Electric Circuits I (ELEC305)

Lecture 7
Additional Analysis Techniques
Thevenin Theorem
Dr. Asma Wasfi

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 Outline
• Overview and Objective
• Thevenin's Theorem
– Definition
– Examples
• Conclusion
• Next Lecture

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 Important Note
• This is an important note about Circuit Analysis
Approaches.
• The Mesh (loop) as well as Nodal methods can always
be used to solve a circuit, but techniques for
simplifying circuits (using “equivalent circuits”) are
useful:
– series and parallel combination reductions
– Δ-Y and Y-Δ conversions
– source transformations
– Superposition
– Thevenin Theorem
– Norton Theorem
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 Objective
• Solve different electric circuits for any current,
voltage or power value using superposition,
Thevenin and Norton theorems.
– These are some of the most powerful
analysis results to be discussed.
– They permit to hide information that is not
relevant and concentrate in what is
important to the analysis

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 Motivation
• Use Thevenin's Theorem to Find all the
missing currents and voltages of all
components of the following circuit:

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 Definition – Thevenin’s Theorem
• Thevenin's Theorem is a way to reduce a
network to an equivalent circuit composed of
a single voltage source, series resistance, and
series load.

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 Thévenin Equivalent Circuit
• Any network of voltage sources, current
sources, and resistors can be replaced by an
equivalent circuit consisting of an independent
voltage source in series with a resistor without
affecting the operation of the rest of the circuit.

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THEVENIN’S EQUIVALENCE THEOREM

LINEAR CIRCUIT i a LINEAR CIRCUIT

May contain + May contain
independent and independent and
dependent sources vO dependent sources
with their controlling with their controlling
variables _ b variables
PART A PART B

RTH i a
+
+ LINEAR CIRCUIT
vTH vO
- PART B
_ b
PART A

Thevenin Equivalent Circuit

vTH Thevenin Equivalent Source
for PART A
RTH Thevenin Equivalent Resistance

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 Thevenin’s Theorem

A RTh
R A
+ +
IL IL
I Circuit
R VL RL
RL
≡ VocV VL
RRL
L

− −

B B

Voc : Open-circuit voltage between terminals A & B

RTh: Equivalent resistance between terminals A &B with all
independent sources set to zero

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Calculating a Thévenin Equivalent – First
Method to find RTh

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Calculating a Thévenin Equivalent –
Second Method to find RTh

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 Thevenin’s Th. -- Back to the Example
• (1) Find the Thevenin
source voltage by removing
the load resistor from the
original circuit and
calculating voltage across
the open connection points
where the load resistor
used to be.
• First, the chosen load
resistor is removed from
the original circuit,
replaced with a break
(open circuit):
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 Thevenin’s Th. -- Example …
• Next, the voltage between the
two points where the load
resistor used to be attached is
determined. Use whatever
analysis methods are at your
disposal to do this. In this
case, the original circuit with
the load resistor removed is
nothing more than a simple
series circuit with opposing
batteries, and so we can
determine the voltage across
the open load terminals by
applying the rules of series
circuits, Ohm's Law, and
Kirchhoff's Voltage Law.
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 Thevenin’s Th. -- Example …
• The voltage between the
two load connection
points can be figured
from the one of the
battery's voltage and one
of the resistor's voltage
drops, and comes out to
11.2 volts.
• This is our “Thevenin
voltage” (VThevenin) in the
equivalent circuit:

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 Thevenin’s Th. -- Example …
• To find the Thevenin
series resistance for our
equivalent circuit, we
need to take the original
circuit (with the load
resistor still removed),
remove the power
sources (in the same
style as we did with the
Superposition Theorem:
voltage sources replaced
with wires and current
sources replaced with
breaks), and figure the
resistance from one load
terminal to the other.
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 Thevenin’s Th. -- Example …
• With the removal of the
two batteries, the total
resistance measured at
this location is equal to R1
and R3 in parallel: 0.8 Ω.
This is our “Thevenin
resistance” (RThevenin) for
the equivalent circuit.
• With the load resistor (2 Ω)
attached between the
connection points, we can
determine voltage across it
and current through it as
though the whole network
were nothing more than a
simple series circuit:
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 Thevenin’s Th. -- Example …
• Notice that the voltage and current figures
for R2 (8 volts, 4 amps) are identical to those
found using other methods of analysis. Also
notice that the voltage and current figures
for the Thevenin series resistance and the
Thevenin source (total) do not apply to any
component in the original, complex circuit.
Thevenin's Theorem is only useful for
determining what happens to a single
resistor in a network: the load.

