Network Theorems

Electric Ciruit
 An electric circuit is a complete or closed path through
which charge can flow from one terminal of an electrical
source to the other.

 It consists of four main parts or components:

 One that drives the electric charge round the circuit, e.g. a
battery;
 One on which the moving charge can do a useful job, e.g.
a lamp;
 Conductors to join them together, e.g. copper wire;
 Switches to break or complete the circuit. e.g. breaker
 Circuit Symbols

cell battery a.c. supply d.c. supply

open switch closed switch resistor variable resistor

fuse relay diode capacitor

transformer thermistor lamp ammeter

voltmeter light emitting diode magnetising coil bell buzzer

 Star-delta transformation

R1R2+ R2R3+ R1R3 RB RC

RA = 1
R1 R A +R B +R C

R1R2+ R2R3+ R1R3 RA RC

RB = 2
R2 R A +R B +R C

R1R2+ R2R3+ R1R3 RA RB

Rc = 3
R3 R A +R B +R C
Problem: Find the equivalent resistance between A and B in the network

Problem: Determined the current supplied by the battery

50
I= 5+2
=7.14 A
Problem: Find the branch current in the network
 Problem: Find the branch current in the network
Ans:

Applying KVL to the closed loop ‘abcda’ we get,

2=10I1 +5(I1 -I2 ) + 0.1I1

Or, 15.1I1 - 5I2 = 2 --------------------------1

Applying KVL to the closed loop ‘cdfec’ we get,

4 = 5(I1 -I2 ) – 4 – 0.2I2 - 20I2

Or, 5I1 - 25.2I2 = 4 ----------------------------2

Solving equation 1 and equation 2 , we get

I1 = 0.086 A and I2 = - 0.142 A

Problem: Find the I1, I2, and V for this network network
Problem: In the network find , and V
Ans:
Applying KCL to the node A,
V V
2 + 4V = 3 + 6
4
Or, V = - 7
V 4
1 = 3
= - 21
V 2
2 = 6
= - 21
Source transformation
Problem: Reduce the network into a single source and a single
resistance between A and B
 Network Theorems
• This cover fundamental theorems for network
analysis. They are :
• Superposition theorem
• Thevenin’s theorem
• Norton’s theorem
• Maximum power transfer theorem
 Linearity Property

• Linearity is the property of an element describing a linear

relationship between cause and effect. eg. Ohm’s law
• The property is a combination of both the homogeneity
(scaling) property and the additivity property.
• The homogeneity property requires that if the input (also
called the excitation) is multiplied by a constant, then the
output (also called the response) is multiplied by the same
constant.
• Ohm’s law relates the input i to the output v, then v=i*R
• If the current is increased by a constant k, then the voltage
increases correspondingly by k; that is,

• The additivity property requires that the response to a sum of

inputs is the sum of the responses to each input applied separately.
Using the voltage-current relationship of a resistor, if

• Then applying gives

• We say that a resistor is a linear element because the voltage-

current relationship satisfies both the homogeneity and the
additivity properties.
• In general, a circuit is linear if it is both additive and
homogeneous. A linear circuit consists of only linear elements,
linear dependent sources, and independent sources.
 Superposition Theorem
• The Superposition theorem states that if a
linear system is driven by more than one
independent power source, the total response is
the sum of the individual responses.
Or
• The superposition principle states that the voltage
across (or current through) an element in a linear
circuit is the algebraic sum of the voltages across (or
currents through) that element due to each
independent source acting alone.
Key Points:-
• This theorem is applicable to linear network and time varying
or invarying network.
• Voltage source are replaced by SC and current source by open
circuit.
• It is also applicable for circuit having initial condition.
• With dependent source, super position can be applied only
when the control function are external to the network
containing the source, so that controls are unchanged, as the
source act one at a time.
• This theorem directly can not applied to computation of power
because power is non linear.
 Superposition Theorem
In a network of linear resistance containing more than one source of EMF, the
current, which flows at any point is the algebraic sum of all the currents which
would flow at that point if each EMF where considered separately and all the
other EMFs replaced for the time being by resistances equal to their internal
resistance.
Step 2: when 20V is alone
20
I = 5+1.67 = 3 A
10
I``= 3
10+2

10
3.33+2
 Example-1: Using superposition principle determine the current through 2 ohm resistor
connected between A and B shown in the circuit here.

