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GATE 2020 IN – Question 40

Electrical Circuits and Machines · Circuit laws and network theorems: Independent, dependent, ideal and practical sources, Kirchhoff's laws, mesh and nodal analysis, star-delta transformation, superposition, Thevenin's, Norton's, Miller's, maximum power transfer and reciprocity theorems · 2 marks · Multiple choice

For mesh currents I₁,I₂,I₃ and source polarities in the circuit shown, which matrix equation is correct?

Diagram for GATE 2020 IN question 40
  1. $$\begin{pmatrix}3&-1&-2\\-1&3&-1\\-2&-1&3\end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}I_1\\I_2\\I_3\end{pmatrix}=\begin{pmatrix}V_1\\V_2\\-V_3\end{pmatrix}$$
  2. $$\begin{pmatrix}3&-1&-2\\-1&3&-1\\-2&-1&-3\end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}I_1\\I_2\\I_3\end{pmatrix}=\begin{pmatrix}V_1\\V_2\\V_3\end{pmatrix}$$
  3. $$\begin{pmatrix}-3&-1&-2\\-1&3&-1\\-2&-1&3\end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}I_1\\I_2\\I_3\end{pmatrix}=\begin{pmatrix}V_1\\V_2\\-V_3\end{pmatrix}$$
  4. $$\begin{pmatrix}1&-1&-2\\-1&2&-1\\-2&-1&3\end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}I_1\\I_2\\I_3\end{pmatrix}=\begin{pmatrix}V_1\\V_2\\V_3\end{pmatrix}$$

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Correct answer: (A) $$\begin{pmatrix}3&-1&-2\\-1&3&-1\\-2&-1&3\end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}I_1\\I_2\\I_3\end{pmatrix}=\begin{pmatrix}V_1\\V_2\\-V_3\end{pmatrix}$$

Explanation

Each diagonal coefficient is the sum of resistances around that mesh, 3 Ω. Each off-diagonal entry is minus the shared resistance: −1 between meshes 1 and 2, −2 between 1 and 3, and −1 between 2 and 3. Following the indicated clockwise loops gives source rises $V_1,V_2,-V_3$. This is A; B and C have an incorrect diagonal sign, while D has incorrect diagonal sums.

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