CHAPTER 2

Nodal Analysis and

Mesh Analysis
 METHODS OF ANALYSIS
• Introduction
• Nodal analysis
• Nodal analysis with voltage source
• Mesh analysis
• Mesh analysis with current source
• Nodal and mesh analyses by inspection
• Nodal versus mesh analysis

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STEPS OF NODAL ANALYSIS
1. Choose a reference (ground) node.
2. Assign node voltages to the other nodes.
3. Apply KCL to each node other than the
reference node; express currents in terms
of node voltages.
4. Solve the resulting system of linear
equations for the nodal voltages.

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[Link] A REFERENCE
(GROUND) NODE.

Common symbols for indicating a reference node,

(a) common ground, (b) ground, (c) chassis.

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1. REFERENCE NODE

500 500

+
I1 V 1k 500 I2
500
–

The reference node is called the ground

node where V = 0

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2. NODE VOLTAGES

500 500
V V V
1 2 3
1 2 3
I1 1k 500 I2
500

V1, V2, and V3 are unknowns for which we

solve using KCL

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CURRENTS AND NODE
VOLTAGES

V1 500 V2 V1
V1
500W
500
V1 0V2
500W

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 3. KCL AT NODE 1

V1 500 V2

I1 V1 0V2 V1
500 I1 6 +
500W 500W

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3. KCL AT NODE 2

V1 500 V2 500 V3

1k

V2 0V1 V2 V2 0V3
+ + 60
500W 1kW 500W

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3. KCL AT NODE 3

V2 500 V3

V3 0V2 V3
500 I2 + 6 I2
500W 500W

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4. SUMMING CIRCUIT
SOLUTION

500 500

+
I1 V 1k 500 I2
500
–

Solution: V = 167I1 + 167I2

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TYPICAL CIRCUIT FOR NODAL
ANALYSIS

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 NODAL ANALYSIS
I1 6 I 2 + i1 + i2
I 2 + i2 6 i3
vhigher 0 vlower
i6
R
v1 0 0
i1 6 or i1 6 G1v1
R1
v1 0 v2
i2 6 or i2 6 G2 (v1 0 v2 )
R2
v2 0 0
i3 6 or i3 6 G3v2
R3
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 EXAMPLE
• Calculate the node voltage in the circuit
shown in Fig.

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 SOLUTION
• At node 1

i1 6 i2 + i3
v1 0 v2 v1 0 0
Þ 56 +
4 2

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SOLUTION
• At node 2

i2 + i4 6 i1 + i5
v2 0 v1 v2 0 0
Þ 56 +
4 6

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 EXAMPLE
• Determine the voltage at the nodes in Fig.
below

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SOLUTION
• At node 1,

3 6 i1 + ix
v1 0 v3 v1 0 v2
Þ 36 +
4 2

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 SOLUTION
• At node 2

ix 6 i2 + i3
v1 0 v2 v2 0 v3 v2 0 0
Þ 6 +
2 8 4

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 SOLUTION
• At node 3

i1 + i2 6 2ix
v1 0 v3 v2 0 v3 2(v1 0 v2 )
Þ + 6
4 8 2

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 NODAL ANALYSIS WITH VOLTAGE
SOURCES
• Case 1: The voltage source is connected
between a nonreference node and the
reference node: The nonreference node
voltage is equal to the magnitude of
voltage source and the number of
unknown nonreference nodes is reduced
by one.
• Case 2: The voltage source is connected
between two nonreferenced nodes: a
generalized node (supernode) is formed.

HARDIK PRAJAPATI 21
 VOLTAGE SOURCES

A circuit with a supernode+

i1 + i4 6 i2 + i3 Þ
v1 0 v2 v1 0 v3 v2 0 0 v3 0 0
+ 6 +
2 4 8 6
Þ v2 0 v3 6 5

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SUPERMODE
• A supernode is formed by enclosing a
(dependent or independent) voltage
source connected between two
nonreference nodes and any elements
connected in parallel with it.
• The required two equations for regulating
the two nonreference node voltages are
obtained by the KCL of the supernode
and the relationship of node voltages due
to the voltage source.

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EXAMPLE
• For the circuit shown in Fig., find the
node voltages.

