Thevenin and Norton Theorem

Figure 1 showed the original Circuit with RL

Question 1: Based on Thevenin Theorem find Thevenin Voltage and Thevenin Resistance

Simulation using Multisim Live:

Figure 2 show the Thevenin Voltage (Vth) at terminal after the removal of load resistor (RL)

a) Calculation step to find Thevenin Resistance:

b) Calculation using Superposition Method to find Thevenin Voltage:
c) Calculation using Mesh Analysis to find Thevenin Voltage:

Thevenin Equivalent Circuit:

Question 2: Based on Norton Theorem find Norton Current and Norton Resistance

Figure 3 showed the Norton Current at the terminal RL when the RL is removed and the path is shorted

a) Calculation step to find Norton Resistance:

b) Calculation using Superposition Method to find Norton Current:

c) Calculation using Mesh analysis to find Norton Current:
Norton Equivalent Circuit:

Multisim Live simulation for Thevenin Equivalent Circuit and Norton Equivalent Circuit

Figure 4 showed the Thevenin Equivalent Circuit Figure 5 showed Norton Equivalent Circuit

Question 3: Given the RL is (1KΩ, 2KΩ, 3KΩ, 4KΩ, 5KΩ, 6KΩ, 7KΩ, 8KΩ, 9KΩ and
10KΩ)

a) Solve the current flow through the resistor

Calculation
 Simulation

Figure 8 Showed the current at RL (1kΩ) Figure 8 Showed the current at RL (2kΩ)

Figure 8 Showed the current at RL (3kΩ)

Figure 9 Showed the current at RL (4kΩ)

Figure 10 Showed the current at RL (5kΩ) Figure 10 Showed the current at RL (6kΩ)

Figure 10 Showed the current at RL (7kΩ) Figure 10 Showed the current at RL (8kΩ)
Figure 10 Showed the current at RL (9kΩ) Figure 10 Showed the current at RL (10kΩ)

b) By using calculation solve the power delivered to resistor RL

c) By using calculation solve the Maximum power delivered to resistor RL

Question 4: Tabulate and compare all the parameters above between calculation and
simulation results

Resistance (kΩ) Thevenin’s Voltage (V) Norton’s current (mA)

Rth Rn Calculation Simulation Calculation Simulation
2 2 2.22 2.2222 1.1111 1.1111

Table 1 Showed the Thevenin’s Voltage and Norton’s Current

Resistance at RL (kΩ) Current (μA)

Calculation Simulation
1 740.00 740.00
2 555.00 555.00
3 440.00 444.00
4 370.00 370.00
5 320.00 317.14
6 280.00 277.50
7 250.00 246.67
8 220.00 222.00
9 200.00 201.82
10 190.00 185.00

Table 2 showed the current at each RL

 Resistance at RL (kΩ) Power at RL (mW) Maximum Power to RL (mW)
Measurement Measurement
1 0.55
2 0.62
3 0.58
4 0.55
5 0.51 0.62
6 0.47
7 0.44
8 0.39
9 0.36
10 0.36

Table 3 showed the Power and Maximum power to RL. The highlighted value is the power
that match with maximum power to RL when the load resistance at 2kΩ

Graph of Power against Load Resistance

Power (mW)
0.7
0.62
0.58
0.6 0.55 0.55
0.51
0.5 0.47
0.44
0.39
0.4 0.36 0.36

0.3

0.2
Maximum Power is
0.1 transferred when RL
is at 2kΩ
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Load Resistance (kΩ)

Graph: Showed the graph of power against Load Resistance. The highlighted value showed that the
maximum power is transferred when RL is 2kΩ
Discussion

1. Discuss the results and compare the methods used in the calculations and simulation.
Example (method of analysis, any discrepancy, challenges)

We used two types of analysis to obtain the Thevenin Equivalent Circuit and Norton Equivalent
Circuit which are superposition and mesh analysis; Superposition analysis is used because the
circuit has three voltage sources: mesh analysis is used because the circuit has four loops
including Load Resistors.

By using superposition method, we are able to simplify the circuit by replacing V2 and V3 to
wires, making the path a short circuit and keeping only V1 in the circuit. After this, the
value of Vth is calculated by using Nodal analysis and annotated as Vth’ because it is not the
real value of Vth. The process is repeated on the next source and annotate the value of Vth as
Vth’’ and then repeat the process again on the last source and annotate the values as
Vth’’’; then, the real value of Vth will be the summation of Vth’, Vth’’, Vth’’’. The same
method is used to find the Norton’s current as well but using current division rule to find the
Norton Current and annotated as IN’, IN’’ and IN’’’.

