DC Circuits and Network Theorems
DC Circuits and Network Theorems
DC Circuits and Network Theorems
1. Introduction :
Network is an electrical configuration in which various components such as resistors, capacitors, inductors etc. and voltage sources or current sources are electrically connected to each other. A network can also be called as a circuit.
The networks can be DC or AC depending on the type of source involved. For the DC circuits, the voltage and current sources are DC whereas AC sources are connected in the AC circuits. Example of a DC source is a battery and that of an AC source is the AC mains supply.
2. Fundamentals of DC Circuit :
1. Review of Ohms Law :
Statement :
The Ohms law gives the relation between the voltage, current and resistance for good conductors.
It states that the electric current (I) passing through a capacitor is directly proportional to the
potential difference (V) applied across the conductor. i.e. I V.
Mathematically it is given by I = V/R Where R = constant of proportionality known as resistance of the conductor in ohm.
Explanation :
The equation I = V/R may also be expressed as in the following ways V =I.R
The meaning of Eq. is that whenever there is a current through the conductor, the potential
difference (or voltage drop) across its two ends is equal to the product of the current (I) passing through it and the resistance (R) of the conductor.
Similarly, the Eq. I = V/R says that the ratio of potential difference (V) across the two ends of a conductor to the current (I) passing through the conductor is constant and is equal to the resistance (R) of the conductor.
2. Electrical Circuits :
Introduction :
In actual practice, a charge of many billions of electrons or protons is necessary for common applications of electricity.
An electron charge has a potential to do some work by moving another charge either by attraction or repulsion.
If one electric charge is different from the other, then there is a difference of potential between
them.
It means no work can be done in moving electrons between the two identical electrical charges. The potential difference is generally called voltage and its unit is volt (V). The potential difference is also called as electro motive force (e.m.f.). Voltage is used to denote the voltage drop across the passive components (i.e. resistor, capacitor, inductor).
The e.m.f. is used to denote the potential difference of voltage source. The unit of voltage or e.m.f. is volt (V). The movement of the electric charge is called as an electric current. The electric current is always produced due to the potential difference between the two charges.
Concept :
The combination of electrical devices, voltage source and load connected together to form a connecting path for the flow of electric current is called as an electric circuit. It is also known as
an electrical network.
The electric circuits fulfill a desired function, such as to light bulb, heat a toaster etc.
Characteristics :
There must be a source of voltage. Without the applied voltage, the electric current cannot flow. There must be a complete path for electric current to flow from one side of the applied voltage
source, through the external circuit and returning to the other side of the voltage source.
Usually, the current path has some value of resistance, whose purpose is either to generate the current or limit the amount of current.
An electrical circuit is said to be open , when any part of the conducting path is open or broken and there is no continuity in the conducting path of an electrical circuit.
The open circuit may be in the connecting wires or in the load resistance.
An open circuit gives rise to the following two effects ; 1. The resistance of the open circuit is infinitely high. 2. There is no flow of current in an open-circuit.
Fig. shows an open-circuit in a load resistance (i.e. load). As a result the resistance between two points A and B is infinity (i.e. RAB =) and there is no flow of electric current through the load resistance (i.e. IAB = 0).
If there is open in a series d.c. circuit, then there is no voltage across the resistor.
The open in a parallel d.c. circuit may be of two types, namely an open in the main line and an
open in the branch line.
If there is an open in any one of the main lines, then there is no flow of current in all the branch lines but the voltage across that open line is equal to the applied source voltage.
If there is an open in any one of the branch lines, then there is no flow of electric current in that branch lines only.
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Short Circuit :
An electrical circuit is said to be short when the voltage source has a closed path across its terminals.
The short circuit results in too much flow of electric current in the electric circuit.
Usually, the short circuit is a bypass across the load resistance. A short may occur due to a component failure or wiring error in the electrical circuit. A short may cause some problem due to excessively high current in the electric circuit, even
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A short circuit gives rise to the following two effects : 1. The resistance of short circuit is zero. So, there is no voltage drop across the short circuit path.
2. There is a large flow of electric current through the short circuit and it is referred to as short
circuit current. Fig shows a short circuit across load resistor.
As a result of this, the resistance between two point A and B is zero and there is large flow of electric current through the short circuit.
In a series d.c circuit, the short circuit of the load resistor or any other series resistor may cause the flow of excessively high current in the electrical circuit. This, in turn, causes the power dissipation.
