Network Theorems

Network Theorems
1 Superposition Theorem
The basic principle of superposition states that, if the effect produced in a system is directly
proportional to the cause, then the overall effect produced in the system, due to a number of causes
acting jointly, can be determined by superposing (adding) the effects of each source acting separately.
This principle is only applicable to “linear” networks and system.
Consider the circuits below. In Fig. 1, clearly the
voltage across the resistor and the current are
given by
VR = V1 − V2 ; I = VR / R = V1 / R − V2 / R .
Now, applying the superposition theorem yields
I = I1 + I 2 = V1 / R − V2 / R ,
i.e., the sum of the currents due to two sources.
Question Is the superposition theorem applicable
to the power as well?
Example 1 Verify the superposition theorem.

Fig. 3: Example 1 problem

Example 2 Verify the superposition theorem.

Fig. 4: Example 2 problem

2 Reciprocity Theorem
Consider two loops A and B of a network N where an ideal voltage source V in loop A produces a
current I in loop B, then the network is said to be reciprocal if an identical source in loop B produces
the same current I in loop A. In short, a linear network is said to be reciprocal if it remains invariant
due to the interchange of position of cause (source) and effect (linear elements) in the network.

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Network Theorems

Example 3 Verify the reciprocity theorem.

Fig. 5: Example 3 problem

3 Thevenin’s Theorem
This theorem states that a linear circuit containing one or more sources and other linear elements can
be represented by a voltage source VTH in series with an impedance ZTH. VTH is the open-circuit
voltage between the terminals of the network and ZTH is the impedance measured between the
terminals of the network with all sources removed(but not their impedances). This is also called the
voltage source equivalent circuit.

Fig. 7: Equivalent circuit

Fig. 6: General network
Example 4 Find the Thevenin’s equivalent circuit.

Fig. 8: Example 4 problem

Example 5 Find the Thevenin’s equivalent circuit.

Fig. 9: Example 5 problem

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Network Theorems

4 Norton’s Theorem
Norton’s theorem says that the linear network consisting of one or more independent sources and
linear elements can be represented by a current source ISC and an equivalent impedance ZTH in parallel
with the current source. ISC is the short-circuit current between the terminals of the network and ZTH is
the impedance measured between the terminals with all sources removed (but not their impedances).
This is also called the current source equivalent circuit.
Example Repeat examples 4, 5 using Norton’s equivalent circuits.

5 Millman’s Theorem
Let Vi (i=1,2,…,n) be the open-circuit voltages of n voltage sources having internal impedances Zi in
series, respectively, as shown in Fig.10. Suppose these sources are connected in parallel, then they
may be replaced by a single ideal voltage source V in series with an impedance Z, where
n

∑V Y i i
1
V= i =1
n
;Z = n
.
∑Y
i =1
i ∑Y
i =1
i

Proof

Fig. 10: Millman’s Theorem

Example 6 Find the current I in Fig. 11.

Fig. 11: Example 6 problem

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Network Theorems

6 Maximum Power Transfer Theorem

Maximum power will be delivered to a network, to an impedance ZL if the impedance of ZL is the
complex conjugate of the impedance Z of the network, measured looking back into the terminals of
the network.
Derivation

Example 7 A circuit model of a transistor driven by a current source i(t) is shown in Fig. 12, where RS
is the source internal impedance and hi,hr,hf and 1/h0 are transistor parameters. Find Thevenin’s and
Norton’s equivalent circuits and derive the condition of maximum power transfer.

Fig. 12: Example 7 problem

7 Substitution Theorem
Sometimes, it is convenient to replace an impedance branch by another branch with different circuit
components, without disturbing the voltage-current relationship in the network. The condition under
which, branch replacement is possible, is given by the substitution theorem. It states that any branch
in a network may be substituted by a different branch without disturbing the voltages and currents in
the entire network, provided the new branch has the same set of terminal voltage and current as the
original branch.
The substitution theorem is a general theorem and is applicable for any arbitrary network. It is very
useful in circuit analysis of networks having one non-linear element. Also, it is often used to replace
the effect of mutual inductance.
Example 8 Find the substitutions for xy branch.

Fig. 13: Example 8 problem

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Network Theorems

8 Compensation Theorem
In some problems, we are interested in finding the corresponding changes in various voltages and
currents of a network subjected to a change in one of its branches. The compensation theorem
provides us a convenient method for determining such effects.
In a linear network N, if the current in a branch is I and the
impedance Z of the branch is increased by ∆Z, then the
increment of voltage and current in each branch of the
network is that voltage or current that would be produced by
an opposing voltage source of value Vc (=I∆Z) introduced into
the altered branch after the modification. The compensation
theorem is based on the superposition principle, and the
network is required to be linear.
Consider the network N in Fig. 14, having branch impedance
Z, then
VOC Fig. 14: Original Thevenin’s equivalent
I= . circuit
Z + Z TH
Let δZ be the change in Z. Then I’ (the new current) can be
written as
VOC
I= ,
Z + δZ + Z TH
as shown in Fig. 15. It follows that
VOC VOC
δI = I '− I = −
Z + δZ + Z TH Z + Z TH
 VOC  δZ IδZ Fig. 15: Load is changed by δZ.
= −  =−
 Z + Z TH  Z + δZ + Z TH Z + δZ + Z TH
VC
=−
Z + δZ + Z TH
where VC = IδZ , which is shown in Fig. 16.
Example 9 Verify the compensation theorem when R is
changed from 4 to 2 Ω.

