On the Nature of Mesh Currents

This short paper provides a physical interpretation of the mesh current by demonstrating that it is nothing more than the total current circulating around the associated mesh or "hole" in the network. This point of view implies the possibility of direct measurement of mesh currents by "clamp-on" ammeters. Thus, the student is provided with the conceptual advantage he has long held in the dual situation of nodal analysis, where he could easily visualize direct measurement of the dependent variables. The formulation presented allows the student to consider the mesh current as a "real" rather than "fictitious" currents, and facilitates the transformations between mesh, link, and branch currents.