Electrical Circuit Analysis

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1 class Lecturer: Mohammed Arif

4. Circuit Theorems
4.1 Superposition Theorem
The Theorem states that: “the current through (or the 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.

 To apply this theorem to find the current (or voltage) in a certain part
of a network, remove the sources of the network and find the current
(or voltage) in the existence of only one source each time. The
resultant current (or voltage) will be the algebraic sum of currents (or
voltages) due to all sources when acting independently once a time.
 Removing the sources means: SHORT CIRCUITING the voltage
sources and OPEN CIRCUITING the current source.

Example:
Using the superposition theorem, determine V1 for the network shown.

15 Ω

I= 2𝐴𝐴

E= 40 V

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Solution:

 Due to the current source:

V1 = I R1

= (2) (15) = 30 V

 Due to the voltage source:

V1 = I1 R1

= (0) (15)

=0V

∴ 𝑉𝑉1 = 𝑉𝑉1′ + 𝑉𝑉1′′

= 30+0 = 30V

Example:

Using superposition theorem, determine the current through 4 Ω resistor for

the network shown.

R1 = 24Ω

E1 = 54V R2 = 12Ω

E2 = 48 V

R3=4Ω

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Solution:

 Consider the effect of E1

𝐸𝐸1 54
𝐼𝐼 = = = 2 𝐴𝐴
𝑅𝑅𝑇𝑇 27

Using the current rule

𝑅𝑅2 12
∴ 𝐼𝐼3′ = 𝐼𝐼 =2 = 1.5 𝐴𝐴
𝑅𝑅2 + 𝑅𝑅3 12 + 4

 Consider the effect of E2

𝐸𝐸2
𝐼𝐼 = 𝐼𝐼3′′ =
𝑅𝑅𝑇𝑇

RT = (24 // 12) + 4 = 4 + 8 = 12 Ω
48
∴ 𝐼𝐼3′′ = = 4 𝐴𝐴
12
∴ 𝐼𝐼3 = 𝐼𝐼3′′ − 𝐼𝐼3′ = 4 − 1.5 = 2.5 𝐴𝐴 ( 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑡𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑒 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝐼𝐼3′′ )

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Example:

Using superposition theorem, determine the current through 2 Ω resistor for

the network shown.
R1 = 2Ω

R2 = 4Ω
I= 3A
E2= 6 V

E1 = 12 V

Solution:

 The effect of E1:

Remove the voltage sources E2 (short circuit) and the current source I (
open circuit); then the network will be as shown:
𝐸𝐸1 12
∴ 𝐼𝐼1′ = = = 6 𝐴𝐴
𝑅𝑅𝑇𝑇 2+4

 The effect of E2: removing E1 and I, the network will be as shown:

𝐸𝐸2 6
∴ 𝐼𝐼1′′ = = = 1 𝐴𝐴
𝑅𝑅𝑇𝑇 2 + 4

 The effect of I:

Removing E1 and E2, the network will be as shown

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𝑅𝑅2 4
∴ 𝐼𝐼1′′′ = 𝐼𝐼 = (3) = 2 𝐴𝐴
𝑅𝑅1 + 𝑅𝑅2 4+2

∴ 𝐼𝐼1 = 𝐼𝐼1′′ + 𝐼𝐼1′′′ − 𝐼𝐼1′ = 1 + 2 − 2 = 1𝐴𝐴

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3.2 Thevenin’s Theorem

Thevenin’s theorem state that “any two equivalent linear biletraral dc

network can be replaced by an equivalent circuit consisting of a voltage
source and a series resistor.

Consider the network shown, it can be replaced by the voltage source Eth and
the series resistor Rth.
R3 RTH

E R4 RL ETH RL
R1 R2

- To find I through the resistance RL .

𝐸𝐸𝑡𝑡ℎ
𝐼𝐼 =
𝑅𝑅𝑡𝑡ℎ + 𝑅𝑅𝐿𝐿

 Steps to find Eth and Rth:

STEP 1: remove that portion of the network across which the Thevenin’s
equivalent circuit to be found.

SETP 2: make the terminal of the remaining Two- terminals network.

STEP3: (RTH)

Calculate Rth by firest setting all sources to zero (voltage sources are
replaced by short circuits and current are replaced by open circuit), and
finding the resultant resistance between the two marked terminals.

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STEP 4: (ETH)

Calculate Eth by first returning all sources to their original positions and
finding the open circuit voltage between the marked terminals.

STEP 5:

Draw Thevenin’s equivalent circuit with the portion of the circuit previously
removed replaced between the terminals of the equivalent circuit.

Example: using Thevenin’s theorem, find the current in the RL = 10Ω of the
network shown.

R2 = 2Ω

I= 3A R1 = 4Ω RL = 10Ω

Solution:

Step 1 and 2:

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Step 3: Rth=?

Remove the current source I, then calculate Rth between the terminals
a and b;

∴ Rth = R1 + R2 = 4 +2 = 6 Ω

Step 4: Eth

Return the current source to its original position then determine Eth across
the open circuit terminals a and b.

I2 = 0

Then I2 R2 =0

Hence,

Eth = I1 R1 – I2 R2

= I1 R1 = 12 (4) =48 V

Step 5:

Draw the Thevenin’s equivalent circuit representing the network between

points a and b with RL added.

𝐸𝐸𝑡𝑡ℎ 48
∴ 𝐼𝐼 = = = 3𝐴𝐴
𝑅𝑅𝑡𝑡ℎ + 𝑅𝑅𝐿𝐿 6 + 10

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3.3 Norton’s Theorem:

Norton’s theorem states that “any two terminal liner bilateral dc networks
can be replaced by an equivalent circuit consisting of a current source and a
parallel resistor”.

