Problem 4-8
WARNING: There are at least FOUR versions of the text floating around. The version that this problem came from is different from the version that most students have now, so watch out. I'll update this page to reflect the most common current version as soon as I get a Round Tuit.


Use Nodal Analysis to determine V1 and V2.

The original circuit is shown in black. The RED items were added.


I will sum the currents INTO the nodes.

First, note that on the left there are two resistors and a voltage source in series. Even though the two resistors are separated by the voltage source, we can still combine them in series to give a slightly simpler circuit without altering the values of the voltages at the essential nodes. (Can you develop a sensible argument to justify this?) This gives the circuit shown below.

Next, we must find V5 so that we can get the current through the 5 W resistor into node A.

By KVL:

VA = - V5 + 640

so

V5 = 640 - VA

Now we need to write KCL at each essential node other than the reference node.

Note that the first term in the node A equation is really V5/ 5; I just substituted using the expression we found for V5 above.

Node A: (Eq. A)

Node B: (Eq. B)

Node C: (Eq. C)

Solving the three equations yields

VA = 380 V

VB = 269 V

VC = 111 V

Finally,

VA = V1 = 380 V

VB - VA = V2 = - 111 V

VC = V3 = 111 V


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