Chapter - 4

Circuit Theorems

 Superposition Theorem
 Source Transformation Theorem
 Thevinen’s Theorem
 Norton’s Theorem
 Maximum Power Transfer Theorem
Superposition Theorem
 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.”

Can be zero or off by short circuit

Can be zero or off by open circuit

 Superposition Theorem
We must keep two things in mind

1. We consider one independent source at a time while all other independent sources are
turned off. This implies that we replace every voltage source by 0 V (or a short circuit), and
every current source by 0 A (or an open circuit).

2. Dependent sources are left intact because they are controlled by circuit variables.

With these in mind, we apply the superposition principle in three steps:

 Superposition Theorem
Problem 1:
 Superposition Theorem
Problem 3:
Superposition Theorem

Alexander Book (Chapter 4)

Example and practice: 4.3,4.5

Source Transformation
 Source transformation is another tool for simplifying circuits.
 Basic to these tools is the concept of equivalence.

 Theorem: 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.

Figure: Transformation of independent and dependent sources.

 Source transformation requires

Vs = is*R or is = Vs/R
Example: Use source transformation to find in the circuit

Soln:
Self Practice: PP 4.6 & and Example 4.7
Thevenin’s Theorem
A linear two-terminal circuit can be replaced
with an equivalent circuit of an ideal
voltage source, VTh, in series with a
resistor, RTh.
◦ VTh is equal to the open-circuit voltage at the
terminals.
◦ RTh is the equivalent or input resistance
when the independent sources in the
linear circuit are turned off.
Linear circuit is a circuit where the
voltage is directly proportional to the
current (i.e., Ohm’s Law is
followed).

Two terminals are the 2 nodes/2

wires that can make a connection
between the circuit to the load.
 +
Voc
_

Open-circuit voltage Voc is the voltage, V, when the load is an open

circuit (i.e., RL = ∞).

VOC  VTh
 Input resistance is the resistance seen by the load
when VTh = 0V.

It is also the resistance of the linear circuit

when the load is a short circuit (RL = 0).
1. Identify the load, which may be a resistor or a part
of the circuit.
2. Replace the load with an open circuit .
3. Calculate VOC. This is VTh.
4. Turn off all independent voltage and currents
sources in the linear 2-terminal circuit.
5. Calculate the equivalent resistance of the
circuit. This is RTh.

The current through and voltage across the load in

series with VTh and RTh is the load’s actual current and
voltage in the original circuit.
 THEVENIN & NORTON

THEVENIN’S THEOREM:
Find VX by first finding VTH and RTH to the left of A-B.

12 4 A
  
+

+ V
30 6 2
V _   X

 _
B
Circuit for Example

First remove everything to the right of A-B.

 THEVENIN & NORTON

THEVENIN’S THEOREM:
12 4 A
 

+
30 6
V _ 

B
Circuit for finding VTH for Example

VAB  (30)(6)  10V

6
Notice that there 12
is no current flowing in the 4  resistor
(A-B) is open. Thus there can be no voltage across the
resistor.
 THEVENIN & NORTON
THEVENIN’S THEOREM:
We now deactivate the sources to the left of A-B and find
the resistance seen looking in these terminals.

12 4 A
 
RTH
6


B
Circuit for find RTH for Example

We see,
RTH = 12||6
+ 4
=
8
 THEVENIN & NORTON
THEVENIN’S THEOREM:
After having found the Thevenin circuit, we connect this
to the load in order to find VX.

R A
TH

+
8
+ 10 V
V T _  2
V  X
H

B _

after connecting Thevenin
circuit.

VX  (10)(2)  2V
2
8
Problem 2:
Problem 3:
 NORTON’S THEOREM
STATEMENT: Any linear, active, bilateral dc network having a number of
voltage sources and/or current sources with resistances can be replaced by
a simple equivalent circuit having single current source (IN) in parallel
with a single resistance (RN).
Where (IN) is the known as Norton’s equivalent current through the terminal
a-b.
(RN) is the Norton’s equivalent resistance viewed back into the network from
terminal a-b.

Note: independent voltage sources are short circuited and independent

current sources are open circuited. Dependent sources will remain in the
circuit for the calculation of Norton’s equivalent resistance.
 NORTON’S THEOREM
Procedure for converting any circuit into Norton's equivalent
circuit
Calculate Norton Current
Step 1: remove the load resistance RL (through which current is required) and
short circuit it. Let terminals of load are labelled as a-b. Therefore a-b is the
short circuited.
Step 2: Find the current through the terminal a-b by applying KCL, KVL, Ohm’s
law or Superposition principle. This current is the short circuit current and it is
known as Nortons equivalent current (IN).
Calculate Norton Resistance (equal to Thevinin resistance)
Step 3: Set all Independent voltage Sources as short circuit and Current Sources
open circuit. Dependent sources will not be changed
Step 4: Calculate the resistance as “seen” through the terminals a-b into the
network.
This resistance is known as Norton’s equivalent resistance (RN ).
Draw Equivalent Circuit
Step 5: Replace the entire network by Nortons equivalent current (IN) in parallel
with Norton’s equivalent resistance (R ) and connect the load resistance R .
 NORTON’S THEOREM

a
IL
IL
a
Linear, Active,
Bilateral RL IN RN RL
Network
b

b
Norton’s Equivalent Network
NORTON’S THEOREM
 NORTON’S THEOREM
Example: Find the current through 3 ohm resistor by Norton’s Theorem for
the network shown in fig.1a

R1 a R2
6 ohm 1 ohm
24V 3 ohm R3 12V

Fig. 1a b
SOLUTION:
STEP 1: Calculation of RN (calculation is same as Rth). Redraw the circuit by
removing the 3 ohm resistor and short circuit the voltage sources as
shown in fig. 1b
 NORTON’S THEOREM
Fig. 1b R2
6 ohm a 1 R1 and R2 are in parallel
ohm R1 R2
RN  61
R 1  R 2  6  0.857
b 1

RN

Step2: Calculation of Norton’s Current IN : Short circuit the terminals

a-b and the current flow through a-b is IN
R1 R2
Fig. 1c
I1 a I2
24V IN 12V
24 12
I N  I1  I2  6  1  16A

b
 NORTON’S THEOREM
Step2: Draw the Norton’s Equivalent Circuit:

IN 16A RN 0.857 ohm

Step3: Calculation of Current through R3, Reconnect R3 to Norton’s

Equivalent Circuit (Fig. 1e)

Apply Current divider rule

RN =
IN=16A 0.857 R3 = IL
3 Ohm RN
ohm IL  IN
RN  RL

0.857
IL   3.55A
16 0.857 
3
Relationship Between Thevenin’s theorem & Norton’s Theorem

Rth = Rn; Vth = In* Rn

Source Transform
Thevenin’s Circuit Norton’s Circuit
Maximum Power Theorem
The power is small for small or large values of
but maximum for some value of between 0 and
∞.

We now want to show that this maximum

power occurs when is equal to This is known
as the maximum power theorem .
To prove the maximum power transfer theorem, we differentiate p
with respect to and set the result equal to zero.

We obtain
The maximum power transferred is