LINEAR CIRCUIT ANALYSIS

(EED) – U.E.T. TAXILA

ENGR. M. MANSOOR ASHRAF
04

INTRODUCTION
A major advantage of analyzing circuit using Kirchhoff’s
laws is that, original circuit configuration is not
tampered.
A major disadvantage of this approach is that, for a
large, complex circuit, tedious computation is involved.
To handle the complexity, engineers have developed
some theorems to simplify the circuit analysis.
These theorems include, superposition theorem, source
transformation, Thevenin’s theorem, Norton’s theorem
and maximum power transfer theorem.
LINEARITY PROPERTY
Linearity is the property of an element describing a
linear relationship between cause and effect.
The property is a combination of both the homogeneity
property and additivity property.
The Homogeneity property requires that if the input is
multiplied by a constant, then the output is also
multiplied by the same constant.
For example, Ohm’s law;

LINEARITY PROPERTY
If the current is increased by a constant k, then the
voltage increases correspondingly by k.

The Additivity property requires that the response to a

sum of inputs is the sum of the responses to each input
applied separately.
For example, application of Ohm’s law on two resistors;
LINEARITY PROPERTY
According to additivity property;

Here resistor is a linear circuit element because the

voltage-current relationship satisfies both the
homogeneity and the additivity properties.

LINEAR CIRCUIT
A Linear Circuit is one whose output is linearly related
(directly proportional) to its input.

Throughout the circuit analysis, we only consider the

linear circuits.
PROBLEMS
Find the current Io, when vs=12 V and vs=24 V?

(12/76 A, 24/76 A)

SUPERPOSITION THEOREM
The Superposition Theorem states that the voltage
across (or current through) an element in a linear circuit
is the algebraic sum of the voltage across (or current
through) that element due to each independent source
acting alone.
The superposition theorem helps to analyze a linear
circuit with more than one independent source by
calculating the contribution of each independent source
separately.
One independent source at a time is considered while
all other independent sources are turned off.
SUPERPOSITION THEOREM
An independent voltage source is replaced by a 0 V or
short circuit element.
An independent current source is replaced by 0 A or
open circuit.
Dependent sources are left intact because they are
controlled by circuit variables.
Analyzing circuit using superposition, involves more
work.
This reduces the complexity of circuit.

SUPERPOSITION THEOREM

The superposition theorem is based on the linearity

property.
PROBLEMS
Find the voltage?

(2+8=10 V)

PROBLEMS
Find the current?

(2-1+1=2 A)
PROBLEMS

(2 A)

PROBLEMS

(-1 A)
PROBLEMS

(1 A)

PROBLEMS
Find the current?

(1-0.75+0.5=0.75 A)
SOURCE TRANSFORMATION
A Source Transformation is the process of replacing a
voltage source vs in series with a resistor R by a current
source is in parallel with a resistor R, or vice versa.
Transformation of independent sources;

SOURCE TRANSFORMATION
Transformation of dependent sources;

Ohm’s law is applied to find unknown voltage or

current.
SOURCE TRANSFORMATION
The arrow head of the current source is directed
towards the positive terminal of the voltage source.

PROBLEMS
Find the voltage?

(3.2 V)
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PROBLEMS
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PROBLEMS
Find the current?

(1.78 A)
PROBLEMS
Find the voltage?

(7.5 V)

REFERENCES
Fundamentals of Electric Circuits (4th Edition)
Charles K. Alexander, Matthew N. O. Sadiku

Chapter 04 – Circuit Theorems (4.1 – 4.4)

Exercise Problems: 4.1 – 4.32
Do exercise problem yourself.
THEVENIN’S THEOREM
It often occurs in practice that a particular element in a
circuit is variable while other elements are fixed.
For example, a household outlet terminal may be
connected to different appliances constituting a
variable load.
Each time the variable element is changed, the entire
circuit has to be analyzed all over again.
To avoid this problem, Thevenin’s theorem provides the
technique by which fixed part of the circuit is replaced
by an equivalent circuit.

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 independent sources are turned off.
Original
Circuit;
THEVENIN’S THEOREM
Thevenin’s equivalent circuit;

THEVENIN’S THEOREM
Thus Vth is the open circuit voltage as shown;
THEVENIN’S THEOREM
There are two cases to determine Rth;
Case 1: If the network has no dependent sources, turn
off all independent sources and calculate equivalent
resistance looking between terminals a and b.

THEVENIN’S THEOREM
Case 2: If the network has dependent sources, turn off
all independent sources and apply voltage source vo (or
current source io) between terminals a and b. Last,
calculate the value of Rth.
THEVENIN’S THEOREM
Case 2: If the network has dependent sources, turn off
all independent sources and apply voltage source vo (or
current source io) between terminals a and b. Last,
calculate the value of Rth.

THEVENIN’S THEOREM
The load current and voltage can be calculated as;
PROBLEMS
Find the current, if RL=6, 16, 36 ohm?

(3, 1.5, 0.75 A)

PROBLEMS

(4 ohm)
PROBLEMS

(30 V)

PROBLEMS

(3, 1.5, 0.75 A)

PROBLEMS
Find the current?

(9 V, 3 ohm, 2.25 A)

PROBLEMS
Find the Thevenin’s equivalent network?

(20 V, 6 ohm)
PROBLEMS

PROBLEMS
NORTON’S THEOREM
Thevenin’s Theorem states that a linear two terminal
circuit can be replaced by an 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 independent sources are turned
off.
Original
Circuit;

NORTON’S THEOREM
Norton’s equivalent circuit;

The equivalent resistance in case of both Norton and

Thevenin are equal.
NORTON’S THEOREM
The short circuit current through terminals a and b will
be equal to Norton’s current.

NORTON’S THEOREM
The parameters of Thevenin’s and Norton’s equivalent
circuits may be expressed as;
PROBLEMS
Find Norton’s equivalent circuit?

(4 ohm, 1 A)

PROBLEMS
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PROBLEMS
Find Norton’s equivalent circuit?

(5 ohm, 7 A)
PROBLEMS

PROBLEMS
MAXIMUM POWER TRANSFER THEOREM
In many practical situations, a circuit is designed to
provide the maximum power to the load.
Thevenin’s equivalent is useful in finding the maximum
power a linear circuit can deliver to the load.

MAXIMUM POWER TRANSFER THEOREM

The power delivered to the load may be expressed as;
MAXIMUM POWER TRANSFER THEOREM
Maximum Power is transferred to the load when the
load resistance equals the Thevenin’s resistance as seen
from the load (RL=RTh).
Maximizing the power equation of the load as;

MAXIMUM POWER TRANSFER THEOREM

Thus maximum power transferred to the load;

PROBLEMS
Find value of RL for maximum power transfer?

(9 ohm, 22 V, 13.44 W)

PROBLEMS
PROBLEMS

REFERENCES
Fundamentals of Electric Circuits (4th Edition)
Charles K. Alexander, Matthew N. O. Sadiku

Chapter 04 – Circuit Theorems (4.5 – 4.8)

Exercise Problems: 4.33 – 4.92
Do exercise problem yourself.