A short in a parallel circuit may occur, if both the terminals of any branch are short circuited and get directly connected across the applied voltage source. This circuit draws almost an infinite value of electric current, because the resistance of the connecting wires is negligible.
As a result of this, the wires may get heated and even burn out unless the electrical circuit is not protected by a fuse.
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Statement : It states that the algebraic sum of the products of current (I) and resistance (R) in each of the conductors in any closed loop or mesh in a network plus the algebraic sum of the emfs in that loop is zero.
Circuit Diagram :
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Consider the above circuit E is a voltage source across which a resistor connected. There will be a flow of current I through the resistor R. There will be a voltage drop across the resistor R due to the flow of current I from high potential (+) to low potential (-).
This is termed as voltage drop and it is considered to be negative (i.e. IR). The same current I flows through the voltage source from low potential (-) to high potential (+) and this is termed as voltage rise.
Thus in any closed loop circuit, the algebraic sum of voltage rise is equal to the algebraic sum of
voltage drop.
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Statement : It states that the algebraic sum of currents at any point (junction or node) in a network is zero.
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The Maxwells loop current method is best suited for the electrical circuit having voltage sources rather than current sources.
Maxwells loop current theorem is an extension of Kirchhoffs voltage law (KVL) but here loop currents rather than the branch currents are considered in solving the problems.
Consider the network comprising of three loops 1,2 and 3, and two voltage sources V1 and V2 as shown in the fig.
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If we have to solve the network by KVL, we also have named different branch currents as I1, I2 and I3 as shown in Fig. The currents in different branches are as follows
Current in branch AB = I1
Current in branch BE = I2 Current in branch BC = I1-I2 Current in branch EG = I3 Current in branch EF = I2-I3
According to Maxwells loop current theorem, we would name the currents in different loops as i1, i2 and i3. The currents in different loops are as follows. current in loop ABCD = i1 current in loop BEFC = i2 current in loop EGHF = i3
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From this, if we find the branch currents for BC and EF by inspection, it turns not to be (i1-i2) and (i2-i3) respectively.
The KVL and Maxwells loop current methods for analysis of network are therefore similar and
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3. Node Analysis :
1. Sources for Electronic Circuit :
Introduction :
Every electronic circuit requires some source of energy for its operation. The electrical energy may be supplied either in the form of a voltage or current. The electrical device which supplies the electrical energy required for the operation of an electronic circuit is called as a source.
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Types of Sources :
The sources required for the electronic circuits are of the following two types : 1. Voltage source. 2. Current source.
All the voltage and current sources may be classified into to categories as under : 1. Direct current(d.c.). 2. Alternating current( a.c.).
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All sources of electrical energy, either voltage or current, have some internal resistance. The value of this resistance is few ohms.
The d.c resistance offered by a source is called as an internal resistance. The internal resistance of a voltage source and a current source should be very low and very high respectively.
The internal resistance of a source (voltage or current), may be due to following reasons : 1. the resistance of an electrolyte between the electrodes in the case of dry cell. 2. The resistance of armature winding in the case of d.c. generator or an alternator.
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3. The output resistance of an active device like a transistor in case of oscillator, signal generator or regulated d.c. supply.
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2. Voltage Source :
Introduction :
The source, which supplies electrical energy in the form of a voltage, is known as a voltage source.
All voltage sources in practice must have very low internal resistance. All voltage sources may be broadly classified as d.c. voltage source, a.c. voltage source, depending upon whether a source supplies d.c. or a.c. to the load.
Some of the commonly used d.c. sources are batteries, d.c. generators and regulated d.c.
power supplies.
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Concept :
Consider the d.c. voltage source is connected across the variable load resistance as shown in the fig..
Let
Vs = Open circuit voltage i.e. a voltage which exists across the source terminals when
nothing is connected to it. Rs = Internal resistance of the voltage source. RL = Variable load resistance.
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The current through the variable load is given by, I = Vs/RT = Vs/(Rs + RL)
Therefore, voltage across the terminals (which is also equal to the voltage across the load) is given by,
VAB = VL = I.RL = =
Vs +
Vs 1+
Rs RL
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It may be noted from the equation, that the ratio Rs/RL is small as compared to unity, then the terminal voltage remains the same as that of the source voltage.
Thus even if the load resistance changes, the terminal voltage VAB of the voltage source
remains practically constant, provided the ratio Rs/RL is very much less than unity (i.e. Rs/RL<<1).
