Circuit Theorems

Mustafa Kemal Uyguroğlu

Circuit Theorems Eastern Mediterranean University 1

 Chap. 4 Circuit Theorems

 Introduction
 Linearity property
 Superposition
Source transformations
 Thevenin’s theorem
Norton’s theorem
 Maximum power transfer

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 4.1 Introduction

A large Simplify
complex circuits circuit analysis

Circuit Theorems

‧Thevenin’s theorem ‧ Norton theorem

‧Circuit linearity ‧ Superposition
‧source transformation ‧ max. power transfer
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 4.2 Linearity Property

Homogeneity property (Scaling)

i  v  iR
ki  kv  kiR

Additivity property
i1  v1  i1 R
i2  v2  i2 R
i1  i2  (i1  i2 ) R  i1 R  i2 R  v1  v2
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 A linear circuit is one whose output is linearly
related (or directly proportional) to its input
 Fig. 4.1

V0
I0

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 Linear circuit consist of
● linear elements
vs  10V  i  2A
● linear dependent sources
vs  1V  i  0.2A
● independent sources vs  5mV  i 1mA
 v 2
p i R 2
: nonlinear
R

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 Example 4.1

 For the circuit in fig 4.2 find I0 when vs=12V and

vs=24V.

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 Example 4.1

 KVL

12i1  4i2  vs  0 (4.1.1)

 4i1  16i2  3v x  vs  0 (4.1.2)
v x  2i1
(4.1.2) becomes
 10i1  16i2  vs  0 (4.1.3)
Eqs(4.1.1) and (4.1.3) we get
2i1  12i2  0  i1  6i2

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 Example 4.1

Eq(4.1.1), we get
vs
 76i2  vs  0  i2 
76
When vs  12V 12
I 0  i2  A
76
vs  24V
24
When I 0  i2  A
76
Showing that when the source value is doubled, I0
doubles.
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 Example 4.2

 Assume I0 = 1 A and use linearity to find the

actual value of I0 in the circuit in fig 4.4.

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 Example 4.2

If I 0  1A, then v1  (3  5) I 0  8V
I1  v1 / 4  2A, I 2  I1  I 0  3A
V2
V2  V1  2 I 2  8  6  14V, I 3   2A
7
I 4  I 3  I 2  5A  I S  5A
I 0  1 A  I S  5A
I 0  3A  I S  15A

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 4.3 Superposition

 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.
 Turn off, killed, inactive source:
● independent voltage source: 0 V (short circuit)
● independent current source: 0 A (open circuit)
 Dependent sources are left intact.

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 Steps to apply superposition principle:
1. Turn off all independent sources except one source.
Find the output (voltage or current) due to that active
source using nodal or mesh analysis.
2. Repeat step 1 for each of the other independent
sources.
3. Find the total contribution by adding algebraically all
the contributions due to the independent sources.

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 How to turn off independent sources
Turn off voltages sources = short voltage sources;
make it equal to zero voltage
 Turn off current sources = open current sources;
make it equal to zero current

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 Superposition involves more work but simpler
circuits.
 Superposition is not applicable to the effect on
power.

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 Example 4.3

 Use the superposition theorem to find in the

circuit in Fig.4.6.

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 Example 4.3
Since there are two sources,
let V  V1  V2
Voltage division to get
4
V1  ( 6)  2 V
48
Current division, to get
8
i3  (3)  2A
48
Hence
v2  4i3  8V

And we find v  v1  v2  2  8  10V

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 Example 4.4

 Find I0 in the circuit in Fig.4.9 using superposition.

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 Example 4.4

Fig. 4.10

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 Example 4.4

Fig. 4.10

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 4.5 Source Transformation

 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

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 Fig. 4.15 & 4.16

vs
vs  is R or is 
R

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 Equivalent Circuits

i i

+ +
v  iR  vs
v v vs v
i 
R R
- -

v
vs
-is

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 Arrow of the current source
positive terminal of voltage source
 Impossible source Transformation
● ideal voltage source (R = 0)
● ideal current source (R=)

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 Example 4.6

 Use source transformation to find vo in the circuit

in Fig 4.17.

