Node-Voltage or Nodal Analysis

Our next set of techniques commonly used in circuit analysis are Nodal and Loop Analysis.
Both of these techniques give you a systematic way of solving a problem. In nodal analysis, the
following 4 steps should be followed.
1) Label all nodes (label one of them as the reference)
2) Define currents in each resistive branch
3) Write KCL at non-reference nodes
4) Express currents in terms of Voltage (I = V/R)
The goal is to find all node voltages: the voltage from a node (+) to reference (-)

Example:

Nodes are labeled (1, 2, 3). Let us call node 3 the
reference node. Currents were also defined in each
resistive branch (I
1
, I
2
, and I
3
)

At node 1, I notice that I dont need to write KCL
because that node voltage is known. The voltage
between node 1 and reference, V
1
, is equal to 50 V.

Go to node 2 and write KCL: I
1
+ 3A = I
2
+ I
3

Now, express each current as V/R starting with I
1


I
1
is attached to nodes 1 and 2. The direction as drawn shows it leaving node 1 so express this
current as the difference between node voltages ! (V
1
-V
2
)/5

If you dont see that, write KVL in the inner loop and call the voltage across the 5 " resistor V
5
:

KVL:
-50 + V
5
+ V
2
= 0
V
5
= 50-V
2
or V
1
V
2

I
1
= V
5
/5 or (V
1
-V
2
)/5


Now go back to the KCL equation:
I
2
+ I
3
= I
1
+ 3A
And express I
1
, I
2
, I
3
as V/R. Note the 5 " resistor is the only one expressed as a difference
between voltages divided by R. The 10 and 40 " resistors are both connected to the reference
node so V
2
is the voltage across both of them.

Multiply both sides by 40 to clear the fraction
4V
2
+ V
2
= 8(V
1
-V
2
) + 3(40)
5V
2
+ 8V
2
= 8(50) + 3(40) because V
1
= 50 V.
13V
2
= 520 or V
2
= 40 V.
Once you know all node voltages, you know all currents


Things to keep in mind when doing nodal analysis:
When a Voltage source is connected between a pair of nodes, you know the value of that
node voltage with respect to the reference node. Typically, the minus sign is connected to
the reference node, otherwise the node voltage is negative.
When you have a resistor connected to the reference node, draw the current flowing toward
the reference node.
When you have a resistor that is not connected to the reference node, the current flowing
through it is the difference in node voltages divided by the value of resistance (see below)

Example: Use Nodal Analysis to find I
o
and V
o

Step 1. Label Nodes. This circuit has 3 nodes (2 + 1 reference node) so the unknown node
voltages will be V
a
and V
b
. V
a
is the voltage from node a to reference and V
b
is the voltage from
node b to reference.



Step 2. Define a current in every resistive branch.
I
o
is already defined.
I chose to make I
1
the current flowing
through the 6 k" resistor; direction
doesnt matter.
I chose to make I
2
the current flowing
through the 12 k" resistor; direction is
chosen to be downward since this R is
connected to a reference node.

Step 3. Write KCL at nodes a and b.

Step 4. Express unknown currents as a difference in voltages divided by the resistance. Notice
that the 3 k" and 12 k" resistors are connected to the reference node so they are simply the node
voltage divided by the resistance.


Now you have 2 equations, 2 unknowns (V
a
and V
b
). Multiply the top equation by 6!10
3
and the
bottom equation by 12!10
3


Simplify:

Multiply the second equation by 3 and subtract the second equation from the first equation:
36 = 9Va 3Vb
- 48 = 2Va 3 Vb
-12 = 7 Va
Or Va = -12/7 V. Substitute that information to find Vb.
12 = 3 (-12/7) Vb
Vb = -36/7 12
7Vb = -36 84
Vb = -120/7 V.
Now that you know the node voltages, both V
o
and I
o
can be found.
From the circuit, V
o
= V
a
- V
b
= -12/7 (-120/7) = +108/7 V.
And I
o
= Va = -12/7 = -12/21 mA
3k" 3!10
3

Supernode
A special situation called a supernode exists when you have a voltage source between two
non-reference nodes.

Example:

Label nodes and define currents:


Identify the supernode (between nodes 1 and 2).
The difference between node voltages = 12 V giving you an equation:
V
1
-V
2
= 12. (V
1
comes first to satisfy KVL).
KVL: -V
1
+ 12 + V
2
= 0 or V
1
-V
2
= 12


Write KCL at the supernode (every current entering the supernode = every current leaving)
KCL at supernode: 8 A = I
1
+ I
2

Now, express each current (except 8A because it is a known current) in terms of node voltages
8 A = V
1
/3 + V
2
/6
Multiply both sides by 6
(6*8) = 2V
1
+ V
2

OR
2V
1
+ V
2
= 48 Combined with the equation above gives you 2 equations
V
1
- V
2
= 12 If these 2 equations are added together, you get

3V
1
= 60 or V
1
= 20 V. AND, V
2
= V
1
12 = 8 V.
Once you know the node voltages, it is easy to find each current:
I
1
= 20/3 A. and I
2
= 8/6 = 4/3 A.

There is a technique called Cramers Rule that allows you to solve for unknowns by using only
determinants of the matrices formed from the equations.

For example, the two equations above written in matrix form look like:


V
1
and V
2
can be expressed as the determinants of the following matrices:

Notice the determinant of the first matrix is the denominator in each case. That same matrix is
used for the numerator except replace the first column (in the case of V
1
) with the coefficient
matrix (last matrix). For V
2
, replace the second column with the coefficient matrix.




Another supernode example:



Label nodes and define currents
(I
o
defined for you).









You know V
1
and V
4
already
(V
1
= 6 V, V
4
= -4 V)

You also know the supernode voltage
(V
3
-V
2
= 12)

Write KCL at the supernode:
I
1
= I
2
+ I
o
+ I
3
Express current in terms of node voltages:

Clear the fraction
V
1
-V
2
= 2V
2
+ V
3
+ V
3
-V
4
Substitute known node voltages:


These equations written in matrix form:


Using Cramers rule:

I
o
= V
3
= 38/5 = 38/10 mA = 3.8 mA

2k 2k