ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

California Polytechnic State University

EE 251 Nodal Analysis Pre-Lab 2

IMPORTANT – SHOW ALL WORK!

1. For the circuit shown (all Rs in ohms), determine VA, VB, VC, and VD (include polarity).
In addition, what is the voltage across each resistor (include polarity)?

U LO
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2. Repeat problem #1 with the 12V source “flipped” (“+” terminal of source connected to
node C and “-” terminal of source connected to node A).

3. For the circuit below (all Rs in ohms), determine VA, VB, VC, and VD (include polarity).
Also, determine VBC (include polarity) and determine VCB (include polarity).

20
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B

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6 66

O O

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 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
California Polytechnic State University

EE 251 Nodal Analysis Pre-Lab 2

4. The circuit of problem #3 has a 9Ω resistor connected between the source and node A as
shown below. Determine the new values for VA, VB, VC, and VD (include polarity).
In addition answer these two questions, is the voltage across the 4Ω resistor equal to VB?
Is the voltage across the 3Ω resistor equal to VC? Justify your two answers.

5. For the circuit of problem #4, show the voltage between nodes A and D is the same
regardless the path taken between the two nodes. Choose three different paths.

6. For the circuit of problem #4, connect a short between nodes B and C. Are the node
voltages VA, VB, VC, and VD the same or different than the values obtained before the
short was connected between nodes B and C. Justify your answer with analysis.

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 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
California Polytechnic State University

EE 251 Nodal Analysis Lab 2

Objective
To determine the voltage across elements, the voltage at nodes with respect to ground and the
voltage at nodes with respect to a node not ground. Also, determine voltage polarity.

Workbench Equipment
DC Power Supply, Agilent E3640A
Digital Multi-meter, Agilent 34401A
Resistor Box II, 10Ω/25Ω/40Ω/130Ω/269Ω/562Ω
Resistor Box III, 1kΩ/2.5kΩ/5kΩ/10kΩ/25kΩ
Resistor Box IV, 100Ω/250Ω/500Ω

Check-out Equipment, 20-111 window

Banana to banana, 3 pairs, red/black
Short leads, quantity 6, 1 bag

Background
Voltage or electric potential difference is an indication of the amount of energy required to
transport charge between two nodes (connection points) in a circuit. The unit of voltage (V), the
Volt, is equal to one Joule per Coulomb (energy per unit charge). Voltage is analogous to
pressure in a hydraulic system. In order for water to flow through a pipe, a pressure difference is
required between the two ends of the pipe. Similarly, for current (moving charge) to “flow”
through a circuit element, a voltage difference is required between the two nodes the circuit
element is connected to.

Conceptually, it is important to understand that current is considered as flowing since it is a

continuous movement of electrical charge; however, since voltage is thought of as “electrical
pressure”, voltage DOES NOT FLOW!

Voltage across nodes (elements) / Voltage at a node

Voltage (like pressure) is determined or measured analogous to how height is determined or
measured. The height of an object is the difference of two heights. For example, if you were
asked the height of Bishop’s Peak, your answer would differ depending on the height used as a
reference. Unless told otherwise, by convention the height of sea level (zero) would be used as
the reference height. Similarly, voltage across nodes in a circuit is the difference of two voltages.
Voltage across an element is the difference of voltage on each end (node) of the circuit element.
Voltage at a node is referenced to a voltage at another node which is usually ground that has a
defined voltage of zero (i.e. ground is like an “electrical sea level”).

In addition, just as potential energy is independent of path (you have the same potential energy at
the top of Bishop’s Peak regardless of the path taken to get there), the voltage or electric
potential across nodes is independent of the path taken between the nodes.

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Voltage Polarity
Voltage polarity indicates which node of a voltage is the higher voltage node (marked with a
“+”) and which node is the lower end voltage node (marked with a “-”). If there were such a term
as height polarity, there would be a plus sign at the top of Bishop’s Peak and a minus sign at sea
level.

For resistors, the end current enters is the higher voltage node since voltage is dropped across a
resistor (i.e. resistors absorb energy). Sources can either supply or absorb energy. A source
supplying energy has current leaving its higher voltage end and a source absorbing energy has
current entering its higher voltage end. An example of a source absorbing energy is a
rechargeable battery when being charged. The battery charger is a voltage source with a voltage
greater than the rechargeable battery voltage, thereby forcing current into the higher voltage end
of the rechargeable battery. Likewise, a storage element (capacitor or inductor) is storing
(absorbing energy) when current enters its higher voltage end and a storage element is supplying
energy when current leaves its higher voltage end.

