EXPERIMENT # 06

ANALYSIS OF THEVENIN’S THEOREM FOR RESISTIVE NETWORK

PRE LAB TASK

Objectives

 To reduce a complex resistive circuit to a single resistance (RTH) in series with a single
voltage source (VTH).
 To experimentally verify thevenin’s theorem using measurements.
Introduction

Thevenin’s theorem provides a way to take a complex circuit and reduce it to a simple Thevenin
voltage (VTH) source in series with a Thevenin resistance (RTH). Thevenin’s theorem is also used
for simplifying circuit that involve more than one power source. This experiment provides
functional review of the application of thevenin’s theorem and experimental application.

Theory

It often occurs in practice that if we want to find the current through the variable load resistor
when load resistor, is say, RL = 0, RL =2kΩ, and RL =5 kΩ using existing methods, we would need
to analyze the entire circuit three separate times. However, if we could reduce the entire circuit
external to the load resistor to a single voltage source in series with a resistor, the solution becomes
very easy. Thévenin’s theorem is a circuit analysis technique which reduces any linear bilateral
network to an equivalent circuit having only one voltage.

It is a process by which a complex circuit is reduced to an equivalent series circuit consisting of

a single voltage source (VTH), a series resistance (RTH) and a load resistance (RL).

The first thing that one must do to use Thevenin’s Theorem is remove the component over
which one desires to measure the voltage. After this is done, the voltage is calculated across
these wires as in the following diagram:

VTH is the Thevenin Equivalent Voltage [Thevenin’s Equivalent Voltage (VTH) is the open
circuit voltage between two points in a circuit] from points a to b. Note that no current flows
through R2, so there is no voltage drop across R2.

𝑅2
𝑉𝑇𝐻 = ( )𝑉
𝑅1 + 𝑅2 𝑆

The next step is to find the Thevenin Equivalent Resistance [Thevenin’s Equivalent Resistance
(RTH) is the total resistance appearing between two terminals] leading up to a and b. Before
calculating the value of RTH, we have to suppress all the power sources present in the circuit. For
this:
 Replace Voltage Source by Short Circuit
 Replace Current Source by Open Circuit

Then the circuit becomes:

 𝑅1 𝑅2
𝑅𝑇𝐻 = ( ) + 𝑅3
𝑅1 + 𝑅2

Next, we reattach RL between a and b, put RTH in series with RL, and place VTH on the circuit.
This looks like the following figure:

LAB SESSION

Equipment and Materials

 Power supply
 Resistors
 2 variable resistor
 Multi-meter
 Bread board
 Connecting wires
Circuit Diagram

Experimental Procedure

 At first we remove RL from the terminals a and b. Obviously the terminals become open
circuit.
 Then we calculate open circuit voltage VOC that appears across terminals a and b when RL
is removed.
 Calculate RTH by setting all the sources to zero (voltage sources are replaced by short
circuits and current sources by open circuits) and then measure the resultant resistance
between a and b.
 Connect RL back to its terminals a and b from where it was temporarily removed earlier.
Measure current through RL.
 Measure current flowing through RL by the equation IL = VTH / ( RTH + RL) and compare it
with the measured value.
Observations and Calculations
VS= ___________________________
R1= ___________________________
R2= ___________________________
R3= ___________________________
RTH (Calculated) = _______________________________

RTH (Measured) = ______________________________

VTH (Calculated) = _______________________________

VTH (Measured) = _______________________________

Load
Load Voltage Load Current
Resistance
VL (V) IL (mA)
RL (KΩ)
Original Thevenin Original Thevenin
Calculated Calculated
Circuit Circuit Circuit Circuit

Questions:

1. When calculating RTH, you should remove the power supply and replace it with
______________________________________________________________________.

2. Thevenin’s voltage is calculated by finding the voltage drop at (loaded/unloaded)

terminals? _____________________________________________________________.

3. Determine the thevenin voltage and thevenin resistance in the following circuit:
 LAB REPORT

Discussion of Results:

1. Give the reasons for any differences you might have encountered between measured and
calculated values.
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2. Discuss how thevenin’s theorem can be useful in “real world”?

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Conclusion/Summary: