Name of the Experiment:

VERIFICATION OF THEVENINS THEOREM

Course No. EEE 102
Experiment No. 5
Group No. 2

Mursalin Habib
Roll No. 9906114
Department: Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Level 1 Term 1
Session 1999-2000
Partners Roll No.

9906112
9906113
9906115
9906116

Date of Performance:
Date of Submission:

Bangladesh University of Engineering and

Technology
Objective:

To verify Thevenins theorem with reference to a given function theoretically

as well as experimentally.

Introduction:
It is often desirable in circuit analysis to study the effect of changing a
particular branch element while all other branches and all the sources in the
circuit remain unchanged. Thevenins theorem is a technique to this end and it
reduces greatly the amount of computations which we have to do each time a
change is made. Using Thevenins theorem the given circuit excepting the
particular branch to be changed is connected across the equivalent circuit.
The Thevenins theorem states that any two terminal network consisting of
linear elements and voltage, current sources can be replaced by a voltage
source Vth with a resistance RTH in series where
VTH = The Open Circuit Voltage (Voc) at the two terminals A & B
RTH = The resistance looking into the terminals A & B of the network
with all sources removed

RTH
A

LINEAR
BILATERAL
NETWORK

+
VL
B

IL

A
RL

+
VL
-

IL

RL

There are several methods for determining Thevenin resistance RTH . An

attractive method for determining RTH is :
1. Determining the open circuit voltage
2. Determining the short circuit current circuit Isc as shown in the figure: then

RTH =

VOC
I SC

RTH

ISc

Apparatus:

Four Rheostats
Ammeter (0-5A)
Voltmeter (0-300V)
DC power supply
Three SPST Switches

Procedure:
1. The original circuit is arranged as shown in the figure 1. The rheostats
R1,R2,& R3 were kept at least 20 . 30V DC is applied from DC power
supply.

A
R2

S1

VS
R1

IL

R3

VL

RL
B

Figure .1: Original Circuit

2. Measure VL,IL for three values of RL & record the data in the table.
3. The load resistance RL is removed and the open circuit voltage between
terminals A & B . The voltage is Thevnin voltage ie VTH=Voc.

R2
A
VS
R1

R3

VL

RL
B

Figure 2: Circuit for finding VOC

4. A short circuit is paced between the terminals A & B and the short circuit
current was found ISC. Then the RTH was calculated using the following
equation.
V
RTH = OC
I OC
R2

A
VS
R3

R1

A
ISC

RL

VL

5. The Thevenin equivalent circuit is constructed as shown in the figure 4. By

setting the power supply at VTH volts and the rheostat at RTH ohms. Then
the load current IL and load voltage VL for the values of RL determined in
step 2. These values were compared with previous values.
RTH
A

+
VL
-

IL

RL

Fig 3: Thevenin Equivalent Circuit of Original Circuit .

Experimental Data:
Table 1:
Data for original circuit,
R1 = 16.4
R2 = 23.4
R3 = 58.5
VS = 30V
No
of
Observation
1
2
3

Values of RL
24.4
29.4
37.7

Load Voltage
VL V
13.05
13.65
14.775

Load Current
IL A
0.53
0.47
0.395

Load Voltage
VL V
12.9
13.725
15

Load
IL A
0.53
0.47
0.4

VTH = 21.45V
RTH = 16.44
I SC = 1.305 A

Table 2:
No
of
Observation
1
2
3

Values of RL
24.4
29.4
37.7

Current

Reports:

1. Find Theoretically the Thevenin equivalent circuit for the values of

R1,R2,R3 & VS recorded in the table .
By removing the load resistance RL we will get two open terminal .
As VS =30v . And R2 & R3 is in series so the Voltage difference between
this two resistance will be the same .
So,
Applying voltage divider rule for R3.
R3
58.5
V R 3 = VS
= 30
= 21.42V = VTH
R2 + R3
58.5 + 23.4

Now we have to measure IS (The current through the voltage source).

V
30
IS = S =
= 3.11A
Req 9.64
Applying Current divider rule we get ,
I 1 = 1.83 A & I 2 = 1.28 A
So , I SC = 1.28 A
V
21.42
RTH = TH =
= 16.73
1.28
I SC

2. Comments on the result obtained and discrepancies.

Results obtained: For each observation, the current, IL, the7* voltage VL &
the resistance RL obtained by placing an ammeter in a series combination ,an
voltmeter in parallel combination and a multimeter in a series combination
respectively .
Discrepancies: There are two reasons for discrepancies.
Reading error: While a meter obtains the reading, a least error of obtaining
reading cant be omitted. So whenever we obtained a reading by a meter we
get a least error. This error is summed up after any calculation that was
performed with these readings. As the least error of reading of a multi meter is
different from the least error of the ammeter or voltmeter, which is also
different. So whenever we divide the Vo by I we get a little difference result
from summating the individual resistance of the rheostats. Moreover as we
mean the connecting wires has no resistance, practically is not true; so
whenever we try to measure the total current it differs from the summation of
the current passing through in every resistance connecting in parallel.

Loading effect of the meter: A voltmeter has an infinite resistance and an

ammeter has a resistance of zero is theoretically true but not in practical
use. Practically a voltmeter has a very big resistance and an ammeter has a
very small one. So whenever an ammeter is placed in the circuit, the
equivalent resistance differs slightly & the total current of the circuit with an
ammeter also differs for this. Again whenever a voltmeter is placed to
obtained the voltage the voltage differs from the voltage of the rheostats
without a voltmeter connected in parallel.

Question & Answer:

1. Define unilateral, bilateral & equivalent circuit.
Unilateral Circuit: Unilateral elements are those that change behavior if
the voltage across the element and the current through the element
changes. And Unilateral circuit are those which can transmit effectively
only in one direction. A diode rectifier is an example.
Bilateral Circuit: Bilateral elements are those that dont change behavior
if the voltage across the element and the current through the element
changes. So a Bilateral Circuits characteristic is the same in either of the
directions . General power transmission line is Bilateral ,coz it can be
made to be perform equally and same in either direction .
Equivalent Circuit: If one complex circuits terminal voltage difference
and the current flow through the short circuit ,placed between the
terminals, is equal to another simple circuit , then the simple circuit is the
equivalent circuit of the complex one
2. Describe other methods for determining Thevenin Resistance.
Method 1:
At first we should make the circuit open by removing the load resistance
RL and measure the voltage between terminal A & B. This voltage is
thevenin voltage, VTH = VOC . Then we should place a short circuit between
the terminals A & B and measure the short circuit current ISC. Then using
the following equation we can get the value of RTH.
V
RTH = OC
I OC

Method 2:
At first we should make the circuit open by removing the load resistance
RL and measure the voltage between terminal A & B. This voltage is
thevenin voltage, VTH = VOC . Then we should attach a Load resistance RL
within the terminal A & B . Here RL is a rheostat.
We should change the value of RL that , VTH = 2VL..
Then the value of RL and RTH will be the same .
Method 3:
By setting the Voltage source and Current source to zero load ( by short
circuiting and open circuiting respectively ) we can measure the RTH using
a Multimeter or ohm meter .

3. Mention the advantage of using Thevenin Theorem.

It is often desirable in circuit analysis to study the effect of changing a
particular branch element while all other branches and all the sources in
the circuit remain unchanged. Thevenins theorem is a technique to this
end and it reduces greatly the amount of computations which we have to
do each time a change is made. Using Thevenins theorem the given
circuit excepting the particular branch to be changed is connected across
the equivalent circuit.

Discussion:
To analyze a complex electric circuits Thevnins Theorem is essential.
Because it bears implication for analyzing a complex circuit. So, it is really
important to learn how to apply Thevnins Theorem . So, the verification of
Thevnins Theorem make us a bit skillful to design a complex circuit. In the
practical field, the idea of the results of the discrepancies makes us able to be
alert of designing an electric circuit.
Here the original and the equivalent circuit were constructed by two different
power sources. So the readings were not that equal . The apx. value of RL
was taken by the multimeter.
We did compare the theoretical and experimental results. They are not the
same . In the practical field, the idea of the results of the discrepancies makes
us able to be alert of designing an electric circuit.