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A voltage source, which produces a constant voltage (or load voltage), which does not depend on the value of load resistance, is known as an ideal voltage source.
This may be possible only if the internal resistance of a voltage source is zero.
Fig.
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Fig. a and b shows the circuit symbol and reference direction for currents of d.c. and a.c. voltage sources.
It may be noted that the marking of positive and negative on the a.c. source does not mean the
In an a.c. source, it means that the upper terminal of the ideal voltage source is positive, with respect to the lower terminal at that particular instant.
In the next half cycle of a.c. voltage, the marking will become opposite. Fig. c shows the V-I characteristic of an ideal voltage source. It may be noted that as the value of load resistance is reduced, the load current increases and vice versa.
The open circuit voltage remains constant for the variation of either load resistance or current.
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It will be interesting to note that in actual practice, there is no voltage source, which is an ideal one.
The ideal voltage source does not exist in actual practice, because it is not possible to have zero value of the internal resistance for the voltage source.
A practical voltage source, known as real voltage source, consists of an voltage source in series with an internal resistance of the voltage source.
Fig .
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Fig. a and b show the circuit symbols and the reference direction for current of the practical d.c. and a.c. voltage sources.
The practical (i.e. real) voltage source has very small value of internal resistance. It may be noted that the open circuit voltage (Vs) decreases as the load current increases and vice-versa. This is shown in fig. c by the dotted line.
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3. Current Source :
Introduction :
The source, which supplies electrical energy in the form of an electrical current, is known as a current source.
All current sources, in practice, may be broadly classified as d.c. current source or a.c. current source, depending upon whether a source supplies direct current (d.c.) or alternating current(a.c.) to the load.
Some of the commonly used a.c. sources are alternators. oscillators or signal generators.
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Concept :
Consider the d.c. current source connected as a variable load resistance as shown in fig.
Let
Is = Short circuit (i.e. a current through the source terminals when they are shorted) RL = Variable load resistance connected across a current source.
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..
The part IL flows through the load RL and I1 through the internal resistance Rs. The source current is given by Is = I1 + IL
I1 = Is IL
VL = IL.RL
Since the resistance Rs and RL are in parallel, therefore, the voltage drop across them should be equal. so, Is . Rs = IL . RL
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The above equation indicates that the load current remain almost equal to the short circuit current Is, provided the ratio RL/Rs is small as compared to unity.
In other words, large the value of internal resistance RS, as compared to the load resistance RL,
smaller is the ratio RL/Rs and hence better is the current source.
The condition for a good current source is given by, RL/Rs <<1.
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A current source, which supplies a constant current to a load even if its resistance varies, is known as a constant source. It is also known as an ideal current source.
Ideally, the current supplied by a current source should remain constant, irrespective of the load
resistance.
Fig.
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This may be possible only if the internal resistance of a current source is infinite. Fig. a shows the circuit symbol of an ideal current source. The arrow inside the circle indicates the direction in which the current flows in the circuit when a
Fig. b shows the V-I characteristics of an ideal current source. The load current, supplied to the load by the current source, remains constant for all values of the load resistance RL.
It may be noted that as the value of load resistance is increased, the terminal voltage VAB also increases.
It is due to the fact, that the variation of terminal voltage is shown in the same direction as that of the load resistance along the horizontal axis of the V I characteristic.
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In actual practice, there is no current source, which is an ideal one, because it has very high value of n internal resistance.
The ideal current source does not exist in actual practice, because it is not possible to have an
infinite value of the internal resistance for the current source.
A practical current source, known as a real current source, consist of an ideal current source in parallel with a resistance known as the internal resistance of the current source.
Fig.
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Fig. a and b show the circuit symbols and reference direction for current of the practical d.c. and a.c. current source.
The practical (i.e. real) current source has very high value of the internal resistance.
It may be noted that the load current Is decreases below the short circuit current, as the loas
resistance RL is increased. It is shown in Fig. b by dotted line.
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We know that the source may either work as a voltage source or a current source, depending upon the working conditions.
As a matter of fact, a voltage source is not different from a current source. If the value of load resistance RL is very high as compared to the internal resistance Rs, the source is treated as a voltage source.
If the value of the load resistance RL, is very low as compared to the internal resistance RL, the source is treated as a current source.
In order to establishment between a voltage source and a current source, consider an a.c. source connected to the load resistance RL as shown in Fig.
The equivalent circuit of a practical voltage source is as shown in fig. a and it consist of an ideal voltage source Vs in series with a source resistance Rs.
