INC 111 Basic Circuit Analysis

Week 4
Mesh Analysis
Mesh Analysis (Loop Analysis)

Mesh = A closed loop path which has no smaller loops inside

5Ω

3V 2Ω 1Ω 2A
Mesh currents are circular currents used for calculation.

Mesh currents are not real currents.

6Ω 4Ω

42V I1 3Ω I2 10V

Mesh current (loop current)

Real current is a sum of all mesh currents passing through that point.
 Mesh Analysis
Procedure

1. Count the number of meshes. Let the number equal N.

2. Define mesh current on each mesh. Let the values be

I1, I2, I3, …

3. Use Kirchoff’s voltage law (KVL) on each mesh,

generating N equations

4. Solve the equations

 Example
Use mesh analysis to find the power consumption in the resistor 3 Ω

6Ω 4Ω

42V 3Ω 10V
I1 I2

Mesh current (loop current)

 6Ω 4Ω

42V 3Ω 10V
I1 I2

Loop 1  42  6 I1  3( I1  I 2)  0
9 I1  3I 2  42 Equation 1

Loop 2
3( I 2  I1)  4 I 2  10  0
 3I1  7 I 2  10 Equation 2

I1 = 6A, I2 = 4A, The current that pass through R 3Ω is 6-4 = 2A (downward)

Power = 12 W
 Example
Use Mesh analysis to find Vx

1Ω I2 2Ω

+ Vx -
7V
I1 3Ω
6V
I3 1Ω
2Ω
  7  1( I1  I 2)  6  2( I1  I 3)  0
1Ω I2 2Ω
3I1  I 2  2 I 3  1 Equation 1
+ Vx -
7V
I1 3Ω
6V 1( I 2  I1)  2 I 2  3( I 2  I 3)  0
I3 1Ω
2Ω  I1  6 I 2  3I 3  0 Equation 2

2( I 3  I1)  6  3( I 3  I 2)  I 3  0
 2 I1  3I 2  6 I 3  6 Equation 3

I1 = 3A, I2 = 2A, I3 = 3A

Vx = 3(I3-I2) = 3V
 Supermesh
When there is a current source in the mesh path, we cannot use KVL
because we do not know the voltage across the current source.

We have to use supermesh, which is a combination of 2 meshes to be a

big mesh, and avoid the inclusion of the current source in the mesh path.
 Example
Use Mesh analysis to find Vx

1Ω I2 2Ω

+ Vx -
7V
I1 3Ω
7A
I3 1Ω
2Ω
 1Ω I2 2Ω

+ Vx -
7V
I1 3Ω
7A
I3 1Ω
2Ω

1( I 2  I1)  2I 2  3( I 2  I 3)  0
 I1  6I 2  3I 3  0 Equation from 2nd loop
Supermesh

1Ω I2 2Ω

+ Vx -
7V
I1 3Ω
7A
I3 1Ω
2Ω

 7  1( I1  I 2)  3( I 3  I 2)  I 3  0
I1  4 I 2  4 I 3  7 Equation 2

I1  I 3  7 Equation 3
I1 = 9A

I2 = 2.5A

I3 = 2A

Vx = 3(I3-I2) = -1.5V
 How to choose between
Node and Mesh Analysis
The hardest part in analyzing circuits is solving
equations. Solving 3 or more equations can be time
consuming.

Normally, we will count the number of equations

according to each method and select the method
that have lesser equations.
 Example
From the previous example, if we want to use Nodal Analysis

7V

1Ω 2Ω

+ Vx -
7V V1 V2
3Ω
7A
V3 1Ω
2Ω

0V
Example: Dependent Source
Find Vx

1Ω
I2 2Ω

+ Vx -
15A I1
3Ω
1/9 Vx
I3 1Ω
2Ω
 I1  15 Equation 1

1Ω
I2 2Ω

+ Vx - 1( I 2  I1)  2 I 2  3( I 2  I 3)  0
15A I1
3Ω
 I1  6 I 2  3I 3  0 Equation 2
1/9 Vx
I3 1Ω 1
2Ω I 3  I1  Vx Equation 3
9
Vx  3( I 3  I 2) Equation 4

I1=15A, I2=11A, I3=17A

Vx = 3(17-11) = 18V
Special Techniques

• Superposition Theorem

• Thevenin’s Theorem

• Norton’s Theorem

• Source Transformation
 Superposition Theorem

In a linear circuit, we can calculate the value of

current (or voltage) that is the result from each
voltage source and current source independently.
Then, the real value is the sum of all current (or
voltage) from the sources.
 Linearity

V and I have linear relationship

V
 Implementation

When calculating the effect of a source, the other sources

will be set to zero.

• For voltage sources, when set as 0V, it will be similar to

short circuit
• For current sources, when set as 0A, it will be similar to
open circuit
 Example

1V 1V

1Ω 1Ω I1 1Ω I2
I total

2V 2V

I1 = 1A

I2 = 2A

I total = 1+2 = 3A
 Example

1A 1A
1Ω 1Ω I1 1Ω I2
I total

2V 2V

I1 = 1A

I2 = 0A

I total = 1+0 = 1A
 Example
Find voltage Vx

6Ω 4Ω
+
42V 3Ω Vx 10V
-
 6Ω 4Ω
+
42V 3Ω Vx
-

(3 || 4) (12 / 7)
Vx( 42V )   42   42
6  (3 || 4) 6  (12 / 7)
 9.333V
 6Ω 4Ω
+
3Ω Vx 10V
-

(6 || 3) 2
Vx(10V )   10   10
(6 || 3)  4 24
 3.333V
 6Ω 4Ω
+
42V 3Ω Vx 10V
-

Vx  Vx( 42V )  Vx(10V )

 9.333  3.333  6V
 Superposition and
Dependent Source

Dependent sources cannot be used with superposition.

They have to be active all the time.

 Example
Use superposition to find Ix

Ix

2Ω 1Ω
+
10V 3A 2Ix -
 Find Ix by eliminating the current source 3A

Ix

2Ω 1Ω
+
10V 2Ix -

KVL  10  2 Ix  1Ix  2 Ix  0
Ix(10V )  2
 Find Ix by eliminating the voltage source 10V

Ix+3
Ix

2Ω 1Ω
+
3A 2Ix -

KVL outer loop 2 Ix  1( Ix  3)  2 Ix  0

Ix(3 A)  0.6
 Ix

2Ω 1Ω
+
10V 3A 2Ix -

Ix  Ix(10V )  Ix(3 A)
 2  (0.6)  1.4 A