Questions on Thevenin Equivalent Circuits

Fall 2004
2. Thevenin Circuits (25 points)

Let V1=12V, R1=50 ohms, R2=10K ohms, R3=2K ohms, and R4=500 ohms. RL
represents the load placed on the circuit between points Aand B.

a) Find the Thevenin voltage between A and B (7 points)

b) Find the Thevenin resistance between A and B (7 points)

c) Draw the Thevenin equivalent to the circuit shown on the previous page. Include the
load resistor RL. (3 points)

d) What would be the voltage from A to B if RL were 2K ohms? (2 points)

e) What would be the voltage from A to B if RL were 10Meg ohms? (2 points)

f) You use the DMM to measure the voltage across the load resistor given in part c (2K
ohms) and part d (10Meg ohms). In which circuit would the measured voltage be closer
to the voltage you calculated? Why? (4 points)
Fall 2004 solution
(none available)
Spring 2004
2) Thevenin circuits (20 points)

In the circuit above, V1=6 volts. R1= 50Ω, R2= 500Ω, R3= 800Ω, R4= 3000Ω

a) Find the Thevenin Voltage (Voc) of the Circuit (8 points)

b) Find the Thevenin Resistance (8 points)

c) If you place a load resistor of 2K between A and B, what would be the voltage at point A? ( 4 points)
Spring 2004 solution
2) Thevenin circuits (20 points)

A: In the circuit above, V1=6 volts. R1= 50Ω, R2= 500Ω, R3= 800Ω, R4= 3000Ω

a) Find the Thevenin Voltage (Voc) of the Circuit (8 points)

VA = [(R2+R3)/(R1+R2+R3)]V1 = (1300/1350)6 = 5.78 V VB = 0

Vth = VA-VB = 5.78V

b) Find the Thevenin Resistance (8 points)

A ---R4--+------R1-----+-------B
| |
+----R2----R3--+

Rth = R4 + [(R1*R23)/(R1+R23)] R23=500+800=1300

Rth=3000+[(50*1300)/(50+1300)]=3048.15 ohms Rth=3048 ohms
c) If you place a load resistor of 2K between A and B, what would be the voltage at point A? ( 4 points)

VA = [RL/(RL+Rth)]Vth = [2K/(2K+3048)]5.78 = 2.29V VA = 2.29V

B: In the circuit above, V1=6 volts. R1= 50Ω, R2= 1000Ω, R3= 500Ω, R4= 2000Ω
a) Find the Thevenin Voltage (Voc) of the Circuit (8 points)

VA = [(R2+R3)/(R1+R2+R3)]V1 = (1500/1550)6 = 5.806 V VB = 0

Vth = VA-VB = 5.806V

b) Find the Thevenin Resistance (8 points) [see pictures for A]

Rth = R4 + [(R1*R23)/(R1+R23)] R23=1000+500=1500

Rth=2000+[(50*1500)/(50+1500)]=2048.38 ohms Rth=2048 ohms
c) If you place a load resistor of 2K between A and B, what would be the voltage at point A? ( 4 points)

VA = [RL/(RL+Rth)]Vth = [3K/(3K+2048)]5.81 = 3.45V VA = 3.45V

Fall 2003
2. Thevenin Circuits (20 points)

R1 R4

A
V2
R2 R3

B
Let V2=12V, R1=50 ohms, R2=1K ohms, R3=2K ohms, and R4=500 ohms.

c) Find the Thevenin voltage between A and B (8 points)

d) Find the Thevenin resistance (8 points)

e) Draw the Thevenin equivalent circuit with a load of 4K ohms. (4 points)

Fall 2003 solution
2. Thevenin Circuits (20 points)

R1 R4

A
V2
R2 R3

B
Let V2=12V, R1=50 ohms, R2=1K ohms, R3=2K ohms, and R4=500 ohms.

f) Find the Thevenin voltage between A and B (8 points)

Test A: Vth = VR23 R23=R2//R3=1K*2K/(1K+2K)=0.66667K

VAB = 0.66667K/(0.66667K+50)(12V)=11.16V
VAB = 11.16V

Test B: Vth = VR23 R23=R2//R3=2K*0.5K/(2K+0.5K)=0.4K

VAB = 0.4K/(0.4K+50)(12V)=10.67V
VAB = 10.67V

g) Find the Thevenin resistance (8 points)