The equivalent circuit of a practical current source is as shown in fig. b and it consists of an ideal current source Is in parallel with a source resistance Rs.
Since both equivalent circuits are of the same source, they give the same results.
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It may be noted that the source resistance in both the equivalent circuits are the same. Rs1 = Rs2
Also indicates that whatever may be the value of load resistance RL, the current drawn by the load resistance in either voltage source or current source, equivalent circuits will be the same.
IL1 = IL2
Thus the equivalence between a voltage source and current source is completely established.
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5. Conversion of Sources :
Fig.
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In order to convert it into its equivalent current source representation, let us short circuit the terminals A and B and then determine the current through the short circuit.
Is = Vs/Rs
We know that the source resistance in either voltage source representation or current representation in the same.
Therefore, the current source has the same internal resistance at that a voltage source.
Thus the equivalent current source may be represented by a current source Is in parallel with a
source resistance Rs as shown in fig. b.
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Consider the practical current source Is with an internal resistance Rs as shown in fig. bellow. In order to convert it into equivalent voltage source representation, let us find the open circuit
Since the internal resistance of the voltage source is the same as that of a current source,
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Kirchhoffs laws or Maxwells loop current theorem is very useful in solving network problems. But if a network with considerable number of branches is to be analyzed, then there are a large number of simultaneous equations and a great difficulty may have to be forced in finding the solution.
Such complicated networks may be simplified by successfully replacing delta or mesh circuit
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Delta to star conversion is useful for quick reduction of the given circuit. Consider the delta network as shown in fig. a below.
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It is connected between points 1,2 and 3, and the resistance are denoted as R12, R22 and R31. This delta circuit can be transformed into a star circuit as shown in fig. b with the resistance R1, R2 and R3.
In order that the two networks be exactly equivalent, the resistance between any two terminals
of the network must be equal to the resistance between the corresponding pair of terminals of the other network.
For delta to star conversion, we can find the values for R12, R21, R31 in terms of R1, R2 and R3. R12 = R1+R2+(R1R2)/R3 R23 = R2+R3+(R2R3)/R1 R31 = R3+R1+(R3R1)/R2
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Consider a star network as shown in the fig. b. It is connected between points 1, 2 and 3 and the resistances are denoted as R1, R2 and R3.
Fig.
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Conversion from star to delta can be easily obtained by use of the resistance R12, R23, R31 in terms of R1, R2, R3. R12 = (R1.R2+R2.R3+R3.R1) / R3
R23 = (R1.R2+R2.R3+R3.R1) / R1
R31 = (R1.R2+R2.R3+R3.R1) / R2
The star network can be transformed into a delta network as shown in fig. a with the resistance R12, R21 and R23.
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8. Network Terminology :
Any interconnection of electrical components like resistors, inductors, capacitors, semiconductor devices, transformers and sources of e.m.f. is known as a network. A network
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If the resistance, capacitance or inductance offered by the passive elements does not change with a change in the applied e.m.f. or the circuit current , the element is called as a linear element.
The linear element shows a linear relation between voltage and current. The network comprising of one or more linear number of elements is known as a linear network.
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A non-linear circuit element is one in which the current does not change linearly with a change in applied voltage at a given frequency.
The non-linear elements include components like VDR (voltage dependent resistor), varactor
(voltage dependent capacitor), LDR (light dependent resistor), thermistor (temperature dependent resistor) etc.
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An element that is not capable of amplifying or processing an electrical signal is known as passive element.
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An electronic element which itself is capable of amplifying (or processing) an electrical signal is known as an active element.
The active element includes semiconductor devices such as diodes, BJTs, FETs etc.
A network comprising one or more number of active elements is known as an active network.
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If the magnitude of the current flowing through a circuit element is affected when the polarity of the applied e.m.f is changed, then the element is known as a unilateral element.
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If the magnitude of the current flowing through a circuit element is not affected when the polarity of the applied voltage is changed, then the element is known as a bilateral element.
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4. Network Theorem :
1. Superposition Theorem :
Statement :
The superposition theorem states that in any linear network containing two or more sources, the response (current) in any element is equal to the algebraic sum of the response (current) caused by individual sources acting alone, while the other sources are inoperative. Or The voltage or current, present in a component, is equal to the sum of voltages currents, which exist independently.
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Diagram :
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Explanation :
This theorem is useful where more than one voltage or current source is present. It may be used to determine the current in a component, which exist as a result of each of the sources.
