EEE121: ELECTRIC CIRCUIT 1

CHAPTER 2: CIRCUIT THEOREMS AND APPLICATION TO DC CIRCUITS

NOOR HASLIZA BINTI ABDUL RAHMAN

CIRCUIT THEOREMS AND APPLICATION
TO DC CIRCUITS
2.1 Basic Law.
2.1.1 Ohm’s Laws.
2.1.2 Kirchhoff’s Laws.
2.2 Voltage Divider Rule (VDR) & Current Divider Rule (CDR)
2.3 Nodal Analysis
2.4 Mesh Analysis
2.5 Source Transformation
2.6 Superposition Theorem
2.7 Thevenin Theorem
2.8 Norton Theorem
2.9 Maximum Power Transfer
 2.1.1 Ohm’s Law
 Ohm’s law states that the voltage across a
resistor is directly proportional to the current I
flowing through the resistor.

 Mathematical expression for Ohm’s Law is as

follows:
v  iR
 Two extreme possible values of R: 0
(zero) and  (infinite) are related with two
basic circuit concepts: short circuit and open
circuit.
 2.1.1 Ohm’s Law
 Conductance is the ability of an element to conduct
electric current; it is the reciprocal of resistance R
and is measured in mhos or siemens.
1 i
G 
R v
 The power dissipated by a resistor:

2
v
p  vi  i 2 R 
R
2.1.2 Kirchhoff’s Laws.

 Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL)

 Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL)

Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL)
 Kirchhoff’s current law (KCL) states that the algebraic sum of currents
entering a node (or a closed boundary) is zero.

N
Mathematically, i
n 1
n 0
Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL)
Example

IT + I 2 = I 1 + I 3

IT = I 1 + I 3 - I2

IT = I 1 - I2 + I 3
Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL)
8A

i2
2A
12 A
10 A B
A i3
14 A
i1

C
4A
 At A, 2  12  i1 
 i1  14 A

 At B,
12  i2  14 
 i2  2 A
 At C,
14  4  i3 
 i3  10 A
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL)
 Kirchhoff’s voltage law (KVL) states that the algebraic
sum of all voltages around a closed path (or loop) is
zero.

M
Mathematically,
v
m 1
n 0
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL)
Series & Parallel Connections
Example

For the circuit below, find voltages v1 and v2.

2.2 Voltage Divider Rule (VDR)
2.2 Current Divider Rule (CDR)
Exercise
Find the followings:
i. v1 and v2 (use voltage divider rule)
ii. i1 and i2 (use current divider rule)
iii. Power dissipated in12- and 40-
2.3 Nodal Analysis
Example 1 – circuit independent
current source only

Apply KCl at
v1 v2
node 1 and 2

answer v1 = -2V, v2 = -14V

 Example 2

Find V1 and V2 using nodal analysis

Ans: V1 = 13.33V
V2 = 20V
Example 3 – current with dependant
current source

Answer: v1= 4.8V, v2 = 2.4V, v3 = -2.4V

 Example 4

Find V1 and V2 using nodal analysis Ans: V1 = 80V

V2 = -64V V3 =156V
 Supernode
Formed by enclosing a (dependent / independent)
voltage source connected between two non-
reference nodes.
Example 5: Find V1 ,V2 and V3 using
nodal analysis.

Ans:
V1 = -7.333 V
V2 = -5.333 V
2.4 Mesh Analysis

1. Mesh analysis provides another general procedure for

analyzing circuits using mesh currents as the circuit
variables.

2. Nodal analysis applies KCL to find unknown voltages

in a given circuit, while mesh analysis applies KVL to
find unknown currents.

3. A mesh is a loop which does not contain any other

loops within it.
Example 1 – circuit with independent voltage
sources

Note:
i1 and i2 are mesh current (imaginative, not measurable directly)
I1, I2 and I3 are branch current (real, measurable directly)
I1 = i1; I2 = i2; I3 = i1 - i2
Example 2– circuit with current source
Example 3 – Find i using mesh analysis

Ans: i = 1.118 A
Example 4– circuit with dependent voltage
source

answer Io = 1.5A
 Supermesh
A supermesh results when two loops have a (dependent or independent)
current source in common as shown in (a).

Supermesh created by excluding the current source and any elements

connected in series with it as shown in (b).
Example 5
Find i1, i2 and i3 using mesh analysis

i1 = 3.474 A
i2 = 1.1052A
i3 = 0.4737A
 NODAL ANALYSIS vs MESH ANALYSIS
To select the method that results in the smaller number of equations.
For example:

- Choose nodal analysis for circuit with fewer nodes than loops.

- Choose mesh analysis for circuit with fewer loops than nodes.

- Networks that contain many series connected elements, voltage sources,

or supermeshes are more suitable for mesh analysis.

- Networks with parallel-connected elements, current sources, or

supernodes are more suitable for nodal analysis.

