EF132 BASIC ELECTRICALENGINEERING

Spring 2019
 Chapter 4

Circuit Theorems
LEARNING OUTCOMES / OUTLINE

 Introduction
 Linearity Circuits & Superposition
 Source Transformation
 Thevenin’s Theorem
 Norton’s Theorem

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 4.1 Introduction
• A major advantage of analyzing circuits using Kirchhoff’s laws as we did in
Chapter 3 is that we can analyze a circuit without tampering with its original
configuration. A major disadvantage of this approach is that, for a
large, complex circuit, tedious computation is involved.

• To handle the complexity, engineers over the years have developed

some theorems to simplify circuit analysis. Such theorems include
Thevenin’s and Norton’s theorems.

• Since these theorems are applicable to linear circuits, we first discuss the
concept of circuit linearity.

• In addition to circuit theorems, we discuss the concepts of superposition,

source transformation, and maximum power transfer in this chapter.
POWER RELATIONSHIP IS NON LINEAR

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PRINCIPLE OF SUPERPOSITION(1)

• Based on linearity property

• Because the circuit is linear we can find the response of the

circuit to each source acting alone, and then add them up to
find the response of the circuit to all sources acting together.
This is known as the superposition principle.

• Statement
The voltage across (current through) an element is the
algebraic sum of the voltage across (current through)
that element due to each independent source acting alone.
PRINCIPLE OF SUPERPOSITION(2)

• Since the effect of each source will be determined

independently, the number of networks to be analyzed
will equal the number of sources

• The total power delivered to a resistive element must be

determined using the total current through or the total voltage
across the element and cannot be determined by a simple sum
of the power levels established by each source.
 Steps in Applying the Superposition
Principle

1. Turn off all independent sources except one.

Find the output (voltage or current) due to the
active source.
2. Repeat step 1 for each of the other independent
sources.
3. Find the total output by adding algebraically all
of the results found in steps 1 & 2 above.

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 Example 1

v  v v
1 1

 2  8  10 V
 Example 2

i  i '  i"
0 0 0

= +
 Example 3

i  i i i
1 2 3
Example 4.5 : In the circuit below, find the current i by
superposition
 24V

DC

 Turn off the two voltage sources

 
(replace by short circuits).

 Turn off one of the two voltage

DC
12V

3A
sources (replace by short circuits) and
i a current source(replace by open
circuit)

 Repeat step 2

 Add the calculated current from the

above three steps

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Example: In the circuit below, find the current i by superposition

 24V

DC

  Turn off the 24V & 3A sources:

DC
12V

3A

24
  24V

DC

 

DC
12V

3A

(8+4) // 4



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Example: In the circuit below, find the current i by superposition

 24V

DC Turn off the 3A & 12V sources:

 

DC
12V

3A

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Example: In the circuit below, find the current i by superposition

 24V

DC Turn off the 24V & 12V sources:

 

DC
12V

3A

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  24V

DC

  i  i  i  i  1A  2A 1A  2A
1 2 3
DC
12V

3A

   24V

DC
i1 i
2

 v1  v    
2

12V DC
 12V
i
3A i2  
O.C. 3 O.C.
i i2 i
1
3

i1  1 i2  2 i3  1
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 NOTE
• Source transform is done only in one or
two parts (few part ) of the circuit
containing voltage or current sources.
• We don’t need to transform the whole
circuit
 Thevenin's Theorem
Thevenin’s theorem states that a linear two-terminal resistive circuit can be
replaced by an equivalent circuit consisting of a voltage source VTh in series with
a resistor RTh, where VTh is the open-circuit voltage at the terminals, and RTh is
the input or equivalent resistance at the terminals when the independent sources
are all turned off.

i a i a
RTh
Linear
Circuit RL RL
DC VTh

b b

Rin Rin
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 Thevenin's Theorem
Thevenin’s theorem states that the two circuits given below are equivalent as seen
from the load RL that is the same in both cases.

i a
i a
RTh
Linear
RL RL
Circuit DC VTh

b b

Rin Rin

VTh = Thevenin’s voltage = Vab with RL disconnected (= ) = the open-circuit

voltage = VOC

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 Thevenin's Theorem
i a i a
RTh
Linear
RL RL
Circuit DC VTh

b b

Rin Rin

RTh = Thevenin’s resistance = the input resistance with all independent sources
turned off (voltage sources replaced by short circuits and current sources
replaced by open circuits). This is the resistance seen at the terminals ab when
all independent sources are turned off.

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Thevenin's Theorem

A simple voltage divider

VTh
IL 
RTh  RL
RL
VL  R L I L  VTh
RTh  RL
Steps for Thevenin’s Equivalent
 Example
V
RTh  5
  2
Th
  a iSC 2.5
DC
10V
 vOC  2 10V  5V  V
Th
RTh  2
22 a

DC VTh  5V
b
  a

2 10
DC
10V iSC  102 3   2.5A
 2 4
3 b
  a

2 2
b R  1  2
 Th
22

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b
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 Norton’s Theorem

RN  RTh  Rin
Norton equivalent circuit
Example

I N RN
=
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