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 Example 4.6

Fig 4.18

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 Example 4.6

we use current division in Fig.4.18(c) to get

2
i (2)  0.4A
28
and
vo  8i  8(0.4)  3.2V

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 Example 4.7

 Find vx in Fig.4.20 using source transformation

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 Example 4.7

Applying KVL around the loop in Fig 4.21(b) gives

 3  5i  v x  18  0 (4.7.1)
Appling KVL to the loop containing only the 3V
voltage source, the1 resistor, and vx yields
(4.7.2)
 3  1i  v x  0  v x  3  i
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 Example 4.7

Substituting this into Eq.(4.7.1), we obtain

15  5i  3  0  i  4.5A
Alternatively

 v x  4i  v x  18  0  i  4.5A
thus
v x  3  i  7.5V

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 4.5 Thevenin’s Theorem

 Thevenin’s 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 where VTh is the open circuit
voltage at the terminals and RTh is the input or
equivalent resistance at the terminals when the
independent source are turn off.

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 Property of Linear Circuits

i
+
Any two-terminal v Slope=1/Rth
Linear Circuits
- v
Vth
Isc

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 Fig. 4.23

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 How to Find Thevenin’s Voltage
 Equivalent circuit: same voltage-current relation
at the terminals.

VTh  voc : open circuit voltage at a  b

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 How to Find Thevenin’s Resistance

RTh  Rin :
input  resistance of the dead circuit at a  b.
 a  b open circuited
 Turn off all independent sources

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CASE 1
 If the network has no dependent sources:
● Turn off all independent source.
● RTH: can be obtained via simplification of either parallel
or series connection seen from a-b

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 Fig. 4.25

CASE 2
 If the network has dependent
sources
● Turn off all independent sources.
● Apply a voltage source vo at a-b
vo
RTh 
io

● Alternatively, apply a current

source io at a-b R  vo
Th
io
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 The Thevenin’s resistance may be negative,
indicating that the circuit has ability providing
power

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 Fig. 4.26

Simplified circuit

VTh
IL 
RTh  RL

RL
VL  RL I L  VTh
RTh  RL

Voltage divider

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 Example 4.8

 Find the Thevenin’s equivalent circuit of the

circuit shown in Fig 4.27, to the left of the
terminals a-b. Then find the current through RL =
6,16,and 36 .

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 Find Rth

RTh : 32V voltage source  short

2A current source  open
4  12
RTh  4 || 12  1   1  4
16

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 Find Vth

VTh :
(1) Mesh analysis
 32  4i1  12(i1  i2 )  0 , i2  2A
i1  0.5A
VTh  12(i1  i2 )  12(0.5  2.0)  30V
(2) Alternatively, Nodal Analysis
(32  VTh ) / 4  2  VTh / 12
VTh  30V

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 Example 4.8

(3) Alternatively, source transform

32  VTH VTH
2
4 12
96  3VTH  24  VTH  VTH  30V

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Fig. 4.29Mediterranean University 43
 Example 4.8

To get iL :
VTh 30
iL  
RTh  RL 4  RL
RL  6  I L  30 / 10  3A
RL  16  I L  30 / 20  1.5A
RL  36 I L  30 / 40  0.75A

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 Example 4.9

 Find the Thevenin’s equivalent of the circuit in Fig.

4.31 at terminals a-b.

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 Example 4.9

 (independent + dependent source case)

To find RTh : Fig(a)

independent source  0
dependent source  intact
vo 1
vo  1V, RTh  
io io

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 Example 4.9

 For loop 1,

 2v x  2(i1  i2 )  0 or v x  i1  i2
But  4i  v x  i1  i2
 i1  3i2

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 Example 4.9

Loop 2 and 3 :
4i2  2(i2  i1 )  6(i2  i3 )  0
6(i3  i2 )  2i3  1  0
Solving these equations gives
i3  1 / 6A.
1
But io  i3  A
6
1V
 RTh   6
io
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 Example 4.9

To get VTh : Fig(b) Mesh analysis

i1  5
 2v x  2(i3  i2 )  0  v x  i3  i2
4(i2  i1 )  2(i2  i1 )  6i2  0  12i2  4i1  2i3  0
But 4(i1  i2 )  v x
i2  10 / 3.
VTh  voc  6i2  20V