Fig. 16: Equivalent circuit by the

Compensation theorem

Fig. 17: Example 9 problem

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Network Theorems

9 Tellegen’s Theorem
Tellegen’s theorem is based on two Kirchhoff’s laws and is applicable for any lumped network having
elements which are linear or non-linear, active or passive, time-varying or time-invariant. It is
completely independent of the nature of elements and is only concerned with the graph of the network.
Consider an arbitrary lumped network whose graph G has b branches and n nodes. Suppose, to each
branch of the graph, we assign arbitrarily a branch voltage vk and a branch current ik for k = 1,2,…,b
and suppose that they are measured with respect to arbitrarily chosen associated reference directions.
If the branch voltages v1, v2, …, vb satisfy all the conditions imposed by KVL and if the branch
currents i1, i2, …, ib satisfy all the constraints imposed by KCL, then
b

∑ v (t )i (t ' ) = 0, ∀t, t '.

k =1
k k

It is noted that in a linear time-invariant network composed of energy sources and passive elements
under steady-state sine-wave excitation, the conservation of power is depicted by Tellegen’s theorem
with t = t′.
Proof Consider a network N consisting of b branches and n nodes, let A = [akj] be the incidence matrix,
whose elements are given by
+ 1, if branch i j leaves node k

akj = − 1, if branch i j enters node k

0, otherwise.
Then KCL can be written as
Ai = 0 ,
where i = [i1 i2 … ib]T denotes the branch-current vector. Note that A is an n×b matrix. Also, the
branch voltages v = [v1 v2 … vb]T are related to the node voltages vn = [vn1 vn2 … vnn]T by
v = AT v n .

( )
b

∑ v (t )i (t ' ) = v
T T
Therefore, k k i = A T v n i = v Tn Ai = 0 . (QED)
k =1
Furthermore, consider another network N′, which has the same topological configuration, the same
references for branch currents and voltages, and the same numbering for the branches as the network
N. Consequently, both networks have the same incidence matrix A, and it follows that
Ai ' = 0 ; v ' = A T v ' n ,
where i', v', v'n denote branch current vector, branch voltage vector and node voltage vector, of the
network N′, respectively. Therefore,

( )
b

∑ v (t )i'
T
(t ' ) = v i ' = A T v n i ' = v Tn A i ' = 0 ,
T
k k
k =1
which implies that Tellegen’s theorem is applicable to two networks with the same topological
configuration as well. Furthermore, it can be easily shown that
v i = v i' = v' i = v' i' = 0 .
T T T T

Example 10 Find all branch currents and voltages for both networks N1, N2 in Fig. 18, 19. Then verify
Tellegen’s theorem.
i'2 3 i'4
2
3
1
+ v'2 - i' + -
3
+ v'4=2i'3 -
+
v'1 5 v'5
v'3 9
- i'1=2A
- +
4
i'5

Fig. 18: Network N1 in example 10 problem Fig. 19: Network N2 in example 10 problem

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Example 11 Verify Tellegen’s theorem for networks N1, N2 in Fig. 20, 21. Assume steady-state
conditions.
1Ω 1Ω 1Ω
1H
+ - + (3) - - - + - +
(2) (2') (3')
i2 i3
i’ 2 i’ 3
+ (1')
sin t (1) i 1 i4 1 F (4)
i’4 (4')
- 2A i’1

N1 + N2
Fig. 20: Network N1 in example 11 problem Fig. 21: Network N2 in example 11 problem

Example 12 Consider two networks with the same topology and, inside their respective two-port
boxes, the same set of elements—passive complex impedances zn(s). The outside elements differ—an
open circuit at port 0 and a source at port 1 in one case, and a source at port 0 and a short circuit at
port 1 in the other case.

Fig. 20: Networks for example 12

Choosing the currents from network a and the voltages from network b for Tellegen’s Theorem,
N N N N
0 = ∑ vbk iak = vb 0ia 0 + vb1ia1 + ∑ vbk iak = ∑ vbk iak = ∑ iak ibk zk ( s )
k =0 k =2 k =2 k =2
Choosing the voltages from network a and the currents from network b for Tellegen’s Theorem,
N N N
0 = ∑ vak ibk = va 0ib 0 + va1ib1 + ∑ vak ibk = va 0ib 0 + va1ib1 + ∑ iak ibk z k ( s ) = va 0ib 0 + va1ib1
k =0 k =2 k =2
Therefore we have a reciprocity of the reverse open-circuit voltage transfer equaling the forward
va 0 i
short-circuit current transfer: = − b1 .
va1 ib 0