NODAL ANALYSIS

Nodal Analysis

• Nodal analysis is a technique that allows us

to analyze more complicated circuits
• developed nodal analysis for circuits with
independent current sources.
• look at circuits with dependent sources and
with voltage sources.
Advantages of Nodal Analysis

• Solves directly for node voltages.

• Current sources are easy.
• Voltage sources are either very easy or
somewhat difficult.
• Works best for circuits with few nodes.
• Works for any circuit.
 Steps of Nodal Analysis

1. Select a node as a reference node. Assign

voltages v1, v2, . . . Vn-1 to remaining n-1 nodes.
The voltages are referenced with respect 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 simultaneous equations to
obtain the unknown node voltages.
Find the node voltages V1 & V2
Find Vo in the circuit using nodal analysis.
Obtain the node voltages V1, V2 & V3 in the circuit
 EXAMPLES
4. Find Vab and io

Ans. vab = 53.33 volts, io = 1.778 A 8

Find Vx.
Find Vo in the circuit.
Determine the node voltages in the circuit below.
Find Io in the circuit.
Case 1: If a voltage source is
connected between the
reference node and a non-
reference node. Set the
voltage at the non-
reference node equal to the
voltage of the voltage of
the voltage source.

Case 2: If a voltage source (dependent or independent) is

connected between two non-reference nodes, the two non-
reference nodes form a generalized node or supernode; apply
both KCL and KVL to determine the node voltages.
A supernode is formed by enclosing a (dependent or
independent) voltage source connected between two
non-reference node and any elements connected in
parallel with it.