CHAPTER 2:

RESISTIVE NETWORK
ANALYSIS

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Explain and contrast the meanings of the
node voltage method.
Solve the node voltage method analysis.

SUBCHAPTER 2.1
THE NODE VOLTAGE METHOD
Node Voltage Method
The node voltage method is based on defining the
voltage at each node as an independent variable.
One of the nodes is selected as a reference node
and each of the other node voltage is referenced to
this node.
Once each node voltage is defined, the current
flowing in each branch is determined by Ohms
Law.
Each branch current is expressed in terms of one or
more node voltages.

NODAL ANALYSIS
Nodal Analysis finds the node voltages by
first performing KCL at the essential nodes
in terms of the node voltages. By solving
the equations obtained from KCL, we can
find the node voltages.
NODAL ANALYSIS (cont..)
Current flows from a higher potential to a
lower potential in a resistor.
We can express this principle as:
R
v v
i
lower higher

=
NODAL ANALYSIS (cont..)
Vs
R
I
V
R
V V
I
s

=
Vs
R
I
V
_
+
( )
R
V V
I
s

=
R
V V
s
+
=
NODAL ANALYSIS (cont..)
V
I
R
R
V
R
V
I =

=
0
V
1
R
I
V
2
R
V V
I
2 1

=
NODAL ANALYSIS (cont..)
V
1 A
I
I = - 1 A
V
1 A
I
I = 1 A
V
V
s
s
V V =
NODAL ANALYSIS (cont..)
V
1
V
2
2 V
+
-
+
-
+
-
+
-
R
1
R
3
R
2
R
5
3 V
R
4
V
s
5 V A
B
D
C
NODAL ANALYSIS (cont..)
v
1
v
2
2 V
+
-
+
-
+
-
+
-
R
1
R
3
R
2
R
5
3 V
R
4
V
s
5 V 2 V
v
2
- 5
v
1
- Vs
-3 V
BASIC STEPS
80
5 A
40
15
4 25
3 A
Assume that we are trying to find the voltage
across and the current through all the elements
STEP 1: MARK ESSENTIAL NODE
80
5 A
40
15
4 25
3 A
STEP 2: REFERENCE NODE
Mark the reference node with the earth sign or
downward arrow .
A reference node is the node from where all the other node
voltages the node that is considered to be at 0 V.
STEP 3: ASSIGN UNKNOWN
NODE VOLTAGES
80
5 A
40
15
4 25
3 A
V
1
V
2
V
3
STEP 4: DECIDE ON NUMBER OF
EQUATIONS REQUIRED
Decide on the number of equations
required to solve the circuit.

Referring to the example, there are
3 unknowns (i.e. v
1
, v
2
and v
3
).
STEP 5: PERFORM KCL AT THE
SELECTED NODES
5
40 80
2 1 1
=

+
v v v
3
25 4 40
3 2 3 2 1 2
=

+
v v v v v v
0
25 4 15
2 3 2 3 3
=

+
v v v v v
KCL: Node 2:
KCL: Node 3:
(1)
...(2)
(3)
KCL: Node 1:
STEP 6: SOLVE THE EQUATIONS
This may be done by solving the
simultaneous equation or applying
Cramer's Rule.
EXAMPLE 1
Given:






Find: The node voltages in the circuit shown.
EXAMPLE 1 (cont..)
Solution:
EXAMPLE 1 (cont..)
At node 1, applying KCL and Ohms Law gives


Multiplying each term in the last equation by 4:


or

3 2 1
i i i + =
2
0
4
5
1 2 1

+

=
v v v
1 2 1
2 20 v v v + =
20 3
2 1
= v v
(1)
EXAMPLE 1 (cont..)
At node 2, applying KCL and Ohms Law gives



Multiplying each term by 12 results in:


or

5 1 4 2
i i i i + = +
6
0
5 10
4
2 2 1

+ = +
v v v
2 2 1
2 60 120 3 3 v v v + = +
60 5 3
2 1
= + v v
(2)
EXAMPLE 1 (cont..)
METHOD 1: ELIMINATION TECHNIQUE
Using elimination technique, add equation (1)
and (2).



Substituting the value of v
2
in equation (1) gives
20 3
2 1
= v v
60 5 3
2 1
= + v v
+
80 4
2
= v V 20
2
= v
20 20 3
1
= v
13.333V
3
40
1
= = v
EXAMPLE 1 (cont..)
METHOD 2 : CRAMERS RULE
To use Cramers Rule, equation (1) and (2) need
to be put in matrix form as



The determinant of the matrix is
(

=
(

60
20
5 3
1 3
2
1
v
v
(3)
12 3 15
5 3
1 3
= =

= A
EXAMPLE 1 (cont..)
We now obtain v
1
and v
2
as





giving us the same result as did the elimination
method.
V 333 . 13
12
60 100
5 60
1 20
1
1
=
+
=
A

=
A
A
= v
2
2
3 20
3 60
180 60
20 V
12
v

A +
= = = =
A A
EXAMPLE 2
Given:






Find: The voltages at the nodes in the figure
shown below

EXAMPLE 2 (cont..)
Solution:
EXAMPLE 2 (cont..)
At node 1,



Multiplying by 4 and rearranging terms:



x
i i + =
1
3
2 4
3
2 1 3 1
v v v v
+

=
12 2 3
3 2 1
= v v v (1)
EXAMPLE 2 (cont..)
At node 2,



Multiplying by 8 and rearranging terms:



