Circuit Analysis I

LECTURE # 9
Chapter 4: Circuit Theorems

Dr. Saeed Abdallah

Chapter 4: Circuit Theorems

4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.6
4.8

Motivation.
Linearity Property.
Superposition.
Source Transformation.
Thevenins Theorem.
Nortons Theorem.
Maximum Power Transfer.

Thevenins Theorem

It often happens in practice that a particular element in a circuit is variable

(usually called the load) while other elements are fixed. As a typical
example, a household outlet terminal may be connected to different devices
constituting a variable load.

It is not convenient to analyze the entire circuit all over again whenever the
variable element is changed.
To avoid this problem, Thevenins theorem provide a technique by which
the fixed part of the circuit is replaced by an equivalent circuit.

Thevenins Theorem

Thevenins Theorem

Thevenins Theorem

We find RTh by turning off all sources.

The 32-V voltage source is replaced
with a short circuit and the 2-A
current source is replaced with an
open circuit.

Thevenins Theorem

Thevenins Theorem
4 contd
Example

We find the current in the load:

For ,
For ,
For ,

Thevenins Theorem
6

Example 5:

Using Thevenins theorem, find

the equivalent circuit to the left
of the terminals in the circuit
shown below. Then find i.

RTh

(a)

6
2A

2A

(b)

+
VTH

Thevenins Theorem
Case
2: Circuit with both dependent and
independent sources.
To find , remove the load and find the voltage
across the open circuit terminals
To find :
1. Remove the load
2. Turn off the independent sources
3. Apply an independent voltage source to the open
circuit and measure the current through through the
source.
4. Then

Thevenins Theorem
Example 6:
Find the Thevenin equivalent for
the shown circuit.

6V

Ix

a
+
VTh
4

i2

i1
i1

1.5Ix
i2
o

b
(a)

0.5I

Ix

To find R , we set the independent

source equal to zero but leave
Th

+ 1V

1.5Ix

the dependent source alone. We excite the

network with a voltage source v connected

to the terminals and set v = 1 .
o

(b)

Nortons Theorem
It states that a linear two-terminal
circuit can be replaced by an equivalent
circuit of a current source IN in parallel
with a resistor RN, where

IN is the short circuit current

through the terminals.

RN is the input or equivalent

resistance at the terminals when the
independent sources are turned off.

The Thevenins and Norton equivalent circuits are

related by a source transformation

Nortons Theorem
Example
7

Find the Nortons equivalent
circuit of
the circuit shown:
We find in the same way we
find .

To find we short circuit the

terminal a-b. The 5 resistor is
ignored since
it is short-circuited.
Applying mesh analysis, we
obtain

+
-

Nortons Theorem
Example 7 Contd

Alternatively, we may
determine I from V /R . We
obtain V as the open-circuit
voltage across terminals a
and b as shown. Using mesh
analysis, we obtain
i = 2 A25i 4i 12 = 0 i = 0.8 A
N

Th

Th

Th

v = V = 5i = 4 V
oc

Th

I = V / R = 4/4 = 1
A
N

Th

Th

Norton equivalent circuit is as shown

+
-

Nortons Theorem
Example 8
Find the Norton equivalent
circuit of the circuit shown
below.

2vx
i

+
6

ix

+
vx

1V

(a)

2vx
+
6

10 A

(b)

*Refer to in-class illustration, textbook, RN = 1, IN = 10A.

15

+
vx

Isc

Maximum Power Transfer

If the entire circuit is replaced by
its Thevenins equivalent except
for the load, the power delivered
to the load is:
2

VTh
RL
P i 2 RL
RTh RL

For maximum power dissipated

in RL, Pmax, for a given RTH,
and VTH,
2

RL RTH

Pmax

V
Th
4 RTH

The power transfer profile with

different RL
16

Maximum Power Transfer

Example 9

Determine the value of RL that

will draw the maximum power
from
the rest of the circuit shown
v
v
4 Calculate

4
the+maximum
+ below.
v

i
2
2
power.
x

1
+

+1 V

3vx

(a)

+9 V

io
+

3vx

Fig. a
+
VTh

=> To determine RTH

Fig. b
=> To determine VTH

(b)

*Refer to in-class illustration, textbook, RL = 4.22, Pm = 2.901W

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