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 Example 4.10

 Determine the Thevenin’s

equivalent circuit in
Fig.4.35(a).
 Solution
(dependent source only case)
vo
VTh  0 RTh 
io
Nodal anaysis :
io  ix  2ix  vo / 4

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 Example 4.10

But ix  0  v v
o
 o
2 2
vo vo vo vo
io  ix       or vo  4io
4 2 4 4
vo
Thus RTh   4 : Supplying power
io

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 Example 4.10

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 Example 4.10

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 4.6 Norton’s Theorem

 Norton’s theorem states that a linear two-terminal

circuit can be replaced by equivalent circuit
consisting of a current source IN in parallel with a
resistor RN where IN is the short-circuit current
through the terminals and RN is the input or
equivalent resistance at the terminals when the
independent source are turn off.

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 Fig. 4.37

Slope=1/RN
v
Vth
-IN

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 How to Find Norton Current

Thevenin and Norton

resistances are equal:
RN  RTh
Short circuit current
from a to b :

VTh
I N  isc 
RTh

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 Thevenin or Norton equivalent circuit :
 The open circuit voltage voc across terminals a and
b
 The short circuit current isc at terminals a and b
The equivalent or input resistance Rin at terminals
a and b when all independent source are turn off.

VTh  voc
IN  isc
VTh
RTh   RN
RTh
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 Example 4.11

 Find the Norton equivalent circuit of the circuit in

Fig 4.39.

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 Example 4.11

To find RN Fig 4.40(a ) :

RN  5 || (8  4  8)
20  5
 5 || 20   4
25

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 Example 4.11

To find iN (Fig.4.40(b))
short  circuit terminals a and b .
Mesh : i1  2A, 20i2  4i1  i2  0
i2  1A  isc  IN

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 Example 4.11

Alternative method for IN VTh

IN 
RTh
VTh : open  circuit voltage across terminals a and b
( Fig 4.40(c)) :

Mesh analysis :
i 3  2 A, 25i 4  4i 3  12  0
 i 4  0.8A
 voc  VTh  5i 4  4V

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 Example 4.11

Hence, VTh
IN   4 / 4  1A
RTh

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 Example 4.12

 Using Norton’s theorem, find RN and IN of the

circuit in Fig 4.43 at terminals a-b.

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 Example 4.12

To find RN Fig.4.44(a)
 4 resistor shorted
 5 || v || 2i : Parallel
o x
Hence, ix  vo / 5  1 / 5  0.2

vo 1
 RN    5
io 0.2

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 Example 4.12

To find I N Fig .4.44(b)

 4 ||10v || 5 || 2ix : Parallel

10  0
ix   2.5A,
4 10
isc  ix  2 ix   2(2.5)  7 A
5
 I N  7A

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 4.8 Maximum Power Trandfer

2
 VTH 
p  i RL  
2
 RL
 RTH  RL 

Fig 4.48

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 Fig. 4.49

 Maximum power is transferred to the load when

the load resistance equals the Thevenin resistance
as seen the load (RL = RTH).

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 2  ( RTH  RL )  2 RL ( RTH  RL ) 
2
dp
 VTH  
dRL  ( RTH  RL ) 4

 ( RTH  RL  2 RL ) 
V  2
 0
 ( RTH  RL )
TH 3

0  ( RTH  RL  2 RL )  ( RTH  RL )
RL  RTH
VTH2
pmax 
4 RTH
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 Example 4.13

 Find the value of RL for maximum power transfer

in the circuit of Fig. 4.50. Find the maximum
power.

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 Example 4.13

6  12
RTH  2  3  6 12  5   9
18

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 Example 4.13

 12  18i1  12i2 , i2  2 A
 12  6ii 1  3i2  2(0)  VTH  0  VTH  22V
RL  RTH  9
2 2
V 22
pmax  
TH
 13.44W
4 RL 4  9

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 Homework Problems

 Problems 6, 10, 21, 28, 33, 40, 47, 52, 71

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