CIRCUIT THEOREMS

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.
LINEARITY PROPERTY
 LINEARITY PROPERTY
Linearity is the property of an element describing a linear relationship
between cause and effect.

The property is a combination of both the homogeneity (scaling) property

and the additivity property.

A linear circuit is one whose output is linearly related (or directly

proportional) to its input.
 LINEARITY PROPERTY
The homogeneity property requires that if the input (excitation) is
multiplied by a constant, then the output (response) is multiplied by the
same constant.
𝑘𝑖𝑅 = 𝑘𝑣
The additivity property requires that the response to a sum of inputs is the
sum of the responses to each input applied separately.

𝑣 = 𝑖1 + 𝑖2 𝑅 = 𝑖1 𝑅 + 𝑖2 𝑅 = 𝑣1 + 𝑣2

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

relationship satisfies both the homogeneity and the additivity properties.
 Example 1
Solve for voltages 𝐼𝑜 when 𝑣𝑠 = 12𝑉
and 𝑣𝑠 = 24𝑉.

Substitute eq. 3 in eq. 1

1

Adding equations 1 and 2

3
Example 2
Assume 𝐼𝑜 = 1𝐴 and use linearity
to find the actual value of 𝐼𝑜 .
SUPERPOSITION
 SUPERPOSITION
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. Superposition does help reduce a complex circuit to simpler
circuits through replacement of voltage sources by short circuits and of
current sources by open circuits.
 Example 3
Use superposition theorem to
solve for 𝑣.

*6V acting alone: *3A acting alone:

Apply KVL to the loop Using current division
Example 4
Use superposition theorem to
solve for 𝑖.

*12V acting alone:

 Example 4
Use superposition theorem to
solve for 𝑖.

Solving eq. 1 and 2 simultaneously

*24V acting alone:

Applying mesh analysis
1

2
 Example 4
Use superposition theorem to
solve for 𝑖.

Solving eq. 1 and 2 simultaneously

*3A acting alone:

Applying nodal analysis

2
SOURCE TRANSFORMATION
 SOURCE TRANSFORMATION
A source transformation is the process of replacing a voltage source 𝑣𝑠 in
series with a resistor 𝑅 by a current source 𝑖𝑠 in parallel with a resistor 𝑅, or
vice versa.
Example 5
Use source transformation to
solve for 𝑣𝑜 .

Use current division

Example 5
Use source transformation to
solve for 𝑣𝑥 .

Applying KVL around (b)

1

Applying KVL to the loop containing only the 3V source

2

Solving eq. 1 and 2 simultaneously

THEVENIN’S THEOREM
 THEVENIN’S 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.
Example 6
Find the Thevenin equivalent to the left of terminals a-b.
Then find the current through 𝑅𝐿 = 6, 16, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 36 Ω
 Example 6
Find the Thevenin equivalent to the left of terminals a-b.
Then find the current through 𝑅𝐿 = 6, 16, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 36 Ω

Applying mesh analysis on loop 1

Applying mesh analysis on loop 2

NORTON’S THEOREM
 NORTON’S 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.
Example 7
Find the Norton equivalent at
terminals a-b.