• The advantage, of course, is that you can

quickly determine what would happen to
that single resistor if it were of a value other
than 2 Ω without having to go through a lot
of analysis again. Just plug in that other
value for the load resistor into the Thevenin
equivalent circuit and a little bit of series
circuit calculation will give you the result.
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Circuits Containing Only
Independent Sources

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Circuits Containing Only Independent Sources
First method: Second method:
1) Identify load 1) Identify load
2) Remove load and redraw the
2) Remove load and redraw the
circuit
circuit
3) Calculate open-circuit voltage,
3) Calculate open-circuit voltage, Voc = VTh
Voc = VTh 4) To find RTh :
4) To find RTh: Set all independent sources to zero
Calculate short-circuit current, Isc (voltage source --> short circuit)
(current source --> open circuit)
Find RTh = Voc / Isc
Find equivalent resistance Req
5) Draw Thevenin equivalent circuit between the terminals: Req = RTh
6) Include the load and solve the 5) Draw Thevenin equivalent circuit
problem 6) Include the load and solve the
problem
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Example #1
Find the voltage Vo using Thevenin’s theorem

3V

2K +

1K 2 mA 6K Vo
−

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Solution using Thevenin’s Theorem
1- Open the circuit at the load terminals
2- Calculate Voc =VTH

+
2K
3V
2 mA Voc
1K

Using source transformation, we get a 6 V source in series with a

resistor and the 3 V source à
Voc =VTH = 3 + 6 = 9 V

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Solution using Thevenin’s Theorem
3- Determine RTh:
– Short-circuit the voltage sources and open-circuit the
current source à

2K

1K RTh

– Calculate the equivalent resistance

RTh = 2 K + 1 K = 3 KW

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Solution using Thevenin’s Theorem
4- Connect the load to Thevenin’s equivalent circuit, and
calculate Vo
3K

9V 6K Vo
−

Using voltage division rule:

Vo = 9*6 / (6+3) = 6 V

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Example #2
Find the voltage Vo using Thevenin’s theorem.

3K 2K 4K +

12V 6K 2 mA 8K Vo

1- Open the circuit at the load terminals

2- Calculate Voc =VTH

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Solution
V1 V2

3K 2K 4K +

12V 6K 2 mA Voc

Using nodal analysis:

(12 – V1) / 3 = V1/6 + (V1 – V2) / 2 (1)
(V1 – V2) / 2 + 2 = 0 (2)
Solving the equations simultaneously yields:
V2 = 16V à Voc =VTH = 16V

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Solution
3- Determine RTh:
– Short-circuit the voltage sources and open-circuit the
current source à

3K 2K 4K

6K RTh

– Calculate the equivalent resistance

RTh = 2 K + 4 K + (6 K // 3 K) = 8 KW

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Solution
4- Connect the load to Thevenin’s equivalent circuit, and
calculate Vo

8K +

16V 8K Vo

Using simple voltage division:

Vo = 16*8/(8+8) = 8 V

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Example #3
Find the voltage Vo using Thevenin’s theorem

+
6V 4K

6K Vo
2K

2 mA 2K
−

1- Open the circuit at the load terminals

2- Calculate Voc =VTH

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Solution
Using loop analysis:
I2 = 2 mA +

4 I1 + 2(I1 – I2) = 6 6V I1 4K
à
I1 = 5/3 mA 2K Voc
I2
2 mA 2K
Voc =VTH = 4 I1 + 2 I2
= 4*5/3 + 2*2 = 32/3 V −

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Solution
3- Determine RTh:
– Short-circuit the voltage sources and open-circuit the
current source à

4K

2K
RTh
2K

– Calculate the equivalent resistance

RTh = 2 K + (4 K // 2 K) = 10/3 KW

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Solution
4- Connect the load to Thevenin’s equivalent circuit, and
calculate Vo
10/3 K
+

32/3 V 6K Vo

Using voltage division rule:

Vo = (32/3)*6 / (6+10/3) = 48/7=6.857 V

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Example #4
Use Thevenin’s theorem to find Io

