EC - 304 Electrical Network Theory

Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering

North-Eastern Hill University
September 06 - 09, 2016 Nodal Analysis Dr. Lairenlakpam Joyprakash Singh

1. Use nodal analysis to find the value of vx in the circuit shown in Fig. 1.
8 15

+ vx
+
100 V 4 vx /14

Fig. 1: A circuit where vx is to be calculated.

Soln .: By applying Kirchhoffs current law at the node 1, we obtain

8 v1 15
v1 100 v1 vx
+ =0 (1.1) + vx
8 4 14 +
100 V 4 vx /14
We know that

vx = 100 v1 v1 = 100 vx
Fig. 1(a): A circuit where vx is to be calculated.
Therefore, from Eq. (1.1)
100 vx 100 100 vx vx
+ =0
8 4 14
vx 100 vx vx
+ =0
8 4 14
4vx
vx 200 + 2vx + =0
7
1400 + 21vx + 4vx = 0
1400
vx =
25
vx = 56 V .

ALTERNATIVE METHOD: Nodal Analysis using Tree

Graph of the given circuit, Fig. Ex.2b, is drawn in Fig. Ex.2c.

8 15

+ vx

+ vx
100 V 4
14

Fig. 2(c): Graph of Fig. 2(b)

Fig. 2(b): Given circuit

+ vx + v1
+

100 V

Fig. 2(d): Placing the voltage source and the control
Fig. 2(e): A tree with assigned voltage across each tree
voltage in the tree.
branch.

While forming a tree, we must place all voltage sources in the tree and all current sources in the cotree. In
addition, place all control-voltage branches of voltage-controlled dependent sources in the tree if possible
without forming any loop.
Thus, the only possible tree that can be used to find vx is shown in Fig. 2(e). We need two equations for
two unknowns, vx and v1 .
Applying KCL at top right node, we have
+ vx + v1
  
v1 vx 
+
+ =0
15 14
100 V
14v1 + 15vx = 0

v1 + 1.0714vx = 0

Note:Practice helps analysis perfect!

EC - 304 ENT Nodal Analysis Dr. Lairenlakpam Joyprakash Singh

Again applying KCL at top middle node, we get

vx v1 vx + 100
+ + =0
8 15 4
60vx + 32v1 120vx + 12000 = 0
32v1 180vx + 12000 = 0
v1 5.625vx + 375 = 0
1.0714vx 5.625vx + 375 = 0
375
vx = = 56.002 V
6.6964
Hence, we obtain

v1 = 60 V, and vx = 56 V

2. Find ix in the circuit of Fig. 2 using Nodal analysis.

2 k

10 k

0.4ix ix

5 mA 5 k 20 k

Fig. 2: Circuit for Q.2

Soln .: The circuit is re-drawn as shown below by assigning nodes with node voltages,
Applying KCL at node 1,
2 k
3 v1 v3
5 10 + + 0.4ix = 0
2 103
v2 v3 v2 , 2 10 k
10 + v1 v3 + 0.08(v2 v3 ) = 0 ix = v1 , 1 3, v3
10 103
0.4ix ix
v1 + 0.08v2 1.08v3 = 10 (2.1)
5 mA 5 k 20 k
Applying KCL at node 2,
v2
0.4ix + + ix = 0
5 103 0
v2 v2 v3
3
+ 0.6 =0 Fig. 2(a): Redrawn circuit with reference node
5 10 10 103
chosen and voltages assigned.
2.6v2 0.6v3 = 0 (2.2)
Applying KCL at node 3,
v3 v1 v3 v2 v3
3
+ 3
+ =0
2 10 10 10 20 103
10(v3 v1 ) + 2(v3 v2 ) + v3 = 0
10v1 2v2 + 13v3 = 0 (2.3)
Writing equations (2.1), (2.2) and (2.3) in matrix form, we have

1 0.08 1.08 v1 10
0 2.6 0.6 v2 = 0
10 2 13 v3 0

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EC - 304 ENT Nodal Analysis Dr. Lairenlakpam Joyprakash Singh

