Lab Report

Introduction
In this lab, we will learn and understand a very important toll of circuit analysis. We will
study Thevenins theorem. We will replace a circuit with its Thevenin Equivalent Circuit and
see how it affects the characteristics of the circuit. We will also see how a complex circuit can
be replaced with a very simple one with a single voltage source in series with a single
resistance for the purpose of analysis or any other purpose. Our main objective for the lab is
to verify, understand and analyze thevenin equivalent circuits practically, through software
and as well as theoretically.
Theory
Thevenins theorem
Thevenins theorem states that any linear two-terminal circuit (Fig. 1a) can be
replaced by an equivalent circuit (Fig. 1b) consisting of a voltage source VTH in series with a
resistance RTH where
VTH is the open-circuit voltage at the terminals, and

RTH is the equivalent resistance seen thru the terminals provided that all the
independent sources are turned off.
Figure 1a: A linear two-terminal circuit Figure 1b: Thevenin equivalent circuit
Finding VTH: Determine the output voltage Vab in open-circuit condition (no load resistor
meaning infinite resistance). This is known as the Thevenin voltage VTH.
i.e. VTH = Vab = VOC (open-circuit voltage)
+
a
Circuit - V Voltmeter
b
Finding RTH: There are different methods to find value of RTH as described below.
1. Method A: (By measuring ISC short-circuit current)

Short the points a and b, then measure the short-circuit current ISC using an ammeter.
Calculate RTH as follows,
RTH = VTH / ISC (1)
ISC
a
Circuit A Ammeter
b
2. Method B: (By measuring the equivalent resistance)
Remove all sources from the circuit, i.e. replace all voltage sources with a short-circuit
and current sources with an open-circuit. Then with the help of a multimeter find the
resistance between the points a and b, denoted by Req.
RTH = Req (2)
a Req
Turn-off all the sources Multimeter
b
3. Method C: (By applying known voltage and measuring source current)
We can also find RTH by applying a known voltage to the circuit between points a and
b, then measuring the current from the voltage source. Suppose 1 Vdc is applied as the
test voltage then,
RTH = Vtest / I (3)
Ammeter I
a Req A
Turn-off all the sources +
- Vtest
b
4. Method D: (By inserting two different resistors and measuring current)
There is another method to find the value of RTH, by inserting two different loads between
points a and b i.e. insert resistors R1 and then R2 one by one and write expression for
the current through that particular resistor as given below,
Current through the resistor R1 :- I1
I1 = VTH / (RTH + R1) (4) a
Circuit R1
b
Current through the resistor R2 :- I2

I2 = VTH / (RTH + R2) (5) a
Circuit R2
b
Simultaneously solving equations (4)-(5) will give the value of RTH.

Results
1. Determine Thevenin Equivalent circuit and record the calculated value of current and
voltage through the 270 ohm resistor.
Calculation are in Figure 2.

Vth = Eoc = 4.52V
Rth = 936 ohm
V270 calculated = 1.01 V
I270 calculated = 3.7 mA
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
2. Measure the voltage across 270 ohm resistor.
Measured Values
Vth= Eoc = 4.52V
V270 measured = 1.39 V
3. Use Multisim to find VAB for the Wheatstone Bridge

Multisim Simulation
Discussion on Results
In this lab we verified the thevenin equivalent circuit. We were given a wheatstone
bridge. We found open circuit voltage Voc and Rth. We replaced wheatstone bridge
circuit with the thevenin equivalent circuit by replacing Voc and Rth values. The
objective was to replace the entire circuit with a thevenin equivalent so that the circuit
shows the same behavior with a voltage source in series with a resistance so that the
circuit can be reduced in size and complexity. We measured the V value across the
load resistance in the original as well as the thevenin equivalent circuit and listed
them in table 1. When we compare the V value for original and thevenin circuit for
the same load resistance, we observe that the values are quite close to each other and
there is only a negligible difference explained by some experimental errors that may
occur during an experiment. Thus, the thevenin equivalent circuit is verified at it gives
approximately the same current and voltage values for load resistance as the original
circuit.
Laboratory Questions
1. Write a summary statement concerning Thevenins Theorem.
The objective of the thevenin theorem is to replace the entire circuit with a thevenin
equivalent so that the circuit shows the same behavior with a voltage source in series
with a resistance so that the circuit can be reduced in size and complexity. We
measured the V value across the load resistance in the original as well as the thevenin
equivalent circuit and observed that it was close enough with the difference explain by
experimental errors.
Conclusion
In this lab, we verified the thevenin theorem. We replaced a given wheatstone bridge circuit
with the thevenin equivalent circuit. The objective was to replace the entire circuit with a
thevenin equivalent so that the circuit shows the same behavior with a voltage source in
series with a resistance so that the circuit can be reduced in size and complexity. We
measured the V value across the load resistance in the original as well as the thevenin
equivalent circuit and compared the V value for original and thevenin circuit for the same
load resistance to find out that the values are quite close to each other and there is only a
negligible difference explained by some experimental errors that may occur during an
experiment. Also, the software simulation results matched. So, the conclusion is that we
replace any linear two-terminal by an equivalent circuit consisting of a voltage source VTH in
series with a resistance RTH such that the output characteristics of the circuit remains the same.

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Introduction

VTH is the open-circuit voltage at the terminals, and

1. Method A: (By measuring ISC short-circuit current)

2. Method B: (By measuring the equivalent resistance)

3. Method C: (By applying known voltage and measuring source current)

Current through the resistor R2 :- I2

Simultaneously solving equations (4)-(5) will give the value of RTH.

Calculation are in Figure 2.

3. Use Multisim to find VAB for the Wheatstone Bridge

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