Unit 4

Network Theorems
1. Superposition Theorem
2. Source Transformation
3. Thevenins and Nortons theorem
4. Maximum Power transfer theorem

Superposition Theorem
Principle of Superposition
-states that the response (a desired current or voltage) in a linear
circuit having more than one independent source can be obtained
by adding the responses caused by the separate independent
sources acting alone.

Superposition Theorem

In any linear resistive network, the voltage across or the current

through any resistor or source may be calculated by adding
algebraically all the individual voltages or currents caused by the
separate

independent

sources

acting

alone

with

all

other

independent voltage sources replaced by short circuits and all other

independent current sources replaced by open circuits.

If there are N independent sources, then there will be N experiments to be

performed each having only one of the independent sources active
and the others inactive/turned off/zeroed out.

Problem 1
Use superposition to determine the unknown branch current ix.
6

ix
vs=3V

is=2A

Problem 2
Use superposition to determine the current i and voltage v

Problem 3
Use superposition principle to determine the value of ix.
2

ix
+
10V

v
-

3A

2ix

Practice Problem 1
Use superposition to obtain the voltage across each current source.

v1

15 v
2
i

7
5

2A
3V

4i

Practice Problem 2
Use superposition to determine the current ix.

ix
15
7
2A
3

3.5V

Source Transformation
Equivalent Sources
An ideal current source has the voltage necessary to
provide its rated current.
An ideal voltage source supplies the current
necessary to provide its rated voltage.
A real voltage source cannot supply arbitrarily large
amounts of current.
A real current source cannot have an arbitrarily large
terminal voltage.

Source Transformation
Rs

Vs

Is

Vs Rs I s

Rs

Vs
Is
Rs

Open Circuit Voltage

If the current flowing from a source is zero, then the source is

connected to an open circuit.
The voltage at the source terminals with i(t) equal to zero is called
the open circuit voltage: voc(t)

Short Circuit Current

If the voltage across the source terminals is zero, then the source is
connected to a short circuit.
The current that flows when v(t) equals zero is called the short circuit
current: isc(t)

Source Transformation
Equivalent sources can be used to simplify the analysis of some circuits.
A voltage source in series with a resistor is transformed into a
current source in parallel with a resistor.
A current source in parallel with a resistor is transformed into a
voltage source in series with a resistor.

Averaging Circuit
1k

1k
+

V
1

Vo

ut

1k

V
2

How can source transformation make analysis of this circuit easier?

When performing source transformation, the head of the current

source arrow corresponds to the +ve terminal of the voltage
source.

Problem 4
Compute the current through the 4.7-k resistor after
transforming the 9-mA source into an equivalent voltage
source.
4.7k 3k
I
9mA

5k

3V

Problem 5
Calculate the value of v0 by source transformation

Problem 6
Compute the voltage V across the 1-M resistor using repeated source
transformations.
6 M

40A

+V1M

75A

4 M

200
k

3V

Practice Problem 1
Calculate the current through the 2- resistor by making use of source
transformations.
17
+VX -

5A

3VX

2
9

1A

Practice Problem 2
Compute the current IX through the 47-k resistor after performing a
source transformation on the voltage source.
5k

5V

IX

47k

1mA

Thevenins Theorem
Any circuit with sources (dependent and/or independent) and
resistors can be replaced by an equivalent circuit containing a
single voltage source and a single resistor in series.

Nortons Theorem
Any circuit with sources (dependent and/or independent) and
resistors can be replaced by an equivalent circuit containing a single
current source and a single resistor in parallel.
Thevenins/Nortons theorem implies that we can replace arbitrarily
complicated networks with simple networks for purposes of analysis.

Independent Sources (Thevenin)

Voc

Circuit with independent sources

RTh

Thevenin equivalent circuit

No Independent Sources

RTh

Circuit without independent

sources

Thevenin equivalent circuit

Thevenin/Norton Analysis
1. Pick a good breaking point in the circuit (cannot split a dependent source
and its control variable).
2. Thevenin: Compute the open circuit voltage, VOC.
Norton: Compute the short circuit current, ISC.
3. Compute the Thevenin equivalent resistance, RTh.
If there are only independent sources, then short circuit all the voltage
sources and open circuit the current sources (just like superposition).
4. Thevenin: Replace circuit with VOC in series with RTh, .
Norton: Replace circuit with ISC in parallel with RTh, .

Only steps 2 & 4 differ from Thevenin & Norton!

Problem 7
Determine the Thevenin and Norton equivalents for the part of the circuit to
the left of RL.
7

3
12V

RL

Problem 8
Use Thevenins theorem to find the current through the 2- resistor in
the circuit.
5

4
4

9V

I2
2

Problem 9
Determine the Thevenin and Norton equivalent circuits for the network faced
by the 1-k resistor.
2k

4V

3k

2mA

1k

Problem 10
Determine the Thevenin and Norton equivalent circuits for the
network faced by the 1 resistor and the current i.

Practice Problem 1
Determine the Thevenin and Norton equivalents of the circuit below.
2k

3V

7mA

1k

5k

Maximum Power Transfer

An independent voltage source in series with a resistance
RS, or an independent current source in parallel with a
resistance Rs, delivers a maximum power to that load
resistance RL for which RL=RS.
iL

RS
+
vS

vL
_

RL