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Nodal analysis current in 6 Ω

Short answer

Set node C as reference. KCL equations yield VD = 9.767 V, VB = 6.977 V. Current through 6 Ω resistor = (VD - VB)/6 = 0.465 A, direction from D to B.

Calculate the current flowing through 6 Ω resistor using Nodal analysis. [Figure: 2 A current source in parallel with a 12 Ω resistor R1 on the left, feeding node D; between D and A is 8 Ω (R2), between A and B is 4 Ω (R3), between D and B is 6 Ω (R4) as the bridge element, between D and C is 20 Ω (R5), between C and B is 10 Ω (R6); C is connected back to the source bottom rail.]

Circuit reading (from the figure). Node C is joined to the bottom rail, so take C as the reference (0 V). The 2 A source and the 12 Ω resistor R1R_1 are both between node D and the rail. Between D and B there are two paths in parallel: the 6 Ω bridge R4R_4 and the series path D–A–B (8+4=12 Ω8+4=12\ \Omega; node A has no other connection, so no separate equation is needed). The 20 Ω resistor joins D to the reference and the 10 Ω resistor joins B to the reference.

Unknowns: VDV_D and VBV_B.

KCL at node D (2 A flows in, the rest leaves through the branches):

2=VD12+VD20+VD−VB6+VD−VB122=\frac{V_D}{12}+\frac{V_D}{20}+\frac{V_D-V_B}{6}+\frac{V_D-V_B}{12}

KCL at node B:

VB−VD6+VB−VD12+VB10=0\frac{V_B-V_D}{6}+\frac{V_B-V_D}{12}+\frac{V_B}{10}=0

Collect terms (conductances in siemens):

0.3833 VD−0.25 VB=2−0.25 VD+0.35 VB=0\begin{aligned} 0.3833\,V_D-0.25\,V_B&=2\\ -0.25\,V_D+0.35\,V_B&=0 \end{aligned}

From the second equation, VB=0.7143 VDV_B=0.7143\,V_D. Substituting in the first:

0.3833VD−0.1786VD=2⇒VD=9.767 V,VB=6.977 V0.3833V_D-0.1786V_D=2 \Rightarrow V_D=9.767\ \text{V},\quad V_B=6.977\ \text{V}

Current through the 6 Ω resistor:

I6Ω=VD−VB6=9.767−6.9776=0.465 A (D→B)I_{6\Omega}=\frac{V_D-V_B}{6}=\frac{9.767-6.977}{6}=0.465\ \text{A}\ (D\to B)

Answer: I6Ω=0.465I_{6\Omega}=0.465 A, from D to B.

✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)

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