Solution: Figure
 Example-1: Refer to the Figure A, determine the branches
current using superposition theorem.

Figure 1

Solution:
• The application of the superposition theorem is
shown in Figure 1, where it is used to calculate
the branch current. We begin by calculating
the branch current caused by the voltage source
of 120 V. By substituting the ideal current with
open circuit, we deactivate the current source,
as shown in Figure 2.
 Figure 2

• To calculate the branch current, the node

voltage across the 3Ω resistor must be known.
Therefore
v 1  120 v 1 v1
  =0
6 3 24
where v1 = 30 V
• The equations for the current in each branch,

120  30
i'1 = = 15 A
6
30
i'2 = = 10 A
3
30
i3 = i4 =
' ' =5A
6

• In order to calculate the current cause by

the current source, we deactivate the ideal
voltage source with a short circuit, as shown
• The equations for the current in each branch,

120  30
i'1 = = 15 A
6
30
i'2 = = 10 A
3
30
i3 = i4 =
' ' =5A
6

• In order to calculate the current cause by

the current source, we deactivate the ideal
voltage source with a short circuit, as shown
• To determine the branch current, solve the
node voltages across the 3Ω dan 4Ω resistors as
shown in Figure 4

• The two node voltages are

v3 v3 v3  v4
  =0
3 6 2
v4  v3 v4
  12 = 0
2 4
•By solving these equations, we obtain
• v3 = -12 V
• v4 = -24 V
Now we can find the branches current,
• To find the actual current of the circuit, add the
currents due to both the current and voltage source,
 Thevenin Theorem
 Thevenin’s theorem states that a linear two-terminal 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
turned off/ deactivated.

OR
Thevenin's Theorem states that it
is possible to simplify any linear
Original circuit.
circuit, no matter how complex, to
an equivalent circuit with just a
single voltage source and series
resistance connected to a load.
Thevenin equivalent circuit.
Figure
Thévenin’s Theorem: A resistive circuit can be represented
by one voltage source and one resistor:

RTh
VTh

Resistive Circuit Thévenin Equivalent Circuit

Key Points:-
 First open the load at terminal a-b.
 The resistance Rth can be computed by 3 methods:-
1. Rth =Vth/In
Vth =Open circuit voltage=V0 (because load is open)
In= Short circuit current at terminal a-b.
2. In the absence of any dependent sources, the Rth is
equivalent to resistance at terminal a-b while making all voltage
sources Short Circuit and current source open circuit.
3. When circuit has dependent source, then connect 1A source
at terminal a–b and find V. This voltage Vab/1V is equal to Rth.
 For circuit consisting of only dependent sources, Vth = 0 but
Rth 0.
Steps to solve problem using Thevenin Theorem
1. Temporarily remove the resistance (called load resistance RL) whose current is
required.
2. Find the open-circuit voltage Voc which appears across the two terminals from
where resistance has been removed. It is also called Thevenin voltage Vth.
3. Compute the resistance of the whose network as looked into from these two
terminals after all voltage sources have been removed leaving behind their internal
resistances (if any) and current sources have been replaced by open-circuit i.e. infinite
resistance. It is also called Thevenin resistance Rth or Ti.
4. Replace the entire network by a single Thevenin source, whose voltage is Vth or
Voc and
whose internal resistance is Rth or Ri.
5. Connect RL back to its terminals from where it was previously removed.
6. Finally, calculate the current flowing through RL by using the equation,
I = Vth/(Rth + RL) or I = Voc/(Ri + RL)
Example: Convert the circuit shown in Fig. (a) to the Thevenin equivalent circuit

Thevenin circuit
Solution:
we have to find equivalent Thevenin circuit. For this purpose, we have to calculate
(i) Vth or VAB and (ii) Rth or RAB.
With terminals A and B open, the two voltage sources are connected in subtractive
series because they oppose each other. Net voltage around the circuit is
(15 10) = 5 V
Total resistance is: (8 + 4) = 12 ohm.
Hence circuit current is = 5/12 A.
Voltage Drop across 4 ohm resistor = 4x5/12 = 5/3 V with the polarity as shown in
Fig. (a).
VAB = Vth = + 10 + 5/3 = 35/3 V.
Incidently, we could also find VAB while going along the parallel route BFEA.
Drop across 8 ohm resistor = 8x5/12 = 10/3 V.
VAB equal the algebraic sum of voltages met on the way from B to A.
Hence, VAB = ( 10/3) + 15 = 35/3 V.
As shown in Fig. (b), the single voltage source has a voltage of 35/3 V.
For finding Rth, we will replace the two voltage sources by short-circuits.
In that case, Rth = RAB
= 4 || 8 = 8/3 ohm
 Example: Apply Thevenin theorem to calculate the current through the 4 ohm resistor of the
circuit of Fig.
Class work
problem by
B.L. thareja

