Linear Circuit Analysis

1. Introduction
2. Basic Concepts
3. Simple Circuits
4. Nodal and Mesh Analysis (DC)
5. Additional Analysis Techniques (DC)
6. AC Analysis
7. Magnetically Coupled Circuits
8. Polyphase Systems
9. Operational Amplifiers
10. Laplace Transforms
11. Time-Dependent Circuits
12. Two-Port Networks
Appendix

Single Loop Circuits

Single loop circuits can usually be analyzed using Kirchhoff's voltage law (KVL) and Ohm's law. For instance, let us consider the circuit shown in Fig. 1, in which we need to compute current $I_0$.

I0 3Ω 7V 5V 2Ω 6Ω 4V 1Ω 8Ω
Fig. 1. Applying KVL to compute the current in a single loop circuit.

Writing KVL clockwise (in the direction of current $I_0$) we have $$3I_0+5+2I_0+4+8I_0+1I_0+6I_0-7=0$$ which can be solved to obtain $$I_0= -\frac{2\ {\class{mjunit}{V}}}{20\ {\class{mjunit}{Ω}}}=-0.2\ {\class{mjunit}{A}} = -200\ {\class{mjunit}{mA}}$$

Notice that if we write KVL in the opposite direction (but keep the current $I_0$ as shown in Fig. 1), we obtain the same value for $I_0$.

Examples of Solved Problems
See also