By using mesh analysis, we are able to identify the mesh current at each loop and use the value
of mesh current in loop 3 to find the value of Vth. To find the mesh currents, we assume all
currents flowing in clockwise direction and annotate the mesh current in loop 1 as I1, loop 2 as
I2, and loop 3 as I3. To obtain the Norton Equivalent Circuit, the Norton’s current is in fact the
mesh current in loop3.

To obtain Thevenin Equivalent circuit, superposition method required more steps compared
to mesh analysis. Despite the circuit has been simplified to having one independent source by
the superposition method, we still need to use Nodal analysis to solve the circuit as our goal is
to obtain Thevenin voltage. Consequently, more calculation steps might prone to careless
mistake in calculating. For the second method of analysis, we decided to use mesh analysis as
the circuit has three loops when the load resistor (RL) is removed. Then, we can use Ohm’s
Law, V=IR to obtain the Thevenin voltage at the terminal where RL is removed.

To obtain Norton Equivalent circuit, mesh analysis is relatively direct and simple compared
to superposition method because in Norton’s theorem, the load resistor is removed by a short
circuit; thus, current will flow into the path as it has no resistance, making the mesh current in
loop three a Norton Current.
2. Discuss why it is important to transfer maximum power to a load?

Ensuring maximum power is transferred to the load is important because we do not want the
power ends up being dissipated or transform to heat lost in the system.

By using Maximum Power Theorem, we are able to design a successful electrical system. The
formula of maximum power transfer can be derived from the power formula. However, the
resistance value is replaced by the Thevenin’s equivalent resistance or we can call it as source
resistance. This is because when the load resistance is equal to the source resistance, the power
is at maximum. This statement can be proven by our simulation and graph in this assignment.

3. Show the importance of Thevenin and Norton Theorem and illustrate how do
engineers apply Thevenin Theorem in real engineering applications?

Thevenin and Norton Theorem are important as it can replace a complicated circuit or
system with an equivalent circuit. Thevenin’s Theorem able to transform a complicated
circuit into a circuit containing only a voltage source and a series connected resistor; on the
contrary, Norton’s Theorem able to simplify the complicated circuit into a simple circuit
consisting of a current source and a parallel connected resistor. Thus, able to save time and
minimize human errors in analyzing or solving a complicated circuit.

In real engineering applications, Thevenin’s theorem is used to analyze the power circuit and
simplify it to a simple circuit to calculate the value of voltage and current flow through a load.
By using Thevenin's theorem, we are able to calculate the maximum power transfer to a load as
well by simplifying the resistances in the power circuit thence, choose the load resistance to
ensure maximum power transfer to the load. By the application of Thevenin's theorem,
electrical engineers are then able to design a successful electrical system or circuit.
Conclusion

In this assignment, we are able to analyze the circuit and simplified it to Thevenin Equivalent
Circuit and Norton Equivalent Circuit by applying superposition and mesh analysis. Mesh
analysis can be applied when the circuit has multiple loops and it is an analysis tool that apply
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law to calculate the mesh currents, while superposition method can be
used when the circuit has more than one sources and can be solved by deactivating all voltage
and current source but keeping one independent source at one time.

Nodal analysis is used in the superposition method; this is because our goal is
to obtain Thevenin’s voltage to produce a Thevenin Equivalent Circuit containing only a
voltage source, series connected resistor and load resistor. On the contrary, in the Norton
Theorem, we use current division rule because our goal is to obtain Norton current and produce
a circuit containing current source, parallel connected resistor and load resistor.

After simplified the circuit to Thevenin Equivalent Circuit and Norton Equivalent Circuit,
we are able to use the simplified circuit to calculate the current flowing into the load which can
save us a lot of time and minimizing errors such as calculation errors.

By using Thevenin Equivalent Circuit, we are able to calculate the maximum power transfer
to the load resistor by using maximum power transfer formula. When the load resistance is
equal to the Thevenin’s Resistance, maximum power is transferred or supplied to the load
resistor thus ensuring less power loss in the electrical system or circuit.