Procedure 1: Nodal Analysis of Single Source Circuit (Source not Grounded)

i 850 I Vq
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25 01
is
0099
Fig. 2-1 Nodal Analysis Circuit I 150.352
Measure the three resistances of resistor box IV; 100Ω, 250Ω and 500Ω. Record these
values in Table 2-1.
Set current limit of E3640A Agilent power supply to 0.1A and set voltage output to 8.5V.
Construct the circuit of Fig. 2-1.
Using measured values, calculate voltages across resistors and voltages at nodes, record
in Table 2-1.
Measure the voltage across all resistors and record in Table 2-1.
Measure voltage at nodes A, B and C with respect to node D (defined as reference node),
record in Table 2-1. Connect the black LO input of the DVM to node D.
o If the DVM leads are reversed (red HI input to node D), how is the voltmeter
display affected?
Compare (calculate % error) measured values to expected theoretical values.
Nominal Measured Measured Calculated % Measured Calculated %
Resistors Resistors R Voltages R Voltages Error Node Voltages NodeVoltages Error
( ) (V) (V) (V) (V)
100Ω VA =

250Ω VB =
s
500Ω VC =
s
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 Table 2-1 Nodal Analysis Circuit I

Procedure 2: Nodal Analysis of Circuit II

I tr 6020542

0133165
I 0072236
Is I 500 a 2230

r 2240
1501.87
2762µg

Reversal
1501.82
35174
Fig. 2-2 Nodal Analysis Circuit II 4269.74
Measure the four resistances in Fig. 2-2 and record these values in Table 2-2.
o Note: K = 1,000, i.e.: 2.5K = 2,500Ω.
Set current limit of E3640A Agilent power supply to 0.1A and set voltage output to 20V.
Construct the circuit of Fig. 2-2.
Using measured values, calculate voltages across resistors and voltages at nodes. Also,
calculate VBC (voltage at node B with respect to voltage at node C) and VCB (voltage at
node C with respect to voltage at node B), record in Table 2-2.
Measure the voltage across all resistors and record in Table 2-2.
Measure voltage at nodes A, B and C with respect to node D, record in Table 2-2.
As in procedure 1, connect the black LO input of the DVM to node D.
Measure VBC and VCB; record in Table 2-2.
Compare measured values to expected theoretical values.

Nominal Measured Measured Calculated % Measured Calculated %

Resistors Resistors R Voltages R Voltages Error Node Voltages Node Voltages Error
( ) (V) (V) (V) (V)
250Ω VA =
24887
500Ω 24888700.87 VB =

1,000Ω VC =
1001
2,500Ω
2519 33.54 VBC =
VCB =
Table 2-2 Nodal Analysis Circuit II

15
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 1532.99
Procedure 3: Nodal Analysis of Circuit III ReE9 S9ts 59.4
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Apply µ It 0072236 is
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Fig. 2-3 Nodal Analysis Circuit III

Measure resistance of the 562Ω, record in Table 2-3. Use measured values of other four
resistors from Table 2-2. Resistors are most likely at their thermal equilibrium resistance.
As shown in Figure 2-3, insert 562Ω resistor between 20V source and node A of
procedure 2 circuit.
Using measured values, calculate voltages across resistors and voltages at nodes. Also,
calculate VBC and VCB, record in Table 2-3.
Measure the voltage across all resistors and record in Table 2-3.
Measure voltage at nodes A, B and C with respect to node D, record in Table 2-3.
As in procedure 1 & 2, connect the black LO input of the DVM to node D.
Measure VBC and VCB; record in Table 2-3.
Compare measured values to expected theoretical values.

Nominal Measured Measured Calculated % Measured Calculated %

Resistors Resistors R Voltages R Voltages Error NodeVoltages NodeVoltages Error
( ) (V) (V) (V) (V)
250Ω VA =

500Ω VB =

1,000Ω VC =

2,500Ω VBC =

562Ω VCB =
Table 2-3 Nodal Analysis Circuit III

Procedure 4: Nodal Analysis of Circuit IV

Turn off power supply.

Connect a short between nodes B and C of Nodal Analysis Circuit III (Fig. 2-3). Turn on
power supply and repeat last five steps of procedure 3. Record data in Table 2-4.

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Nominal Measured Calculated % Measured Calculated %
Resistors R Voltages R Voltages Error Node Voltages Node Voltages Error
(V) (V) (V) (V)
250Ω VA =

500Ω VB =

1,000Ω VC =

2,500Ω VBC =

562Ω VCB =
Table 2-4 Nodal Analysis Circuit IV
Discussion:

1. Explain the difference between sign of a voltage (i.e., positive value voltage / negative
value voltage) and voltage polarity. Hint: VBC & VCB of experimental circuits in this lab.
2. Calculate current through the 562Ω resistor if an ideal ammeter is connected between
nodes B and C of Nodal Analysis Circuit III (use nominal R values).
Include the direction of this current.
3. What accounts for the small values of VBC & VCB in Table 2-4? Why are the ideal values
of VBC & VCB equal to zero?

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