Ohms law and Kirchhoffs law can be used in circuit analysis such as mesh analysis and nodal analysis

or branch current analysis. Kirchhoffs current law is used in nodal analysis whereas Kirchhoffs voltage law is used in mesh analysis. Branch current analysis is the most straightforward network analysis among all the analysis techniques. Directions of current are assumed in a circuit and n number of equations are formed to find n branch currents in the n branches of a circuit. These equations are formed by using Kirchhoffs current and voltage law. The currents can be found by solving the equations simultaneously. If the current value obtained is negative then, reverse the assumed current direction in the circuit. The voltage drop across all resistors can be easily found by using the Ohms law (V=IR). The branch current analysis is most convenient to be used in this case to determine the current direction and magnitude and voltage drop across resistor when the circuit is simple and voltage source and resistance of resistors are known. One of the advantages of using this branch current analysis is that it is simple and straightforward enough to not overcomplicate things. One of the limitations of this branch current analysis is that it can only be used to analyze simple circuits because it cannot be used to calculate the values of voltage sources found in a supernode or value of current source in a supermesh. The other circuit analysis technique is known as nodal analysis. It is also known as node-voltage method. Nodal analysis solves for the unknown voltages at nodes in terms of a system of Kirchhoffs current law equations. The first step is to select a reference node or datum node that has zero potential. Therefore, it is known as the chassis ground. The second step is to assign unknowns to the rest of the non-reference nodes. After that, assign current direction for each branch. Then, Kirchhoffs current law is applied to all of the non-reference nodes. Ohms law is used to express the branch currents in terms of node voltages following the formula . The simultaneous equations formed are solved to obtain the unknown node voltages. The simultaneous equations can be solved by using Cramers Rule. The nodal analysis is the most convenient to be used in this case since we are required to calculate the . Nodal analysis is used in this case since we are treating the nodes of to be a supernode. Therefore, only nodal analysis can be used to solve a supernode. One of the advantages of nodal analysis is that it

can calculate most networks with parallel-connected elements, current sources, or supernodes. Nodal analysis analyzes circuits by using nodes instead of circuit elements as the circuit variables as it is more convenient and reduces the number of equations one must solve simultaneously. One of the limitations of the nodal analysis method is that nodal analysis cannot be used to solve the value current source in a supermesh.

REFERENCE 1) http://www.tcd.ie/. In Circuit Analysis. Retrieved 2July2013, from http://www.tcd.ie/Physics/people/HongZhou.Zhang/Teaching/SFCircuit/PY2011/L2-DC-Anaylsis-2011.pdf. 2) http://www.igte.tugraz.at/. In Analysis Methods to Solve LinearCircuits. Retrieved 2July2013, from http://www.igte.tugraz.at/cms/images/stories/lehrveranstaltungen/437_165/ GEN_Chapter04.pdf. 3) Nodal analysis-Wikipedia the free encyclopedia. In Nodal analysis. Retrieved 2July2013, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nodal_analysis. 4) Node voltage method-Dc network analysis. In Node voltage method. Retrieved 2July2013, from http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_1/chpt_10/4.html.