Circuit w/ Dependent Source Example

Find i2, i1 and io

EECS 42, Spring 2005

Week2b

Prof. White

Using Equivalent Resistances

Simplify a circuit before applying KCL and/or KVL:
Example: Find I
I
R1
7V

R2

R6

R4 = R5 = 5 k
R6 = 10 k

R4
R5

EECS 42, Spring 2005

R3

R1 = R2 = 3 k
R3 = 6 k

Week2b

Prof. White

The Wheatstone Bridge

Circuit used to precisely measure resistances in
the range from 1 to 1 M, with 0.1% accuracy
R1 and R2 are resistors with known values
R3 is a variable resistor (typically 1 to 11,000)
Rx is the resistor whose value is to be measured
battery

R1
+
V

R2
current detector

R3

Rx

variable resistor

EECS 42, Spring 2005

Week2b

Prof. White

Finding the value of Rx

Adjust R3 until there is no current in the detector
Then, Rx =

R2
R1

R3

Derivation:
KCL => i1 = i3 and i2 = ix

R1
+
V

R2

i1 i2
i3

R3

KVL => i R = i R and i R = i R

3 3
x x
1 1
2 2
i1R3 = i2Rx

ix
Rx

R3
Typically, R2 / R1 can be varied
from 0.001 to 1000 in decimal steps
EECS 42, Spring 2005

Week2b

R1

Rx
R2
Prof. White

Identifying Series and Parallel Combinations

Some circuits must be analyzed (not amenable to simple inspection)
R1
R2

R1
V

R3

R4

R5

+
-

R2

R3

R4
Special cases:
R3 = 0 OR R3 =

EECS 42, Spring 2005

R5

Week2b

Prof. White

Resistive Circuits: Summary

Equivalent resistance of k resistors in series:
k

Req = Ri = R1 + R2 + + Rk
i=1

Equivalent resistance of k resistors in parallel:

k
1
1
1
1
1
Req

= +
i=1

Ri

R1

R2

Rk

Voltage divided between 2 series resistors:

R1
v1 =
vs
R1 + R2
Current divided between 2 parallel resistors:
R2
i1 =
is
R1 + R2
EECS 42, Spring 2005

Week2b

Prof. White

Circuit Analysis Methods

Given: a circuit with voltage and/of current sources, and components
(Rs, Cs, Ls, diodes, transistors, etc.) connected by wires
Task: find all the voltages and currents of interest
Approaches:
1. Use Ohms Law, KCL and KVL piecemeal
2. Nodal analysis node voltages are the unknowns
3. Mesh (loop) analysis mesh currents are the unknowns
4. Superposition (linear circuits) work with only one voltage
or current source at a time) and use #1, #2 or #3
5. Computer simulation of circuit behavior
EECS 42, Spring 2005

Week2b

Prof. White

Node-Voltage Circuit Analysis Method

1. Choose a reference node (ground)
Look for the one with the most connections!

2. Define unknown node voltages

those which are not fixed by voltage sources

3. Write KCL at each unknown node, expressing

current in terms of the node voltages (using the
I-V relationships of branch elements)
Special cases: floating voltage sources

4. Solve the set of independent equations

N equations for N unknown node voltages
EECS 42, Spring 2005

Week2b

Prof. White

Nodal Analysis: Example #1

R
3

R1
+
-

V1

R2

R4

IS

1. Choose a reference node.

2. Define the node voltages (except reference node and
the one set by the voltage source).
3. Apply KCL at the nodes with unknown voltage.

4. Solve for unknown node voltages.

EECS 42, Spring 2005

Week2b

Prof. White

EECS 42, Spring 2005

Week2b

Prof. White

Nodal Analysis: Example #2

R1

Va
V

EECS 42, Spring 2005

R2

R3

I1

Week2b

R4

R5
V2

Prof. White

EECS 42, Spring 2005

Week2b

Prof. White

Nodal Analysis w/ Floating Voltage Source

A floating voltage source is one for which neither side is
connected to the reference node, e.g. VLL in the circuit below:
VLL

Va

Vb

- +

I1

R2

R4

I2

Problem: We cannot write KCL at nodes a or b because

there is no way to express the current through the voltage
source in terms of Va-Vb.
Solution: Define a supernode that chunk of the circuit
containing nodes a and b. Express KCL for this supernode.
Incorporate voltage source constraint into KCL equation.
EECS 42, Spring 2005

Week2b

Prof. White

Nodal Analysis: Example #3

supernode

VLL

Va

I1

R2

Vb

R4

I2

Eqn 1: KCL at supernode

Substitute property of voltage source:

EECS 42, Spring 2005

Week2b

Prof. White

EECS 42, Spring 2005

Week2b

Prof. White

Node-Voltage Method and Dependent Sources

If a circuit contains dependent sources, what to do?
Example:

2.4 A

EECS 42, Spring 2005

200

+ 5i

Week2b

20
10

80 V

Prof. White

Node-Voltage Method and Dependent Sources

Dependent current source: treat as independent current
source in organizing and writing node eqns, but include
(substitute) constraining dependency in terms of defined
node voltages.
Dependent voltage source: treat as independent voltage
source in organizing and writing node eqns, but include
(substitute) constraining dependency in terms of defined
node voltages.

EECS 42, Spring 2005

Week2b

Prof. White

Example:
i

2.4 A

EECS 42, Spring 2005

200

Week2b

5i

20
10

80 V

Prof. White