Chapter 3

Methods of
Analysis

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 Overview
• With Ohm’s and Kirchhoff’s law established, they may now be
applied to circuit analysis.
• Two techniques will be presented in this chapter:
– Nodal analysis, which is based on Kichhoff current law (KCL)
– Mesh analysis, which is based on Kichhoff voltage law (KVL)
• Any linear circuit can be analyzed using these two techniques.
• The analysis will result in a set of simultaneous equations which
may be solved by algebra, Cramer’s rule or computationally (using
MATLAB for example)

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 Topics
• Chapter 3 Methods of Analysis
– 3.1 Introduction
– 3.2 Nodal Analysis
– 3.3 Nodal Analysis with Voltage Sources
– 3.4 Mesh Analysis
– 3.5 Mesh Analysis with Current Sources

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 Nodal Analysis
• If instead of focusing on the voltages of the circuit elements, one
looks at the voltages at the nodes of the circuit, the number of
simultaneous equations to solve for can be reduced.
• Given a circuit with n nodes, without voltage sources, the nodal
analysis is accomplished via three steps:
1. Select a node as the reference node. Assign voltages 𝒗𝟏 , 𝒗𝟐 ,…𝒗𝒏 to
the remaining n-1 nodes, voltages are relative to the reference node.
2. Apply KCL to each of the n-1 non-reference nodes. Use Ohm’s law to
express the branch currents in terms of node voltages
3. Solve the resulting n-1 simultaneous equations to obtain the unknown
node voltages.
– The reference node is commonly referred to as the ground since its voltage is
by default zero.
• ASSUMPTION:
– Always assume the node currently being analyzed has the highest voltage.
(hence, currents are flowing out of the node)
– Unless the current direction is specified (e.g. by a. current source), we always
assume that the branch current leaves the node being analyzed

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Example

• For the circuit, find v1 and v2.

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Nodal analysis with voltage sources
• Depending on what nodes the
source is connected to, the
approach varies
• Between the reference node and a
non-reference node:
– Set the voltage at the non-
reference node to the voltage of
the source
– In the example circuit 𝒗𝟏 = 𝟏𝟎𝑽
• Between two non-reference
nodes
– The two nodes form a supernode.

• Same previous analysis steps

are used but the supernode is
treated differently.
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 Supernode
• A supernode is formed by enclosing a voltage source (dependent or
independent) connected between two non-reference nodes and any
elements connected in parallel with it.
• Why?
– Nodal analysis requires applying KCL
– The current through the voltage source cannot be known in advance
(Ohm’s law does not apply)
– By lumping the nodes together, the current balance can still be described

• KCL is applied to the supernode

• The voltage source Inside the supernode provides a constraint
equation needed to solve for the node voltages

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 Analysis with a supernode
• In order to apply KVL to the supernode in
the example, the circuit is redrawn as
shown.
• Going around this loop in the clockwise
direction gives:
−𝑣$ + 5 + 𝑣% = 0 ⇒ 𝒗𝟐 − 𝒗𝟑 = 𝟓

• Note the following properties of a

supernode:
The voltage source inside the supernode provides a
constraint equation needed to solve for the node
voltages along side the other nodes voltages.

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Example
• For the circuit, find v1 and v2

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Example
• For the circuit, find v0

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 Mesh Analysis
• Another general procedure for analyzing circuits is to use the
mesh currents as the circuit variables.
• Recall:
– A loop is a closed path with no node passed more than once
– A mesh is a loop that does not contain any other loop within it

• Mesh analysis uses KVL to find unknown currents

• Mesh analysis is not quite general as nodal analysis because
it is limited; It can only apply to circuits that are planar.
• A planar circuit can be drawn such that there are no crossing
branches.
nodal analysis used KCL and solved for unknown voltages;
Mesh analysis uses KVL and solve for unknown currents.
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 Planar vs Nonpalanar

The figure on the left is a nonplanar The figure on the right is a planar
circuit: The branch with the 13Ω circuit: It can be redrawn to avoid
resistor prevents the circuit from being crossing branches
drawn without crossing branches