Thus,
 

 1 10 1.08

 0 0 0.6 
 10 0 13  60
v2 =  = = 12 V
 1 0.08 1.08 5

 0 2.6 0.6 
 10 2 13 
and
 

 1 0.08 10 

 0 2.6 0 
 10 2 0  260
v3 =  = = 52 V
 1 0.08 1.08 5

 0 2.6 0.6 
 10 2 13 
Therefore,
v2 v3 12 52
ix = = = 4 mA (2.4)
10 103 10 103

Alternative method using Tree

The circuit is re-drawn as shown below by assigning nodes with node voltages and a supernode,
2 k + vz

v2 , 2 10 k 1
2
3
v1 , 1 3, v3
+
0.4ix ix +
vx
5 mA 5 k 20 k vy

4 4

Fig. 2(b): Circuit for Q.2 where vx and vy are to Fig. 2(c): A chosen tree of the circuit of Fig. 2(b) where both
be determined. control sources are put in co-tree.

Applying KCL at node 2 in the tree of Fig. 2(c),

vx
0.4ix + + ix = 0
5 103
vx vx vy vx v y
+ 0.6 = 0 ix =
5 103 10 103 10 103
2.6vx 0.6vy = 0 (2.5)
Applying KCL at node 4 of Fig. 2(c),
vx vy
5 103 + 3
+ =0
5 10 20 103
100 4vx vy = 0
vy = 100 4vx (2.6)
Using Eq. (2.6) in Eq. (2.5), we have
2.6vx 60 + 2.4vx = 0
60
vx = = 12 V (2.7)
5
Substituting the value of vx in Eq. (2.6),
vy = 100 4 12
vy = 52 V (2.8)

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EC - 304 ENT Nodal Analysis Dr. Lairenlakpam Joyprakash Singh

Therefore,

vx v y 12 52
ix = = = 4 mA (2.9)
10 103 10 103

3. Draw a suitable tree and use general nodal analysis to find vx and vy in the circuit of Fig. 3.
2 k
Answer:
10 k
vx = 12 V
0.4ix + ix
and +
5 mA vx 5 k vy 20 k
vy = 52 V

Fig. 3: Circuit for Q.3

4. Find the values of vx and vy in the circuit shown below.

+
vx 1S
2A
2S

+

1V 2vx
1S
+

2S

vy
4vy
+

Soln .: Nodal Analysis: The circuit is re-drawn as shown below by assigning nodes with node voltages
and a supernode,
2
2
+
+
vx
vx 1S
2A
2S
1V +
1 3

+

1 3 Ref. node
Ref. node
1V 2vx
+
1S
+

2S vy 4vy

vy
4vy +
+

4 4

Fig. 4(b): A chosen tree of the circuit of Fig. 4(a) in which

Fig. 4(a): Circuit for Q.4 where vx and vy are to
both voltage sources and both control voltages are on selected
be determined.
tree.
We now draw a tree so that both voltage sources and both control voltages appear as tree branch voltages.
Tree-branch voltages vx , 1, vy and 4vy , are chosen, shown above.
Applying KCL at node 2 of Fig. 4(b),
2vx 2 + 1(vx vy 4vy ) = 0
3vx 5vy = 2 (4.1)

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EC - 304 ENT Nodal Analysis Dr. Lairenlakpam Joyprakash Singh

Applying KCL at supernode[of Fig. 4(b)] consisting of nodes 3 and 4 around dependent voltage source,
4vy ,
1vy + 2(vy 1) 2vx + 1(4vy vx + vy ) = 0
3vx + 8vy = 2 (4.2)
Adding equations (4.1) and (4.2), we get

4
vy = = 1.3333 V (4.3)
3
and from equation (4.1),
4
2+5 3 26
vx = = = 2.8889 V
3 9

Alternative method:

In Fig. 4(a), its obvious that we do not need to apply KCL at node 1 as v1 = 1 V.
Now, we apply KCL at node 2,
2(v2 v1 ) 2 + 1(v2 v3 ) = 0
3v2 v3 = 0 v1 = 1 V (4.4)
Applying KCL at supernode,
1(v4 v1 ) + 2v4 2vx + 1(v3 v2 ) = 0
3v4 + 1 2vx + v3 v2 = 0
3v4 + 1 2(v2 v1 ) + v3 v2 = 0 vx = v2 v1
3v2 + v3 + 3v4 = 1 (4.5)
Next, we relate source voltage in supernode into node voltages,
v3 v4 = 4vy
v3 v4 = 4(v4 v1 )
v3 5v4 = 4 (4.6)
Writing equations (4.4), (4.5) and (4.6) in matrix form, we have