RTh
R
2K

Io
2K
12V VocV 6 KRL
4K 6K 2 mA

Io

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Solution
2K 2K

+ 2K A 2K
12V 12V
4K Voc 6 K 4K 6 KRTh
2 mA 2 mA
I −
B

I = 2 mA Since the (2K+2K) is in

parallel with a short
Voc = 12 + 4*I
circuit:
= 12 + 4*2 = 20 V
RTh = RAB = 4 KW
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Solution
4R
K

Io
20V 6 KRL

Connecting the load to Thevenin’s equivalent circuit

à Io = 20 / (4+6)K
= 20 / 10 K = 2 mA

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Circuits Containing Only
Dependent Sources

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 Thevenin’s Theorem
II) Circuits containing only dependent sources
1) Identify load
2) Remove load and redraw the circuit
3) Voc = VTh = 0 and Isc = 0
4) Thevenin’s equivalent circuit consists of RTh only
To calculate RTh, an independent voltage /current source is
applied at the open terminals and the corresponding
current/voltage is determined. The ratio between voltage
and current is Thevenin’s resistance (RTh)
5) Draw Thevenin equivalent circuit
6) Include the load and solve the problem
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 Important Comments on Dependent
Sources
• A dependent source establishes a voltage or current whose
value depends on the value of a voltage or current at a
specified location in the circuit.
– (imaginary device, used to model behavior of transistors &
amplifiers)
• To specify a dependent source, we must identify:
1. the controlling voltage or current (must be calculated, in
general)
2. the relationship between the controlling voltage or current
and the supplied voltage or current
3. the reference direction for the supplied voltage or current
• The relationship between the dependent source and its
reference cannot be broken!
– Dependent sources cannot be turned off for various purposes
(e.g. to find the Thévenin resistance).
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Circuits containing only dependent sources

• In this case:
– Voc = 0
– Isc = 0
àThevenin’s equivalent circuit consists of RTh only
• To calculate RTh, an independent voltage /current
source is applied at the open terminals and the
corresponding current/voltage is determined. The
ratio between voltage and current is Thevenin’s
resistance (RTh)

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Circuits containing only dependent
sources

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Example #5
Determine Thevenin’s equivalent circuit at terminals A-B.

A
2K 3K

2000 Ix 1K 2K

Ix
B

Solution: 1- Apply a current source at the terminals

A
2K 3K

2000 Ix 1K 2K 1 mA

Ix
B

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Solution
2- Determine VAB
V1 V2 A
2K 3K

2000 Ix 1K 2K 1 mA

Ix
B
Using nodal analysis:
(2 Ix – V1)/2 = V1/1 + (V1 – V2)/3
(2 Ix – V1)/2 – V1/1 – (V1 – V2)/3 = 0 (1)
(V1 – V2)/3 +1 = V2/2 (2)
Also,
Ix = V1/1 (3)
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Solution
Solving the equations simultaneously yields:
V2 = 10/7 V
à
VAB = 10/7 V

3- Determine RTh
RTh = VAB/ (applied current)
= VAB/ 1 mA
= 10/7 KW

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Example #6
Determine Thevenin’s equivalent circuit at terminals A-B.
– Vx + – Vx +
1K 1K

2K 1K 2K 1K
A A

+
1K 2 Vx 1K 2 Vx 1V
2K 2K
–

B B

Solution: 1- Apply a voltage source at the terminals

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Solution
2- Determine Io
– Vx +
1K

2K V2 1K Io
V1 A

+
1K 2 Vx 1V
2K
–

Using nodal analysis:

V1/1 + (V1 – V2)/2 + (V1 – 1)/1 = 0 (1)
V2 = 2 Vx (2)

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Solution
Also,
1 – V1 = Vx
Solving the equations simultaneously yields:
Vx = 3/7 V
Hence the current Io:
Io = 1/2K + Vx/1K + (1 – 2Vx)/1K = 15/14 mA
Finally,
RTh = 1V / Io = 14/15 KW

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 Circuits Containing Both
Independent and Dependent
Sources