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 Mesh Analysis Steps
• Mesh analysis of circuits with n meshes without
current sources follows the following three steps:
1. Assign mesh currents 𝒊𝟏 , 𝒊𝟐 ,…𝒊𝒏 to the n meshes
(typically clockwise)
2. Apply KVL to each of the n meshes. Use Ohm’s
law to express voltages in terms of mesh currents
3. Solve the resulting n simultaneous equations to
get the mesh currents

• ASSUMPTION:
– Convention is to assume that each mesh current flows clockwise
– For a branch that is common between two meshes, we always assume that the
direction of the branch currenet is dominated by that of the mesh current being
analyzed.
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 Mesh Analysis Example

• The above circuit has two paths that are meshes (abefa and bcdeb)
• The outer loop (abcdefa) is a loop, but not a mesh
• First, mesh currents 𝒊𝟏 and 𝒊𝟐 are assigned to the two meshes.
• Applying KVL to the meshes:

−𝑉! + 𝑅! 𝑖! + 𝑅" 𝑖! − 𝑖# = 0 𝑅# 𝑖# + 𝑉# + 𝑅" 𝑖# − 𝑖! = 0

⇓ ⇓
𝑅! + 𝑅" 𝑖! − 𝑅" 𝑖# = 𝑉! −𝑅" 𝑖! + 𝑅# + 𝑅" 𝑖# = −𝑉#

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Example
• For the circuit, find I1, I2, and I3. using KVL

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Example
• For the circuit, find i1, i2, and i3.

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Mesh Analysis with Current Sources
• The presence of a current source makes the mesh
analysis simpler in that it reduces the number of
equations. We have two cases:
• Case 1: If the current source is located on only one
mesh, the current for that mesh is defined by the source.
• For example:

• Here, the current 𝒊𝟐 is equal to -2A

• Case 2: current source is located in a branch shared
between two meshes (SuperMesh)

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 Supermesh
• Similar to the case of nodal analysis where a voltage source shared
two non-reference nodes, current sources (dependent or
independent) that are shared by more than one mesh need special
treatment
• The two meshes must be joined together, resulting in a supermesh.
• The supermesh is constructed by merging the two meshes and
excluding the shared source and any elements in series with it
• Why?
– A supermesh is required because mesh analysis uses KVL
– But the voltage across a current source cannot be known in advance.
• Intersecting supermeshes in a circuit must be combined to for a
larger supermesh. (super-supermesh)

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 Creating a Supermesh

• In this example, a 6A current course is shared between

mesh 1 and 2.
• The supermesh is formed by merging the two meshes.
• The current source and the 2Ω resistor in series with it
are removed.

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 Supermesh Example
• Using the circuit from the last slide:
• Apply KVL to the supermesh

−20 + 6𝑖# + 10𝑖$ + 4𝑖$ = 0 or 6𝑖# + 14𝑖$ = 20

• We next apply KCL to the node in the branch where the two meshes
intersect.
𝑖$ = 𝑖' + 6

• Solving these two equations we get:

𝑖# = −3.2A 𝑖$ = 2.8A

• Note that the supermesh required using both KVL and KCL

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Example

• For the circuit, find i1 and i2.

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Example
• For the circuit,
find i1, i2, i3 and i4

Note: there are two supermeshes.

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 Selecting an Appropriate Approach

• In principle both the nodal analysis and mesh

analysis are useful for any given circuit.
• What then determines if one is going to be more
efficient for solving a circuit problem?
• There are two factors that dictate the best
choice:
– The nature of the particular network is the first factor
– The second factor is the information required

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 Nodal analysis if…
• If the network contains:
– Many parallel connected elements
– Current sources
– Supernodes
– Circuits with fewer nodes than meshes
• If node voltages are what are being solved for
• Non-planar circuits can only be solved using nodal
analysis
• This format is easier to solve by computer

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 Mesh analysis when…
• If the network contains:
– Many series connected elements
– Voltage sources
– Supermeshes
– A circuit with fewer meshes than nodes
• If branch or mesh currents are what is being solved for.
• Mesh analysis is the only suitable analysis for transistor
circuits
• It is not appropriate for operational amplifiers because
there is no direct way to obtain the voltage across an op-
amp.

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