Nodal analysis physical problem

AI Thread Summary
Nodal analysis in DC circuits allows for the selection of a reference node, which is assigned a voltage of zero, affecting the voltages of other nodes relative to it. This method relies on Kirchhoff's Current Law (KCL), where the sum of currents at a node equals zero, using voltage differences to express current flow. The physical interpretation of potential differences is that they represent the work done to move charges between points in an electric field. Grounding a node does not change the analysis; it merely serves as a reference point without altering the circuit's behavior. Understanding that current flows from higher to lower potential helps clarify the concept of voltage in nodal analysis.
green-fresh
Messages
14
Reaction score
0
in the nodal analysis -one of ways of analysis DC circuit - i couldn't understand the physical roots of this way .

i mean how could i make the voltage of a node equal to zero by make it as a reference point without having any effects on the voltage(electric potential) of the rest nodes .

from algebra view I'm sure 100% that this way is correct but physically i find difficult to say that the potential difference of the branch "ab" is:
U_{ab}=v_{a}-v_{b}
and put for example 'a' as reference point and the <u>_{ab}</u> become -v_{b} .

could you explain the answer of this physical problem ! please.

thank you
 
Engineering news on Phys.org
green-fresh said:
in the nodal analysis -one of ways of analysis DC circuit - i couldn't understand the physical roots of this way .

i mean how could i make the voltage of a node equal to zero by make it as a reference point without having any effects on the voltage(electric potential) of the rest nodes .

You can't. When you choose a node as the reference node and call its voltage zero, all the other node voltages will be referenced to that node.

green-fresh said:
from algebra view I'm sure 100% that this way is correct but physically i find difficult to say that the potential difference of the branch "ab" is:
U_{ab}=v_{a}-v_{b}
and put for example 'a' as reference point and the <u>_{ab}</u> become -v_{b} .

could you explain the answer of this physical problem ! please.

thank you


At each node, you use the KCL to write an equation that involves the voltage at that node, with respec to the voltages of surrounding nodes. The sum of the currents leaving the node has to equal zero, so that's how you write the equation for each node. The voltage differences are used to express the currents leaving the node in the different directions.

Does that help?
 
from algebra view I'm sure 100% that this way is correct but physically i find difficult to say that the potential difference of the branch "ab" is:

The potential difference is defined as a path-integral of a charge moved in an electric field from point A to point B which produces a simple potential difference like V2 - V1 if Electric field is constant as is in a voltage or current source.
 
thank you berkeman for this useful informations
The voltage differences are used to express the currents leaving the node in the different directions
as what 'waht' said:
The potential difference is defined as a path-integral of a charge moved in an electric field from point A to point B which produces a simple potential difference
attachment.php?attachmentid=26743&stc=1&d=1277794792.jpg


and from this to definitions i can tell you exactly what i mean:
when i attach the node to ground i had zero voltage in this node . physically
the electrons must go from the smaller voltage point(v_{ground}=0) to the biger voltage(upper positive point) > how this works , or is this way of thinking is wrong?.

thank you again:smile:
 

Attachments

  • EasyCapture1.jpg
    EasyCapture1.jpg
    10.6 KB · Views: 538
You don't need to connect a ground to the circuit. And current is defined as the direction of positive charge flow. i.e. the opposite direction of the electron flow.

Take a look at this example of http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q...q8nrJ&sig=AHIEtbSm6Plp9OVqQqU3rTv2tnAQgOEhFg"

The first step in the analysis is to label all the nodes except for the common node...

Secondly, label the currents entering or leaving each node...

The next step is to write the KCL equation for each node except the common node...
 
Last edited by a moderator:
thank you dlgoff but i know how to do analyzing using this method but i can't understander
the case of connecting the circuit to ground without eletrons going up to circuits and have influence to other voltages
 
You can call any point the circuit ground and it won't change the analysis. If you are talking putting a wire connection to the earth, electrons can't just enter the circuit.
 
yes! thank you very much dlgoff this is what i wanted to hear
electrons can't just enter the circuit.
 
Back
Top