2 +
10 15 ( −5=0 )
1 1
V1
10 ( ) ()
−V 2
6
=5 ….. eq. 2

By simultaneous equation we can solve either V 1 or V2. Take eq. 1 and substitute to
eq.2

10=V 1( 103 )−V ( 101 )….eq. 1

2

(10+V ( 101 ))( 103 )=V

2 1

100 1
+V ( ) =V 2 1
3 3

V1 ( 101 )−V ( 16 )=5 …. Eq. 2

2

100
( 3
+V 2
1
3 ( ))( 101 )−V ( 16 )=5
2

10 1 1
3
+V 2
30 ( ) ()
−V 2
6
=5

V2 ( 301 )−V ( 16 )=5− 103

2

V2( 301 − 16 )=5− 103

−4 5
V (
30 ) 3
2 =
 5 −30 −50
V 2= ( )
3 4
=
4
V =−12.5 V

Hence;
100 1
3
+V 2 ()3
=V 1

100 −50 1
3
+ ( )( )
4 3
=V 1

100 50
− =V 1
3 12

350
V =V 1=29.17 V
12

Therefore.
V 1 −V 3 29.17−0
I 1= = =5.83 A
5 5

V 1−V 2 29.17−(−12.5)
I 2= = =4.17 A
10 10

V 2−V 3 −12.5−0
I 3= = =−0.83 A
15 15
I3 is in opposite direction.

4. Determine the voltage drop in each of the resistors in the circuit shown.

Solution:

Assigning the current direction and the nodes.

 a b

I1 I2 I3
I4 I5

c
Determining the voltage drop in each resistor
R1 ; V R 1 =V 1−V a R2 ; V R 2=V a+V 3−V b RR 3 ; V 3=V 2−V b

R4 ; V R 4 =V a−V c R5 ; V R 5 =V b−V c

At node a
I 1−I 2 −I 4=0

V 1−V a V a +V 3 −V b V a−V c
( R1
− )( R2
− )( R4
=0 )
6−V a V +5−V b V −0
( 6
− a
2)( − a
3
=0 )( )
6 Va V a 5 V b Va
− − − + − =0
6 6 2 2 2 3
1 1 1 5 V
(
1−V a + + − + b =0
6 2 3 2 2 )
1 1 1 3 Vb
−V a ( )
+ + − + =0
6 2 3 2 2

1 1 1 Vb 3
−V a ( + + + =
6 2 3 2 2)
Vb 3
−V a + =
2 2

−2 V a +V b=3 ….. eq. 1

At node b
I 2+ I 3−I 5=0
V a +V 3−V b V 2−V b V b −V c
( R2
+ )(
R3
− )(
R5
=0 )
( V +5−V
2
a
) +(
10−V
b
4 )−(
V −0
b
4 )
=0 b

V a 5 V b 10 V b V b
+ − + − − =0
2 2 2 4 4 4

Va 1 1 1 5 5
2 (
−V b + + + + =0
2 4 4 2 2 )
Va 4
2
−V b
4 ()
=−5

V a −2V b =−10 ….. eq. 2

By simultaneous equation,
From eq. 2, V a =−10+2V b, substitute to eq. 1,−2V a+V b=3
−2 (−10+2 V b ) +V b =3
20−4 V b +V b=3
−3 V b=3−20
−17 17
V b= = V
−3 3
So,
V a =−10+2V b=−10+2 ( 173 )= 43 V
4 14 4 17 2
R1 ; V R 1 =V 1−V a=6− = V R2 ; V R 2 =V a +V 3−V b = +5− = V
3 3 3 3 3
17 13
R R 3 ; V 3 =V 2−V b =10− = V
3 3
4 4 17 17
R4 ; V R 4 =V a−V c = −0= V R 5 ; V R 5=V b−V c = −0= V
3 3 3 3

5. Determine the currents in the various resistors of the circuit shown.

Assuming the current directions and assign the nodes 1, 2 and 3 while taking reference
node as node 4. V4 = 0
 V 1 −V 4 V 1−V 2
I 1= I 2=
2 2