It is important to note that while calculating the results for each source, the other sources must
be set to zero and replaced by their internal resistances. In other words voltage sources are replaced by a short circuit and current sources by an open circuit.
If there are any dependent sources, then leave them undisturbed in the circuit. For example, let us consider the circuit as shown in fig. 1(b) . Now the first step is that we have to draw the individual circuits for each source for calculation purposes.
Thus fig. 1(b) shows the circuit for source V1, fig. 2(a) for source V2 and fig. 2(b) for current source I.
The next step is to calculate the effects of each source from the individual circuits. Then they finally find the results caused by all the combined sources. In using this theorem the polarity of each voltage and current is very important , because end result is the algebraic sum of the individual results.
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Applications :
The superposition theorem is useful in circuit analysis, when the circuit has large number of independent sources.
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Drawbacks :
The superposition theorem is not applicable to the circuits consisting of non-linear elements e.g. diode, transistors.
The superposition theorem cannot be applied to circuits containing dependent sources only. The superposition theorem is not useful for circuit analysis, for circuits containing less than two independent sources.
Superposition theorem cannot be used for calculating power because power is proportional to square of voltage or current i.e. nonlinear.
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2. Thevenins Theorem :
Statement :
Thevenins theorem states that any two terminal linear(complex) network containing energy sources and impedance can be replaced by an equivalent circuit consisting of an ideal voltage source VTH in series with a resistance RTH.
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Explanation :
Consider a box containing a network of impedance and generators connected to its output terminals A and B across which load resistance RL is connected as shown in fig.
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Let V0 be the open circuit voltage between terminals A and B of the network and Z is the impedance measured between these two terminals when all energy sources are eliminated.
In any circuit, consider the load resistor R1 is removed and with ends kept open, calculate the
open circuit voltage Vx. This equals the Thevenins resistance RTH.
Next remove voltage source leaving only its internal resistance, calculate equivalent resistance across the terminals. This equals the Thevenins resistance RTH.
According to Thevenins theorem, the entire network connected to A and B terminals can be replaced by a single voltage source VTH in series with a single resistance RTH across the same terminals as shown in fig. b.
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Applications :
The Thevenins theorem makes it possible to convert a complicated network to a simple equivalent network. Using the simple network we can determine voltage, current, power
It can be used to justify the concept of input and output resistances of an amplifier.
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Drawbacks :
The Thevenins theorem is not applicable to the networks containing unilateral elements e.g. diode.
The Thevenins theorem is not applicable to circuits consisting of load with dependent or
controlled sources.
The Thevenins theorem is not applicable to networks containing non linear elements e.g. diode, transistors.
The Thevenins theorem is not applicable to the networks containing magnetic coupling between load and any other circuit element.
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3. Nortons Theorem :
Statement :
Nortons theorem states that any complex linear network can be replaced by a parallel circuit consisting of an ideal current source and a resistance.
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Explanation :
Consider a box containing a network of impedance and generators connected to its output terminals A and B as shown in fig. a.
Then according to Nortons theorem, the entire circuit connected between A and B can be
replaced by a single current source IN in parallel with a single resistance RN across the terminala as shown in fig. b.
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As a matter of fact, IN is the current, that actually flows between the terminals A and B, when they are short circuited.
Similarly, RN is the equivalent resistance between the terminal A and B of the original network
with the load resistance removed and all the sources replaced by their internal resistances.
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Applications :
The Nortons theorem makes it possible to convert a complicated network to a simple equivalent network. Using the network we can find voltage , current and power delivered to the load.
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Thevenins equivalent circuit , the maximum power will be transferred by the network to the
resistive load, when the load resistance is equal to the Thevenins resistance.
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Explanation :
Consider the load resistance RL connected to the network terminal as shown in fig. Vs = source with resistance Rs.
For maximum power , dPL /dRL = 0 Therefore, Or PL = IRL PL = [Vs / (RL + Ri)]*RL
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Or
=
1
1 ( + )
1 + [
2
] + 3
( + )
+ 3
=0
( + )
2 + 3
2RL = RL + Ri RL = Ri
Pmax =
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Applications :
In the power amplifiers, we use this theorem in order to match the loud speaker impedance to the output impedance of amplifier in order to ensure maximum power transfer.
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EEX 17215 : Elements of Electronics FY Diploma E&TC DC Circuits and Network Theorem
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