Chapter 4: Techniques of Circuit Analysis

Sensitivity Analysis

a technique used to predict the effect of varying the value of each resistor in a circuit on the output of that circuit

Node

A point where two or more circuit elements join

Essential Node

A node where three or more circuit elements join

Path

 A trace of adjoining basic elements with no elements included more than once

Branch

A path that connects two nodes

Essential Branch

A path that connects two essential nodes without passing through an essential node

Loop

A path whose last node is the same as the starting node

Mesh

A loop that does not enclose any other loops

Planar Circuit

A circuit that can be drawn on a plane with no crossing branches

Node Voltage Method

a circuit analysis technique that generates independent simultaneous equations by applying Kirchhoff’s current law at the essential nodes of the circuit

Node Voltage

the voltage rise from the reference node to a nonreference essential node.

Supernode

the combination of a voltage source and the two essential nodes that it is between

Mesh Current Method

a circuit analysis technique that is used to solve a circuit by writing simultaneous KVL equations for the circuit’s meshes

Duality

the concept that there are symmetries between two related concepts

Mesh Current

 the current that exists on the perimeter of a mesh

Supermesh

the combination of two meshes that share a current source

Source Transformation

 a circuit analysis technique that allows a voltage source in series with a resistor to be replaced by a current source in parallel with the same resistor or vice versa.

Thevenin Equivalent Circuit

the simplest equivalent for a given circuit and consists of a single voltage source in series with a single resistor

Norton Equivalent Circuit

 a circuit that consists of an independent current source in parallel with the Norton equivalent resistance

Maximum Power Transfer

power transfer that occurs when the load resistance is equal to the Thevenin Resistance

Superposition

 the principle that states that whenever a linear system is excited, or driven, by more than one independent source of energy, the total response is the sum of the individual responses