Example: Calculate the value of Vth and Rth between terminals A and B of the circuit
shown in Fig.

Class work
problem
B.L. thareja

Example: Find Thevenin equivalent circuit for the network shown in Fig. 2.162 (a) which
contains a current controlled voltage source (CCVS).

Class work
problem
B.L. thareja
• Example
Refer to the Figure, find the Thevenin equivalent
circuit.

Figure 6

•Solution
• In order to find the Thevenin equivalent circuit for the
circuit shown in Figure 6, calculate the open circuit
voltage, vab. Note that when the a, b terminals are
open, there is no current flow to 4Ω resistor. Therefore,
the voltage vab is the same as the voltage across the 3A
current source, labeled v1.
• To find the voltage v1, solve the equations for the
singular node voltage. By choosing the bottom right
node as the reference node,
 v 1  25 v 1
 3  0
5 20
• By solving the equation, v1 = 32 V. Therefore, the
Thevenin voltage Vth for the circuit is 32 V.
• The next step is to short circuit the terminals and find
the short circuit current for the circuit shown in Figure
7. Note that the current is in the same direction as the
falling voltage at the terminal.

Figure 7
Current isc can be found if v2 is known. By using the bottom
right node as the reference node, the equationfor v2 becomes
By solving the above equation, v2 = 16 V. Therefore, the short circuit
current isc is
v 2  25 v 2 v
 3 2  0
5 20 4

The Thevenin resistance RTh is

Figure 8 shows the Thevenin equivalent circuit for the Figure 6.

Figure 8
 Norton Theorem
 Norton’s theorem states that a linear two-terminal circuit can be replaced
by an equivalent circuit consisting of a current source In in parallel with a
resistor Rn, where In is the short-circuit current through the terminals and
Rn is the input or equivalent resistance at the terminals when the
independent sources are turned off/ deactivated.

 Thevenin and Norton resistances are equal; that is,

OR
Norton's Theorem states that it is possible to
simplify any linear circuit, no matter how complex, to
an equivalent circuit with just a single current source
and parallel resistance connected to a load.
(a) Original circuit,
(b) Norton equivalent circuit.
 Key Points:-
• Norton equivalent current IN=Vth/Rth
• To find , RN it follows the 3 methods as given for
Thevenin circuit.
• Can be obtained in same manner as Rth.

 Here to determine the Thevenin or Norton equivalent circuit requires that we

find:
• The open-circuit voltage across terminals a and b.
• The short-circuit current at terminals a and b.
• The equivalent or input resistance at terminals a and b when all independent
sources are turned off.
Example:
Derive the Thevenin and Norton equivalent circuits of
Figure .

• Solution
• Step 1: Source transformation (The 25V voltage
source is converted to a 5 A current source.)
Step 2: Combination of parallel source and parallel resistance

Step 3: Source transformation (combined serial resistance to produce the

Thevenin equivalent circuit.)
• Step 4: Source transformation (To produce the
Norton equivalent circuit. The current source is 4A
(I = V/R = 32 V/8 ))

8
4A

Figure 9 Steps in deriving Thevenin and Norton equivalent circuits.

 Maximum Power Transfer
 Maximum power transfer can be illustrated by
Figure 10. Assume that a resistance network
contains independent and dependent sources, and
terminals a and b to which the resistance RL is
connected. Then determine the value of RL that
allows the delivery of maximum power to the load
resistor.

Resistance network
which contains
dependent and
independent
sources

Figure 10
 Maximum power transfer happens when the load
resistance RL is equal to the Thevenin equivalent
resistance, RTh. To find the maximum power delivered
to RL,

2
2
VTh R L VTh
pmax = =
2R L  2
4R L