3 1 0 v2 0
3 1 3 v3 = 1
0 1 5 v4 4
Thus,
 

 0 1 0 


 1 1 3 

 4 1 5  17
v2 =  = = 1.8889 V
 3 1 0 
 9

 3 1 3 

 0 1 5 

and
 

 3 1 0 


 3 1 1 

 0 1 4  3
v4 =  = = 0.3333 V
 3 1 0 
 9

 3 1 3 

 0 1 5 

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EC - 304 ENT Nodal Analysis Dr. Lairenlakpam Joyprakash Singh

Therefore,
vx = v2 v1 = 1.8889 (1) = 2.8889 V (4.7)
and
vy = v4 v1 = 0.3333 (1) = 1.3333 V (4.8)

5. Draw a suitable tree and use general nodal analysis to find vx and vy in the circuit of Fig. 5.
+
Answer: vx 1S
2A
2S
vx = 2.8889 V

+
and 1V 2vx
1S

+
2S

vy = 1.3333 V vy
4vy
+

Fig. 5: Circuit for Q.5

6. Find the value of vx in the circuit of Fig. 6 using Nodal analysis.

2A
30 V
Answer:

+
vx = 10.6667 V
+
+
and 1A 4 vx 6vx
3A
F inished!

Fig. 6: Circuit for Q.6

Soln .:
We have chosen the upper right node, (node 0),
as reference node and accordingly node numbers
have been assigned as shown in Fig. 6(a). After
looking into the circuit, we see that we can not 2A
30 V
apply KCL at nodes 1 and 3 because of 30 V and 1 0

+

6vx sources.
We now apply KCL at node 2: +
+
v2 v1 v2 v3 1A 4 vx 6vx
1+ +3+ =0
4 5 3A

5(v2 v1 ) + 2 20 + 4(v2 + 6vx ) = 0
5(v2 v1 ) + 40 + 4[v2 + 6(v1 v2 )] = 0 2 3
5
5v2 5v1 + 40 + 4v2 + 24v1 24v2 = 0
19v1 15v2 = 40 Fig. 6(a): Circuit for Q.6

15v2 = 40 + 19 30 v1 = 30 V
40 + 570
Therefore, v2 = = 40.667 V and thus, vx = v1 v2 = 30 40.667 = 10.667 V
15

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EC - 304 ENT Nodal Analysis Dr. Lairenlakpam Joyprakash Singh

Another solution: traditional Nodal analysis!

We have chosen the bottom left node, (node 0),

as reference node and accordingly node numbers 2A
30 V
have been assigned as shown in Fig. 6(b). After 1 2

+
looking into the circuit, we see that we can not
apply KCL at nodes 1, 2 and 3 because of 30 V +
and 6vx sources. Hence, combining nodes 1, 2 and vx
+
1A 4 6vx
3, we form a supernode as shown.
3A
We now apply KCL at supernode node:
v1 v3 0 3
1+ 23+ +2=0 5
4 5
5v1 + 4v3 = 40 (6.1) Fig. 6(b): Circuit for Q.6
As there is no other node left at which we can apply KCL, we now turn our attention to the supernode.
By inspection, we have

v1 v2 = 30 (6.2)
and v2 v3 = 6vx = 6v1
6v1 v2 + v3 = 0 (6.3)

Therefore,
 
 40 0 4 

 30
 1 0 
 0 1 1  40 120 160
v1 =   = = = 10.667 V
 5 0 4  5 + 4(1 + 6) 5 + 20
 1
 1 0 
 6 1 1 

Alternative method: Nodal analysis using Graph Theory!

The two voltage sources and the control voltage establish the three-branch tree as shown in Fig. 6(c). We
observe that nodes 2, 3 and 4 form a supernode. Hence, we need to write only one KCL equation.

Selecting node 1 and write KCL equation, we have

vx vx + 30 + 6vx 2 + 30 V 3
1 +3+ =0
4 5
+ +
20 5vx + 60 + 20vx + 120 = 0
160 32 vx 6vx
vx = = = 10.6667 V (6.4)
15 3
Therefore, vx = 10.6667 V . In spite of the apparent
1 4
complexity of this circuit, the use of general nodal analysis
has led to the easy solution. Fig. 6(c): The tree and the tree-branch voltages
used.

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