NETWORK THEOREMS

Superposition Theorem
 The superposition theorem states that the response in
any element of a linear bilateral network containing
two or more sources is the sum of the responses
obtained by each source acting seperartel and all other
set equal to zero.

 Apply one source and inactivate all other independent

sources:
independent voltage source: 0 V (short circuit)
independent current source: 0 A (open circuit)

 Dependent sources are left intact

 Superposition Theorem
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.
NOTE: 1. Superposition involves more work but simpler circuits.
2. Superposition is not applicable to the effect on power
Use the superposition theorem to find v in the circuit

Since there are two sources,

Let v  v1  v2
Voltage division to get
4
v1  (6)  2V
48
Current division, to get
8
i3  (3)  2A
48
and
v2  4i3  8V
Hence v  v1  v2  2  8  10V
 Find i0 in the circuit using superposition.

Solution: There are two independent sources

Consider 4 A current source and deactivate voltage source
Consider 4 A current source and deactivate voltage source
Consider 20V A voltage source and deactivate current source
 THEVENIN’S THEOREM:
Consider two Networks

Suppose Network 2 is detached Now place a voltmeter across terminals

from Network 1 and we focus A-B and read the voltage. We call this
the open-circuit voltage. VTHEVENIN = VTH
temporarily only on Network 1.

Now We deactivate all sources of Network 1.

• To deactivate a voltage source, we remove the source and replace it with
a short circuit.
• To deactivate a current source, we remove the source
Consider the following circuit.
I2
V 3

_ + A
R 1 R 3
R 2

R 4
_+ V 1 _ I1
V 2 +
B

A
R R
Now place an ohmmeter across A-B
1 3
and read the resistance. This is known as
R 2 R 4
Thevinins Resistance.
B A

R TH
+_ V TH

B
We can now tie (reconnect) Network 2 back to terminals A-B.
A

R TH We can now make any calculations we desire
+ N e tw o r k within Network 2
_ V TH 2


B

It follows that we could also replace Network 2 with a Thevenin voltage and
Thevenin resistance.
A

R TH 1 R TH 2
+_ V V _+
TH 1 TH 2


B
 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.
 How to Find Thevenin’s Voltage
open circuit voltage at a  b
VTh  voc :
1. Remove the element between the two terminals.
2. Apply suitable circuit analysis method to find out voltage
across terminal.

How to Find Thevenin’s Resistance

RTh  Rin :
input  resistance of the dead circuit at a  b.
 a  b open circuited
 Turn off all independen t sources
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
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 vo
RTh 
io
Simplified circuit

VTh
IL 
RTh  RL

RL
VL  RL I L  VTh
RTh  RL

11
Example
Find the Thevenin’s equivalent circuit of the circuit shown in Figure to the left of the
terminals a-b. Then find the current through RL = 10,15,and 30 .

To find Thevinin’s Resistance

2A current source  open

4  12
RTh  4 || 12  1   1  4
16
 To find Thevinin’s Voltage( Open Circuit Voltag):

 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
(3) Alternatively, source transform
32  VTH VTH
2
4 12
96  3VTH  24  VTH  VTH  30V
Find the Thevenin’s equivalent of the circuit in at terminals a-b.
 To find RTh : Fig(a)
independent source  0
dependent source  intact
vo  1V, R  vo  1
Th
For loop 1, io io
But vx   4i2

 i1  3i2
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 1V
But io  i3  A  RTh   6
6 io
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
 For the circuit below, find VAB by first finding the Thevenin
circuit to the left of terminals A-B.
1 .5 A

5 
 A
10 

20 V _+ 20  17 


1 .5 A

5 
5 
 A  A
10  10 

20 V _+ 20  20 

B
B



Find the voltage across the 100  load resistor by first finding the Thevenin circuit to
the left of terminals A-B.
IS A

50  40 
30 
_+ 86 V
100 

6 IS
B

Solution:
Thevinin Voltage
IS A
  86  80 I S  6 I S  0  I S  1 A
50  40 
VAB  6 I S  30 I S   36V
30 
_+ 86 V

6 IS
B

 IS A IS 1 A

50  40  50  40 
30  R TH
30 
IS + 1 V 1 A
6 IS
6 IS
B

15
50 I S  30( I S  1)  6 I S  0 IS  A
43
 15 
50    1(40)  V  0 V  57.4 volts
 43 

R V V
TH
RTH    57.4 
5 7 .4  I 1

V +_ 36 V
TH 100 
36 x100
V100   22.9 V
57.4  100
 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.

Thevenin and Norton resistances are equal:

 How to Find Norton Current

Thevenin and Norton resistances are equal: RN  RTh

Norton’s Current=Short circuit current from a to b

Nortons Resistance is same as that of Thevinins Resitance

NOTE : 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
Find the Norton equivalent circuit to the left of terminals A-B and find the current in the 50
 resistor. 10 A

20  40  A


+_ 50 V 60  50 


B

Short circuit current

10 A

20  40 

+_ 50 V 60 
ISS
For the circuit shown below, find the Norton equivalent circuit
to the left of terminals A-B.
1 k IS A

+
VTH  VX  (25I S )(40)  1000I S
5 V _+ 3 V X 2 5 IS V X 40 
_

1 k IS A
We note that ISS = - 25IS.
VTH  1000I S
+ RN    40 
_+ 3 V 2 5 IS V 40 
I SS  25I S
5 V X X ISS
_  5  1000 I S  3( 1000 I S )  0
B
I S   2.5 mA
 A

I N = 6 2 .5 m A R N = 40 

40 

+
_ 2 .5 V
References:
• http://pongsak.ee.engr.tu.ac.th/le325/NetworkTheorem.pdf
• http://bapirajueca1.blogspot.com/2017/03/unit-6-network-theorems
-ppt.html?m=1
• 
• https://www.iare.ac.in/sites/default/files/PPT/IARE_EC_PPT_1.pdf