- If node voltages are required, it may be expedient to apply nodal

analysis. If branch or mesh currents are required, it may be better to
use mesh analysis.
2.5 Source Transformation
 Tool to simplify circuits.
 Process to replace a voltage source, VS in series with resistor, R by a
current source, IS parallel with a resistor, R.

40
 • The arrow of the
current source is
directed toward
the positive
(a) Independent source transform terminal of the
voltage source.

• The source
transformation is
not possible when
R = 0 for voltage
source and R = ∞
(b) Dependent source transform for current source.
Example 1: Use source transformation
to find VO

42
Example 2: Find IO using source
transformation

Answer: IO = 1.78A

43
Example 3: Find VX using source
transformation

Answer: VX = 7.5V

44
2.6 Superposition Theorem

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 may be considered for circuit analysis when:
- There are two or more energy sources.
- These source can be either voltage or current sources.

 Consider only 1 independent source turn ON at a time.

The others independent sources are turn OFF.
Voltage Source – short circuit
Current Source – open circuit

 Dependent source are left intact since they are controlled by circuit
variables.
Steps to apply Superposition Theorem

1. Turn OFF all independent sources except one source.

2. Find the output (voltage or current) due to that active

source using suitable circuit theorem analysis.

3. Repeat step 1 for each of the other independent sources.

4. Find the total contribution by adding algebraically all the

contributions due to the independent sources.
Ans: V = V1 + V2 = 10V
Ans: Vx = V1 + V2 = 12.5V
Exercise 1 Exercise 2
Determine Vo by using Superposition Theorem: By using Superposition Theorem, find the current through 12Ω

Ans: Io = 1.33A
Ans: Vo = 6.8V
2.7 Thevenin Theorem

THEVENIN 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.
 Steps to apply Thevenin Theorem
Independent Source Dependent Source
 Finding RTH  Finding VTH
 Turn off all independent  Remove the load by open circuit at
source terminal a-b
 Remove the load at  VTH is voltage across open circuit
terminal a-b terminal
 RTH is looking at terminal  Finding RTH
a-b
 Find the ISC by
 Finding VTH short circuit the a-b terminal
 Remove the load by open
circuit at terminal a-b
VTH
 VTH is voltage across open
circuit terminal
RTH 
I SC
Example 1 ( circuit with only independent sources)

Find the Thevenin equivalent circuit of the circuit shown below to the
left of the terminals a-b..

(a) Find RTh (b) Find VTh

Ans: RTH = 4,, VTH = 30V
Practice 1 ( circuit with only independent sources)
Using Thevenin’s theorem, find the equivalent circuit to the left of the
terminals in the circuit shown below. Hence find i.

answer VTH = 6V, RTH = 3, i = 1.5A

Example 2 ( Circuit with independent & dependent sources)

Find the Thevenin equivalent circuit of the circuit shown below at terminals
a-b.

VTH
RTH 
Isc I SC

(a) Find VTh (b) Find Isc (c) Find RTH

Practice 2 ( Circuit with independent & dependent sources)

Find the Thevenin equivalent circuit of the circuit shown below to

the left of the terminals.

answer VTH = 5.33V, RTH = 3

2.8 Norton Theorem

NORTON 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.
Steps to apply Norton Theorem

Independent Source Dependent Source

 Finding ZN  Finding VTH
 Turn off all independent  Remove the load by open circuit at
source terminal a-b
 ZN = ZTH  VTH is voltage across open circuit
terminal
 Finding ISC  Finding RN
 Short circuit at terminal  Find the ISC by
a-b
short circuit the a-b terminal

 IN 
VTH VTH
I SC
RN
RN 
I SC
Example 1 ( circuit with only independent sources)
Find Norton equivalent circuit at terminal

Isc

(a) Find RN (b) Find Isc Ans: RN = 4, ISC = 1A

Example 2 ( Circuit with independent & dependent sources)

Find the Norton equivalent circuit of the circuit shown below at terminals a-b.

VTH
RN 
I SC
(a) Find VTh (b) Find Isc (c) Find RN

Ans: RN = 1, IN = 10A

2.9 Maximum Power Transfer

MAXIMUM POWER is transferred to the load when

the load resistance equals the Thevenin Resistance
as seen from the load (RL = RTh).

 Occur when RL equals to RTH (RL=RTH)

 Use to analyze the power transfer from source to a load.
 The efficiency of the power transfer
 Amount of the power transfer.
If the entire circuit is replaced by
its Thevenin equivalent except for
the load, the power delivered to
the load is:
2
 VTh 
Pmax  i RL  
2
 RL
 RTh  RL 

For maximum power dissipated

in RL, Pmax, for a given RTh,
and VTh,
2
V
RL  RTH  Pmax  Th
4 RL
The power transfer profile with
different RL
Example 1
Find the value of RL for maximum power transfer. Hence,
find the maximum power transfer.
Example 2
Determine the value of RL that will draw the maximum
power transfer. Hence, calculate the maximum power
transfer.

Ans: RL = 4.22, Pm = 2.091 W