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 Thevenin’s Theorem
III) Circuits Containing Both Independent and
Dependent Sources
1) Identify load
2) We cannot split the dependent source and its controlling
variable when we break the network to find the Thevenin or
Norton equivalent.
2) Remove load and redraw the circuit
3) Calculate the open-circuit voltage (Voc) and the short-circuit
current (Isc)
4) Calculate the equivalent resistance (RTh): RTh = Voc / Isc
5) Draw Thevenin equivalent circuit
6) Include the load and solve the problem
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 Circuits containing both independent and
dependent sources

• In this case, both the open-circuit voltage (Voc)

and the short-circuit current (Isc) are
determined
• The equivalent resistance (RTh) is calculated as:
RTh = Voc / Isc

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Example #7
Use Thevenin’s theorem to find Vo
Vx’ +
2000 I1 2K

– Vx’ +
6K
4K Vo
2 mA I2 3V

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Example #7
Use Thevenin’s theorem to find Vo
Vx’ + +
Solution: First find Voc using 2000 I1 2K
loop analysis:
– Vx’ +
I2 = 2 mA 4K
6 KVoc
Vo
I1 = Vx / 2 2 mA 3V
I2
I1 = 4 (I1 – I2) / 2 –
–
à I1 = 4 mA

Voc = 3 + 2 I1 = 11 V

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Solution
Determine Isc using nodal analysis,
assuming the reference node as
indicated in the circuit diagram. Vx’’
2000 2K
At node 1:
– Vx’’ +
2 + Vx’’/4 – Vx’’/2 = 0 1 0
6K Isc
Vx’’ = 8 V 4K

2 mA 3V

Isc = I2K + Vx’’/2

= 3/2 + 8/2
= 11/2 mA

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Solution
RTh = Voc / Isc = 11 / (11/2) = 2 KW
Connect Thevenin’s equivalent circuit to the remainder of the
network, and determine Vo:
2K
+
11 V 6K Vo

Vo = 11*6 / (6+2)
= 33/4 V

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 Question: For the purpose of specifying RL,
could we break the network just to the
Example #8 right of the 12 V source shown in this
example?
Answer: No; because we cannot split the
dependent source and its controlling
Use Thevenin’s theorem to find Vo variable when we break the network to
find the Thevenin or Norton equivalent.
12 V A
1K 1K
+

2000 Ix 2K 2K 1K Vo
Ix
−
B

Solution: Open the circuit at terminals A-B, and find

Thevenin’s equivalent circuit between these terminals

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Solution
V1 12 V V2
1K
A’ +

2000 Iab Voc

2K 2K
Iab
B’−

Use nodal analysis to determine Voc:

V1 – V2 = 12 (1)
(V1 – (– 2Iab))/1 + V1/2 + V2/2 (2)
Iab = V2/2 (3)
Solving the equations simultaneously yields: V2 = – 6 V
Note: VAB = VA’B’ = -6 V
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 Solution
12 V
1K
A’

2000 Iab Isc

2K 2K
Iab
B’

Short circuit à Iab = 0 à 2000 Iab = 0

Why did we choose to make the short circuit across A’-B’ and not
across A-B?
Determine Isc:
Isc = – 12/(1//2) = – 12/(2/3) = – 18 mA
RTh = Voc / Isc = (– 6) / (–18) = 1/3 KW
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Solution
RTh
1/3 K A’ 1K A
+

Voc 6V 1 K Vo

−
B’ B

Connect Thevenin’s equivalent circuit to the remainder of the

network at terminals A-B, and determine Vo:
Vo = – 6/(1+1+(1/3))
= – 6/(7/3) = – 18/7 V

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 Thevenin’s Th. -- Concluding Remarks
• Thevenin's Theorem is a way to reduce a network to an
equivalent circuit composed of a single voltage source, series
resistance, and series load. Steps to follow for Thevenin's
Theorem:
– (1) Find the Thevenin source voltage by removing the load
resistor from the original circuit and calculating voltage across
the open connection points where the load resistor used to be.
– (2) Find the Thevenin resistance by removing all independent
power sources in the original circuit (voltage sources shorted and
current sources open) and calculating total resistance between
the open connection points.
– (3) Draw the Thevenin equivalent circuit, with the Thevenin
voltage source in series with the Thevenin resistance. The load
resistor re-attaches between the two open points of the
equivalent circuit.
– (4) Analyze voltage and current for the load resistor following the
rules for series circuits.
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 Next Lecture
• Norton's Theorem

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