3 2
i i i
x
+ =
4
0
8 2
2 3 2 2 1

+

=
v v v v v
0 7 4
3 2 1
= + v v v (2)
EXAMPLE 2 (cont..)
At node 3,


Multiplying by 8, rearranging terms, and
dividing by 3:



x
i i i 2
2 1
= +
( )
2
2
8 4
2 1 3 2 3 1
v v v v v v
=

0 3 2
3 2 1
= + v v v (3)
EXAMPLE 2 (cont..)
METHOD 1: ELIMINATION TECHNIQUE
Using elimination technique, add equation (1)
and (3).



or
12 2 3
3 2 1
= v v v
0 3 2
3 2 1
= + v v v
+
12 5 5
2 1
= v v
2.4
5
12
2 1
= = v v
(4)
EXAMPLE 2(cont..)
Add equation (2) and (3) gives




Substituting equation (5) into (4) yields

while
0 7 4
3 2 1
= + v v v
0 3 2
3 2 1
= + v v v
0 4 2
2 1
= + v v
+
2 1
2v v =
(5)
V 4 . 2
2
= v
4 . 2 2
2 2
= v v
V 8 . 4 2
2 1
= = v v
EXAMPLE 2 (cont..)
From equation (3),




Thus,


1 2 3
2 3 v v v =
2 2 3
4 3 v v v =
2 3
v v =
V 8 . 4
1
= v V 4 . 2
2
= v
V 4 . 2
3
= v
V 4 . 2
3
= v
EXAMPLE 2 (cont..)
METHOD 2 : CRAMERS RULE
To use Cramers Rule, equation (1) and (3) need
to be put in matrix form as




From this, we obtain
(
(
(

=
(
(
(

(
(
(

0
0
12
1 3 2
1 7 4
1 2 3
3
2
1
v
v
v
A
A
=
A
A
=
A
A
=
3
3
2
2
1
1
, , v v v
EXAMPLE 2 (cont..)
where are the determinants. To
calculate the determinant of a 3 by 3 matrix, we
repeat the first two rows and cross multiply.

3 2 1
, , A A A A
EXAMPLE 2 (cont..)
EXAMPLE 2 (cont..)
NODAL ANALYSIS WITH
VOLTAGE SOURCES
Now consider how voltage sources affect nodal
analysis.
NODAL ANALYSIS WITH
VOLTAGE SOURCES (cont..)
CASE 1:
If a voltage source is connected between the
reference node and a non-reference node, we
simply set the voltages at the non-reference node
equal to the voltage of the voltage source. In the
previous figure, for example,
V 10
1
= v (1)
NODAL ANALYSIS WITH
VOLTAGE SOURCES (cont..)
CASE 2:
If the voltage source (dependent or independent)
is connected between two nonreference nodes,
the two nonreference nodes from a generalized
node or supernode; we apply both KCL and KVL to
determine the node voltages.
KCL must be satisfied at a supernode like any
other node. Hence, at the supernode in previous
figure,

or
3 2 4 1
i i i i + = +
(2a)
6
0
8
0
4 2
3 2 3 1 2 1

+

+
v v v v v v
(2b)
NODAL ANALYSIS WITH
VOLTAGE SOURCES (cont..)
NODAL ANALYSIS WITH
VOLTAGE SOURCES (cont..)
To apply KVL to the supernode in previous
figure, the circuit need to be redrawn as shown
below.



NODAL ANALYSIS WITH
VOLTAGE SOURCES (cont..)
Going around the loop in clockwise direction
gives


From equation (1), (2b) and (3), the node
voltages can be obtained.
0 5
3 2
= + + v v
5
3 2
= v v
(3)
A supernode is formed by enclosing a (dependant or
independent) voltage source connected between
two nonreference nodes and any elements
connected in parallel with it.
Properties of a supernode:
1. The voltage source inside the supernode provides a
constraint equation needed to solve for the node voltages.
2. A supernode has no voltage of its own.
3. A supernode requires the application of both KCL and KVL.
NODAL ANALYSIS WITH
VOLTAGE SOURCES (cont..)
EXAMPLE
Given:






Find: The node voltages in the circuit shown.
EXAMPLE (cont..)
Solution:
At supernode, applying KCL gives


Expressing i
1
and i
2
in terms of the node voltages


or
7 2
2 1
+ + = i i
7
4
0
2
0
2
2 1
+

=
v v
1 2
2 20 v v = (1)
28 2 8
2 1
+ + = v v
EXAMPLE (cont..)
EXAMPLE (cont..)
Apply KVL to the circuit in figure (b) in order to
get the relationship between v
1
and v
2
. Going
around the loop, we obtain


From equation (1) and (2),
0 2
2 1
= + v v
1 1 2
2 20 2 v v v = + =
2
1 2
+ = v v (2)
2
1 2
+ = v v
or


and
22 3
1
= v V 333 . 7
1
= v
V 333 . 5
2
= v
EXAMPLE (cont..)
EXERCISE
Given:






Find: The node voltages in the circuit shown.
Thank You