Experiment – 4

Aim: To verify the Thevenin’s theorem.

Apparatus:
 Power supply
 Resistors
 Resistance Box
 Bread board
 Connecting wires and
 Digital multimeter.

Theory:
STATEMENT OF THEVENIN’S THEOREM

Thevenin’s theorem states that any two terminal linear network or circuit can be replaced with an equivalent
network or circuit, which consists of a voltage source in series with a resistor. The voltage is called Thevenin’s
voltage, VTh. and the resistance is the Thevenin’s resistor, RTh. The voltage across the voltage source is equal to the
open circuit voltage between the terminals of the network and the resistance is the resistance between the
terminals when all the energy sources are removed, but not their impedances. It is known as Thevenin’s equivalent
circuit. A linear circuit may contain independent sources, dependent sources, and resistors. This theorem is useful to
quickly and easily solve complex linear circuits and networks, especially electric circuits and electronic networks.

FOR DC SOURCES

Explaination:

Consider a network or a circuit as shown. Let E be the emf of the cell having its internal

resistance r=0. RL → load resistance across AB.

To find VTh:

The load resistance RL is removed. The current I in the circuit is I = .

The voltage across AB = Thevenin’s voltage VTh.

VTh = IR2 => .

To find RTh:

The load resistance R, is removed.

The effective resistance across AB= Thevenin’s resistance RTh .

𝑅 =𝑅 + [ R1 is parallel to R2 and this combination in series with R3 ]

( )
If the circuit has internal resistance r, then VTh = and RTh = R3 + .

VERIFICATION OF THE THEOREM

Consider the network as shown below

The equivalent circuit is given by

The effective resistance of the network in (1) is R3 and RL in series and this combination is parallel to R2 which in turn
is in series with R1.
 ( )
Thus, Reff = 𝑅 + …………. (1)

The current I in the circuit is I = = ( )

( )
Or I= ……… (2)

The current through the load resistance (I’) is found using branch current method.

I’ = ………. (3)

Substituting for VTh and RTh from (5) and (6) in (7), we get

From equations (4) and (8), it is observed that I’ = I”.

Hence, Thevenin’s theorem is verified.

 PROBLEMS
Problem 1:

To find VTh:

The load resistance R4 is removed. The current I in the circuit is I = .

The voltage across AB = Thevenin’s voltage VTh.

VTh = IR2 => .

So, 𝑉 = 10𝑉

To find RTh:

The load resistance R, is removed.

The effective resistance across AB= Thevenin’s resistance RTh .

𝑅 =𝑅 + [ R1 is parallel to R2 and this combination in series with R3 ]

So, 𝑅 = 150Ω
Problem 2:

To find VTh:

The load resistance R7 is removed.

The voltage across DH = Thevenin’s voltage VTh.

Calculate Req.

R3 and R6 are in series.

R36 = 15 Ω

R36 and R5 are in parallel.

R365 = Ω

R365 and R2 are in series.

R3652 = Ω

R3652 and R4 are in parallel.

R36524 = Ω

R36524 and R1 are in series.

R365241 = Ω

Total current in circuit, I = = A

Voltage along BF = VBF = IR36524 = V

Current in arm BCG, I = = A

Voltage along CG, VCG = ICG x R365 = V

Current in arm DH, IDH = = A

Voltage along DH = VTh

So, VTh = IDH*R6 = 20/41 = 0.487 V

Hence, VTh = 0.487 V

And we calculate Thevenin’s resistance by removing the voltage source.

R1 and R4 are in parallel.

R14 = Ω

R14 and R2 are in series.

R142 = Ω

R142 and R5 are in parallel.

R1425 = Ω

R1425 and R3 are in series.

R14253 = Ω

R14253 and R6 are in parallel.

R142536 = Ω

Hence, RTh = = 3.658 Ω

To verify this result, calculate the result though R7 in the given circuit and Thenenin’s circuit and then compare the
values. If I(given circuit) = I(Thevenin’s circuit)

Then RTh and VTh are correct.

The current through R7 = I - I1 - I2 - I3 = 0.0563 A

By applying Kirchhoff’s law on four loops, we get

10I + 5I1 – 20 = 0 …….(1)

10(I - I1) + 5I2 – 5I1 = 0

 10I - 15I1 + 5I2 = 0 ……(2)

10(I – I1 – I2) + 5 I3 - 5 I2 = 0

 10I – 10I1 – 15I2 + 5I3 = 0 …….(3)

5(I – I1 – I2 - I3) – 5I3 = 0

 5I - 5I1 - 5I2 -10 I3 = 0 ……..(4)

Solving above equations, we get

I = 1.46564 A
I1 = 1.06870 A
I3 = 0.27480 A
I4 = 0.03043 A
 Current through R7,

I’ = I - I1 - I2 - I3

 I’ = 0.0563 A

The current through 5 Ω resistor is

I’ = = 0.0563 A

So, the values of current in both circuit is same.

EXPERIMENTAL VERIFICATION

Given circuit,

To calculate VTh we will remove R7 (RL) and the calculate voltage along R6.

So, the Thevenin’s voltage = 0.487V

To verify this result, calculate the current through R7 in the given circuit and Thevenin’s circuit and then compare the
values.

If I (given circuit) = I(Thevenin’s circuit)

Then RTh and VTh are correct.

Current in R7 = 56.338 mA in given circuit.

Current in R7 = 56.338 mA in Thevenin’s circuit.

Since, I (given circuit) = I (Thevenin’s circuit)

The values are verified

Observations:

Thevenin’s resistance =3.658 Ω

Thevenin’s voltage = 0.487 V

Current in R7 = 56.338 mA ,when RL = 5Ω