Chapter 3

Network theorems 1

3.1 The′venin’s Theorem

The′venin’s Theorem states the following: Any two-terminal, linear bilateral dc network
can be replaced by an equivalent circuit consisting of a voltage source and a series resistor,
as shown below:

Fig.1 Thévenin equivalent circuit.

The following sequence of steps will lead to the proper value of RTh and ETh. Preliminary:

RTh
1. Remove that portion of the network across which the Thévenin equivalent circuit is to be
found. In Fig.1, this requires that the load resistor RL be temporarily removed from the
network.

2. Mark the terminals of the remaining two-terminal network. (The importance of this step
will become obvious as we progress through some complex networks.) .
3. Calculate RTh by first setting all sources to zero (voltage sources are replaced by short
circuits, and current sources by open circuits) and then finding the resultant resistance
between the two marked terminals. (If the internal resistance of the voltage and/or current
sources is included in the original network, it must remain when the sources are set to zero.)
ETh:

4. Calculate ETh by first returning all sources to their original position and finding the open-
circuit voltage between the marked terminals. (This step is invariably the one that will lead
to the most confusion and errors. In all cases, keep in mind that it is the open-circuit potential
between the two terminals marked in step 2.) Conclusion:
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5. Draw the Thévenin equivalent circuit with the portion of the circuit previously removed
replaced between the terminals of the equivalent circuit. This step is indicated by the
placement of the resistor RL between the terminals of the Thévenin equivalent circuit as
shown in Fig. below.

Fig.2 Substituting the Thévenin equivalent circuit for a complex network

Example 3.1 Find the Thévenin equivalent circuit for the network in the shaded area of the
network of Fig. below. Then find the current through RL for values of (2 ,10 ,and 100 Ω) ?

Solution:
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Example 3.2 Find the Thévenin equivalent circuit for the network in the shaded area of the
network of Fig. below. ?

Solution
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Example 3.3 Find the Thévenin equivalent circuit for the bridge network of Fig. below ?
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Solution :

At first we find Rth

Then we find VTH

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3.2 Norton’s Theorem

Norton’s theorem states the following:

An equivalent circuit consisting of a current source and a parallel resistor can replace any two-
terminal linear bilateral dc network.

The discussion of Thévenin’s theorem with respect to the equivalent circuit can also be applied to
the Norton equivalent circuit. The steps leading to the proper values of IN and RN are now listed.

1. Remove that portion of the network across which the Norton equivalent circuit is found.
2. Mark the terminals of the remaining two-terminal network.

RN:

3. Calculate RN by first setting all sources to zero (voltage sources are replaced with short circuits,
and current sources with open circuits) and then finding the resultant resistance between the two
marked terminals. (If the internal resistance of the voltage and/or current sources is included in
the original network, it must remain when the sources are set to zero.) Since RN = RTh , the
procedure and value obtained using the approach described for Thévenin’s theorem will determine
the proper value of RN.

IN:

4. Calculate IN by first returning all sources to their original position and then finding the short-
circuit current between the marked terminals. It is the same current that would be measured by an
ammeter placed between the marked terminals.

5. Draw the Norton equivalent circuit with the portion of the circuit previously removed replaced
between the terminals of the equivalent circuit.
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Example 3.4 Find the Norton equivalent circuit for the network in the shaded area of Fig. below
?

Solution:
1- RN

2- IN
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3- Equivalent Circuit

Example 3.5 Find the Norton equivalent circuit for the network external to the 9-Ω resistor in
Fig. below ?

Solution
1- RN
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Network theorems 9

2- IN

3- Equivalent Circuit
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Example 3.6 (Two sources) Find the Norton equivalent circuit for the portion of the network to
the left of a-b in Fig. below ??

Solution:
1- RN

2- IN
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3- Equivalent Circuit

3.3 Current Sources

The current source is often referred to as the dual of the voltage source. A battery supplies
a fixed voltage, and the source current can vary; but the current source supplies a fixed current to
the branch in which it is located, while its terminal voltage may vary as determined by the network
to which it is applied. Note from the above that duality simply implies an interchange of current
and voltage to distinguish the characteristics of one source from the other.

A current source determines the current in the branch in which it is located

and

the magnitude and polarity of the voltage across a current source are a function of the network
to which it is applied.

Example 3.7 Find the voltage Vs and the currents I1 and

I2 ??
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Network theorems 12

3.4 Source Conversions

Example 3.8

a. Convert the voltage source of Fig.(a) below to a current source, and calculate the current
through the 4-Ω load for each source.
b. Replace the 4-Ω load with a 1-kΩ load, and calculate the current IL for the voltage source.
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Example 3.9 Reduce the network of Fig. below to a single current source, and calculate the
current through RL ??

Solution
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3.5 Superposition Theorem

The superposition theorem, like the methods of the last chapter, can be used to find the
solution to networks with two or more sources that are not in series or parallel. The most obvious
advantage of this method is that it does not require the use of a mathematical technique such as
determinants to find the required voltages or currents. Instead, each source is treated
independently, and the algebraic sum is found to determine a particular unknown quantity of the
network.

The superposition theorem states the following:

The current through, or voltage across, an element in a linear bilateral network is equal to the
algebraic sum of the currents or voltages produced independently by each source.

Example 3.10 Using superposition, determine the current through the 4-Ω resistor ??
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3.6 Maximum Power Transfer Theorem

The maximum power transfer theorem states the following:

A load will receive maximum power from a linear bilateral dc network when its total resistive
value is exactly equal to the Thévenin resistance of the network as “seen” by the load.

For the Thévenin circuit

For the Norton circuit

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Example 3.11 Find the value of RL in Fig. below for maximum power to RL, and determine the
maximum power ??

Solution