V 1−V 3 V 2−V 3
I 3= I 4=
10 1

V 2−V 4 V 3−V 4
I 5= I 6=
5 4

I3
1 2 3

IS I2 I4 IL

I1 I5 I6

At node 1
I s−I 1−I 2−I 3=0

V 1−V 4 V −V 2 V −V 3
I s− ( 2 )(
− 1
2
− 1
10
=0 )( )
V1 V1 V2 V1 V3
I s− − + − + =0
2 2 2 10 10

1 1 1 V2 V3
28−V 1 ( + +
2 2 10 )
+ + =0
2 10

280−11 V 1+5 V 2 +V 3=0

280=11V 1−5 V 2−V 3 ….. eq. 1

Similarly,
11 V 1−5 V 2−V 3 =280*

At node 2
I 2−I 4−I 5=0

( V −V
1
2 ) −(
V −V
2
1 ) −(
V −V
2
5 )
=0 3 2 4
V1 V2 V2 V3 V2
− − + − =0
2 2 1 1 5

V1 1 1 1 V
2 2 1 5(
−V 2 + + + 3 =0
1 )
5 V 1−17 V 2 +10 V 3=0 ….. eq. 2

At node 3
I 3+ I 4 −I 6−I L =0

( V 10−V )+( V −V
1 3
1 )−(
2 V −V
4 )
3
−I =0 3 4
L

V1 V3 V2 V3 V3
− + − − −I L =0
10 10 1 1 4

V1 V2 1 1 1
+ −V 3
10 1 (
+ + −2=0
10 1 4 )
V1 V2 13.5
+ −V 3 =2
10 1 10

V 1 +10 V 2−13.5 V 3=20…… eq. 3

Using the matrix form

11V 1−5 V 2−V 3 =280
5 V 1−17 V 2 +10 V 3=0
V 1 +10 V 2−13.5 V 3=20
11 −5 V1 280

][ ][ ]
−1

[ 5 −17
1
10
10 −13.5 V 3
V2 = 0
20

11 −5 −1

[
Δ= 5 −17
1 10 −13.5
10
]
¿ 11 ( (−17 )(−13.5 ) −( 10 )( 10 )) −5 ( (−5 ) (−13.5 )−( 10 ) (−1 ) ) +1( (−5 )( 10 )− (−17 ) (−1 ))
¿ 1424.5−387.5−67
¿ 970

280 −5 −1

20 [
Δ 1= 0 −17 10
10 −13.5 ]
= 280((-17)(-13.5) – (10)(10)) – 0((-5)(-13.5) – (10)(-1)) + 20((-5)(10) –(-17)(-1))
= 36260 -0 -1340
= 34920
 11 280 −1
Δ 2= 5
[ 0 10
1 20 −13.5 ]
= 11((0) (-13.5) -(20)(10)) – 5((280)(-13.5) - (20)(-1)) + 1((280)(10) - (0)(-1))
= -2200 +18800 +2800
= 19400

11 −5 280

1[
Δ 3= 5 −17 0
10 20 ]
= 11((-17) (20) -(10)(0)) – 5((-5)(20) - (10)(280)) + 1((-5)(0) - (-17)(280))
= -3740 + 14500 + 4760
= 15520

Δ 1 34920 Δ2 19400 Δ 3 15520

V 1= = =36 V , V 2= = =20 V ,V 3= = =16 V
Δ 970 Δ 970 Δ 970

Therefore, the current in each resistor is as follows.

V 1 −V 4 36−0 V 1−V 2 36−20

I 1= = =18 A I 2= = =8 A
2 2 2 2

V 1−V 3 36−16 V 2−V 3 20−16

I 3= = =2 A I 4= = =4 A
10 10 1 1

V 2−V 4 20−0 V 3−V 4 16−0

I 5= = =4 A I 6= = =4 A
5 5 4 4

I s−I 1−I 2−I 3=0, 28 – 18 -8 -2 = 0

I 2−I 4−I 5=0 , 8 – 4 -4 = 0

I 3+ I 4 −I 6−I L =0, 2 + 4 – 4 -2 = 0

Performance Tasks
PT 10
Check Your Understanding. Analyze the following given problem statement. Show your solution.
Encircle your final answer. Maximum of ten (10) points will be given for every given problem. Reduce
your answer to two (2) decimal places.

1. Find all node voltages for the circuit shown. 2. Find all node voltages for the circuit shown.
3. Determine the voltage drops in each resistor for the given circuit shown below. Compare your answer using
the nodal method and the mesh matrix solution.

Learning Resources
 References
Boylestad, R. (2015). Introductory Circuit Analysis, 13th Edition. Pearson.
Hayt, J. e. (n.d.). Engineering circuit Analysis, 7th Edition. 2007: McGraw-Hill Education.
Romeo A. Rojas, J. (n.d.). 1001 Solved Problems in Electrical Engineering.
Sadiku. (2007). Fundamentals of Electric Circuit, 4th Edition. McGraw-Hill Education.
Theraja, B. L. (2005). A textbook of Electrical Technology Volume 1. S. Chand and Co. Ltd.
V. K. Mehta, R. M. (2008). Basic Electrical Engineering, Revised Edition. S. Chand and Co. Pvt. Ltd.

https://www.electrical4u.com/nodal-analysis-in-electric-circuits/
https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/technical-articles/nodal-analysis-and-dependent-sources/
https://electricala2z.com/electrical-circuits/nodal-analysis-solved-examples/
https://www.aboutcircuit.com/nodal-analysis/

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