Test A: Rth = R4 + R123

R123 = R1//R2//R3 Æ 1/R123 = 1/50 + 1/1K + 1/2K Æ R123 = 46.5 ohms
Rth = 500+46.5 = 546.5 ohms
Rth = 546.5 ohms

Test B: Rth = R4 + R123

R123 = R1//R2//R3 Æ 1/R123 = 1/50 + 1/2K + 1/0.5K Æ R123 = 44.4 ohms
Rth = 3000+44.4 = 3044.4 ohms
Rth = 3044.4 ohms
Draw the Thevenin equivalent circuit with a load of 4K ohms. (4 points)

TEST A TEST B
Spring 2003
2. Thevenin circuits (20 points)

a) (6 points) Find the Thevenin voltage (Voc) of the circuit assuming the load will be
connected between A and B.

b) (6 points) Find the Thevenin resistance.

c) (4 points) Draw the Thevinen equivalent circuit with a load of 1K ohms.

d) (4 points) Find the voltage between A and B for this circuit with a load of 1K ohms.
Spring 2003 solution
2. Thevenin circuits (20 points)

a) (6 points) Find the Thevenin voltage (Vth) of the circuit assuming the load will be
connected between A and B.

R245 = R2+R4+R5 = 1k+5k+3k = 9k

R2345 = R3 // R245 = (9kx4k)/(9k+4k) = 2.77k
V2345 = V1(R2345)/(R1+R2345) = 15x2.77/(2+2.77) = 8.71 volts
V4 = V2345xR4/(R2+R4+R5) = (8.71x5k)/9k = 4.84 volts

Vth = 4.84 volts

b) (6 points) Find the Thevenin resistance.

R13 = R1//R3=(R1xR3)/(R1+R3) = (2kx4k)/(2k+4k) = 1.33k

R1235 = R13 + R2 + R5 = 1.33K + 1K + 3k = 5.33 K
R12345 = R1235//R4 = (5.33x5)/(5.33+5) = 2.58K ohms

Rth = 2.58 K ohms

c) (4 points) Draw the Thevinen equivalent circuit with a load of 1K ohms.

d) (4 points) Find the voltage between A and B for this circuit with a load of 1K ohms.

VAB = (Vthx1K)/(1K+Rth) = (4.84x1k)/(1K+2.58K) = 1.35 volts

VAB = 1.35 volts

Fall 2002

2. Thevenin circuits (20 points)

R1 R3

V1
A B

R2 R4

Given: V1=12 V; R1=2 kΩ; R2=4 kΩ; R3= 8 kΩ; R4= 4 kΩ

a) Find the Thevenin Voltage (Voc) of the circuit assuming the load will be connected
between A and B. (6 points)

b) Find the Thevenin Resistance (6 points)

c) Find the current going from A to B if a 4 kΩ resistor is connected between A and B.

(8 points)
 Fall 2002 solution

2. Thevenin circuits (20 points)

R1 R3

V1
A B

R2 R4

0
Given: V1=12 V; R1=2 kΩ; R2=4 kΩ; R3= 8 kΩ; R4= 4 kΩ

a) Find the Thevenin Voltage (Voc) of the circuit assuming the load will be connected
between A and B. (6 points)

Vth = VA – VB = V1*R2/(R1+R2) – V1*R4/(R3+R4)

Vth = 12*4K/6K – 12*4K/(8K+4K) = 8-4 = 4 volts

b) Find the Thevenin Resistance (6 points)

Redraw circuit:

Rth = R1//R2 + R3//R4 = R1*R2/(R1=R2) + R3*R4/(R3+R4)

Rth = 2K*4K(2K+4K) + (8K*4K)/(8K+4K) = 4/3 + 8/3 = 12/3 = 4 Kohms

c) Find the current going from A to B if a 4 kΩ resistor is connected between A and B.

(8 points)

V=IR Vth = I* (Rth+4K) 4 = I * (4K+4K)

I = 0.5 mamps
Spring 2002
2. Thevenin circuits (20 points)

R1 R2
A
2k 4k

V1
10V
R3 R4
1k 5k

a) Find the Thevenin Voltage (Voc) of the Circuit (8 points)

b) Find the Thevenin Resistance (8 points)

c) Draw the Standard Thevenin Circuit, including a load Resistor ( 4 points)

Spring 2002 solution
Fall 2001 solution