2 0 7 0 i1 0 i 2 6 0
v1 v2
2 07 0 0 6 0
2 4
v1 0 v2 6 02

i1 i2

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EXAMPLE
Find the node voltages in the circuit below+

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 SOLUTION
• At suopernode 1-2,

v3 0 v2 v1 0 v4 v1
+ 10 6 +
6 3 2
v1 0 v2 6 20

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 SOLUTION
• At supernode 3-4,

v1 0 v4 v3 0 v2 v4 v3
6 + +
3 6 1 4
v3 0 v4 6 3(v1 0 v4 )

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MESH ANALYSIS
• Mesh analysis: another procedure for
analyzing circuits, applicable to planar
circuit.
• A Mesh is a loop which does not contain
any other loops within it

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MESH ANALYSIS

(a) A Planar circuit with crossing branches,

(b) The same circuit redrawn with no crossing branches+

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MESH ANALYSIS
A nonplanar circuit+

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MESH ANALYSIS
• Steps to Determine Mesh Currents:
1. Assign mesh currents i1, i2, .., in 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.

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 MESH ANALYSIS
A circuit with two meshes+

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MESH ANALYSIS
• Apply KVL to each mesh. For mesh 1,

0V1 + R1i1 + R3 (i1 0 i2 ) 6 0

( R1 + R3 )i1 0 R3i2 6 V1
• For mesh 2,

R2i2 + V2 + R3 (i2 0 i1 ) 6 0
0 R3i1 + ( R2 + R3 )i2 6 0V2

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MESH ANALYSIS
• Solve for the mesh currents.

éR1 + R3 0 R3 ùéi1 ù é V1 ù
6
ê
ë 0 R3 R2 + R3 ú
ûê
ëi2 ú
û ê ë0V2 ú
û
• Use i for a mesh current and I for a
branch current. It’s evident from Fig. 3.17
that
I1 6 i1 , I 2 6 i2 , I 3 6 i1 0 i2

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EXAMPLE
• Find the branch current I1, I2, and I3 using
mesh analysis.

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SOLUTION
• For mesh 1,

015 + 5i1 + 10(i1 0 i2 ) + 10 6 0

3i1 0 2i2 6 1
• For mesh 2,
6i2 + 4i2 + 10(i2 0 i1 ) 010 6 0
i1 6 2i2 01
• We can find i1 and i2 by substitution
method or Cramer’s rule. Then,
I1 6 i1 , I 2 6 i2 , I 3 6 i1 0 i2

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EXAMPLE
• Use mesh analysis to find the current I0 in
the circuit.

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SOLUTION
• Apply KVL to each mesh. For mesh 1,

0 24 + 10(i1 0 i2 ) + 12(i1 0 i3 ) 6 0
11i1 0 5i2 0 6i3 6 12
• For mesh 2,

24i2 + 4(i2 0 i3 ) + 10(i2 0 i1 ) 6 0

0 5i1 + 19i2 0 2i3 6 0

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 SOLUTION
• For mesh 3, 4 I 0 + 12(i3 0 i1 ) + 4(i3 0 i2 ) 6 0
At node A, I 0 6 I1 0 i2 ,
4(i1 0 i2 ) + 12(i3 0 i1 ) + 4(i3 0 i2 ) 6 0
• 0 i1 0 i2 + 2i3 6 0

we can calculus i1, i2 and i3 by Cramer’s

rule, and find I0.

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 MESH ANALYSIS WITH
CURRENT SOURCES
A circuit with a current source+

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MESH ANALYSIS WITH
CURRENT SOURCES
• Case 1
– Current source exist only in one mesh

i1 6 0 2 A

– One mesh variable is reduced

• Case 2
– Current source exists between two meshes, a
super-mesh is obtained.

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MESH ANALYSIS WITH
CURRENT SOURCES
• a supermesh results when two meshes
have a (dependent , independent)
current source in common.

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NODAL VERSUS MESH ANALYSIS
• Both nodal and mesh analyses provide a
systematic way of analyzing a complex
network.
• The choice of the better method dictated
by two factors.
– First factor : nature of the particular network.
The key is to select the method that results in
the smaller number of equations.
– Second factor : information required.

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 SUMMERY
1. Nodal analysis: the application of KCL at
the nonreference nodes
– A circuit has fewer node equations
2. A supernode: two nonreference nodes
3. Mesh analysis: the application of KVL
– A circuit has fewer mesh equations
4. A supermesh: two meshes

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