Which statement best describes the mesh-current method for a circuit with two meshes?

Which statement best describes the mesh-current method for a circuit with two meshes?

• A. Solve using only node voltages with KCL and ignore mesh currents.
• B. Set all currents to zero and then compute voltages.
• C. Assume loop currents for each mesh, apply KVL, account for shared impedances, and solve.
• D. Convert the circuit to a parallel network and use current division.

Answer: (C)

In the mesh-current method you assign a loop current to each mesh, usually one per enclosed area, and you write Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law around each loop. You pick a direction for each loop (commonly clockwise) and then, for components shared by the two loops, you express the current in that element as the difference (or sum, depending on direction) of the two loop currents. This yields a set of equations—one per mesh. For a circuit with two meshes, you get two equations in two unknown loop currents, which you solve to find the currents in each loop, and from those you can determine the actual branch currents and voltages. This approach is distinct from using only node voltages with KCL, which is the node-voltage method, and it isn’t about simply setting currents to zero or converting the circuit into a parallel network and applying current division.

In the mesh-current method you assign a loop current to each mesh, usually one per enclosed area, and you write Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law around each loop. You pick a direction for each loop (commonly clockwise) and then, for components shared by the two loops, you express the current in that element as the difference (or sum, depending on direction) of the two loop currents. This yields a set of equations—one per mesh. For a circuit with two meshes, you get two equations in two unknown loop currents, which you solve to find the currents in each loop, and from those you can determine the actual branch currents and voltages.

This approach is distinct from using only node voltages with KCL, which is the node-voltage method, and it isn’t about simply setting currents to zero or converting the circuit into a parallel network and applying current division.