Consider the network shown, it can be replaced by the by the current source
IN and the parallel resistor RN;
R4

R1
E RL RN RL
R2 R3 IN

R5

To find the current through RL

𝐼𝐼𝑁𝑁 𝑅𝑅𝑁𝑁
So, 𝐼𝐼 =
𝑅𝑅𝑁𝑁 +𝑅𝑅𝐿𝐿

How to find IN and RN

Step 1:

Remove the portion of the network across which the Norton equivalent
circuit id found.

Step 2:

Make the terminals of the remaining two-terminal network.

Step 3: (RN)

Calculate RN by first removing all the sources (voltage sources replaced by a

short circuit and current sources replaced by open circuits) and then finding
the resultant resistance between the two marked terminals.

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Step 4: (IN)

Calculate IN by first returning all sources to their original position and then
finding the short circuit current between the two marked terminals.

Step 5:

Draw the Norton equivalent circuit the portion of the circuit previously
removed replace between the terminals of the equivalent circuit.

Relation between Norton equivalent circuit and Thevenin’s equlivalent

circuit

The Norton’s and Thevevnin’s equivalent circuits can also be found from
each other by using the source transformation previously discussed, as
shown.
RTH

RTH =RN
ETH RN =RTH

𝐸𝐸𝑡𝑡ℎ
ETH =IN RN 𝐼𝐼𝑁𝑁 =
𝑅𝑅𝑡𝑡ℎ

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Example:

For the circuit shown, find the Norton’s equivalent circuit for the network to
the left of (a-b).

R1=3Ω

E1= 9V R2 =6Ω RL

Solution:

Step 1 and 2:
R1=3Ω

E1= 9V R2 =6Ω

Step 3: (RN=0)

RN = R1// R2

3 (6)
= =2Ω
3+6
Step 4: IN

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𝐸𝐸 9
IN =I = = = 3 𝐴𝐴
𝑅𝑅1 3

Step 5:

RN=2Ω RL
IN=3A

Which is the Norton equivalent circuit of the network.

Note: Thevenin’s theorem can be determined by Norton’s Theorem as

shown:

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Example:

Using Norton Theorem, find the current through the load resistor RL in the
network shown.

Solution:

Step 1 and 2:

Step 3: (RN=0)

RN = R1+ R2

=5+4=9Ω

Step 4: IN
𝑅𝑅1 5
IN =I = 10 = 5.556 𝐴𝐴
𝑅𝑅1 +𝑅𝑅2 5+4

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Step 5:

𝐼𝐼𝑁𝑁
∴ 𝐼𝐼 = = 2.778 𝐴𝐴
2
Note: Thevenin’s theorem can be determined by Norton’s Theorem as
shown:

3.4 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 Thevenin
resistance of the network as seen by the load.

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For the maximum power transfer

Rth=RL

𝐸𝐸𝑡𝑡ℎ
𝐼𝐼 =
𝑅𝑅𝑡𝑡ℎ + 𝑅𝑅𝐿𝐿

𝐸𝐸𝑡𝑡ℎ
𝑃𝑃𝐿𝐿 = 𝐼𝐼 2 𝑅𝑅𝐿𝐿 = ( )2 𝑅𝑅𝐿𝐿
𝑅𝑅𝑡𝑡ℎ + 𝑅𝑅𝐿𝐿

∴ 𝑃𝑃𝐿𝐿 → 𝑅𝑅𝑡𝑡ℎ = 𝑅𝑅𝐿𝐿

2 2
𝐸𝐸𝑡𝑡ℎ 2
𝐸𝐸𝑡𝑡ℎ
𝑃𝑃𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿 =( ) 𝑅𝑅𝑡𝑡ℎ =
4 𝑅𝑅𝑡𝑡ℎ 4 𝑅𝑅𝑡𝑡ℎ
2
𝐸𝐸𝑡𝑡ℎ
∴ 𝑃𝑃𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿 =
4 𝑅𝑅𝑡𝑡ℎ

 When dealing with Norton equivalent circuit maximum power transfer

takes place, when:

RN=RL

Max. power Transfer at

RN=RL
PL = I2 RL
𝑅𝑅𝑁𝑁
= �𝐼𝐼𝑁𝑁 � . 𝑅𝑅𝐿𝐿
𝑅𝑅𝑁𝑁 +𝑅𝑅𝐿𝐿

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𝑅𝑅𝑁𝑁
∴ 𝑃𝑃𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿 = (𝐼𝐼𝑁𝑁 . )2 𝑅𝑅𝑁𝑁
2 𝑅𝑅𝑁𝑁

𝑅𝑅𝑁𝑁 2
∴ 𝑃𝑃𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿 = (𝐼𝐼𝑁𝑁 . ) 𝑅𝑅𝑁𝑁
2 𝑅𝑅𝑁𝑁

Example:

For the network shown, determine the value RL for maximum power
transfer, and calculate the power delivered under these conditions.

Solution:

Rth = (R1// R2) + R3

6 (3)
= + 8 = 10Ω
6+3

∴ For max. power the value RL = Rth = 10 Ω

𝐸𝐸. 𝑅𝑅2 12 (3)

𝐸𝐸𝑡𝑡ℎ = = = 4𝑉𝑉
𝑅𝑅1 + 𝑅𝑅2 6+3
2
𝐸𝐸𝑡𝑡ℎ (4)2
∴ 𝑃𝑃𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿 = = = 0.4 𝑤𝑤
4 𝑅𝑅𝑡𝑡ℎ 4 (10)

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