03/08 - Lab 6: Nodal Analysis

Lab 6 - Nodal Analysis

In this lab, we built a circuit containing multiple power sources in parallel, and used the node voltage method to predict the voltages across two of the resistors in the circuit. We used the V+ wire on the analog discovery to supply 5V, and we used the V- port to supply -5V to the circuit. To supply a -3V, we used the waveform generator port. The circuit constructed is depicted below:

Using the nodal analysis method to solve for the circuit, we calculated V_2 to be in the range of -0.63V to -0.67V. This range is due to the ± 10% accuracy of the resistor.

After running these numbers, we constructed the actual circuit. Below is a closeup of the circuit, followed by the measured voltages at each node.

In-Class Examples

1. Given the circuit below, solve for Vx.

2. Given the circuit below, solve for the loop currents i1 and i2 indicated using mesh analysis.

3. As a final exercise, we earned how to read the color coding on resistors: