2011 International Conference on Electronic & Mechanical Engineering and Information Technology

Discussion on the Thevenin's theorem and

Norton's theorem

Zhao Hongyang
School of Electronic Information & Electronic Engineering
Changzhou Institute of Technology
Changzhou, China
zhaohy@czu.cn

AbstractIn the study of Thevenin's theorem and Norton's It is a common direct current circuit. Using
theorem, the definitions in some books are often not precise superposition theorem, we can easily get:
enough. According to the examples,the relationship between
the Thevenin's theorem and Norton's theorem are given ,as T 20 150 120
wellas the The scope of adaptation. / = + = -L4
Keywords-equivalent circuit , Thevenin's theorem , 10 10 10
Norton fs theorem A. Using Thevenin's theorem
Thevenin's theorem, said that a linear two-ports source
In a circuit, teaching of Thevenin 's theorem and Norton's
circuit, for the external circuit, it can be equaled by voltage
theorem are both very important. Thevenin 's theorem, said source connected with a resistor.
that for a two-ports linear circuit with sources is equivalent For figure 1 circuit, by Thevenin's theorem, its open-
to a voltage source connected with a resistance. Norton's circuit voltage is showed in figure 2.
theorem said that a two-ports linear circuit with sources is
equivalent to a current source paralleled with a resistance.

I. O F THE PROBLEM 150V ( T )

10Q
10Q

4Q
cb 120V

Many students in the learning process of these two

theorems, will have this cognition: as long as the two-ports
linear circuit with source, it can be equaled by Thevenin 's 20V (T)
theorem and Norton's theorem. Actually, it is not ture.
Un
Normally, these two equivalent is all exist, but some two-
ports linear source circuits can not simultaneously satisfy figure 2
these two equivalence theorem. Through simple circuit Wecanobtain: U' nroc = 2 0 - 1 5 0 + 120 = - 1 0 K
below, and the relationship between two theorems and The equivalent resistance of ports is shwed by figure 3.
different range are explained.

II. EXAMPLES

Circuit are shown in figure 1, please get current I.

ion
ion 4n
150V 120V
Ro
figure 3
20V
Obviously, Ro=OQ, so it the equivalent circuit namely
short circuit. So Thevenin's equivalent circuit is showed by
figure 4
figure 1

978-l-61284-088-8/ll/$26. 00 2011 IEEE 520 12-14 August, 2011

 UOC=-10F 10Q

figure 7
figure 4
Because of current source Isc is meaninglessness, and the
We can obtaine:
equivalent resistance is in a short circuit, so the original
circuit cannot use Norton's theorem to solute.
10Q Thus, it is not any examples of linear two-ports source
The answer is same with the method of superposition circuit that has Thevenin equivalent circuit and Norton
theorem. equivalent circuit.

B. Using Norton's Theorem C. Other Examples

And for Norton's theorem, a linear two-ports source The circuit is showed below by figure 8 and figure 9, the
circuit , for the external circuit , it can be equaled by a voltage U and current I is to be obtained separately.
current source and a resistor parallel connected.
If the figure 1 circuit uses Norton's theorem to get the
current I, we can solve the short-circuit current first, as
shown in figure 5.
R
1 U

L Rr
150V 120V
Figure 8

I1
20V

+
figure 5 U<
R Rr
Form the figure 5, we can see, for ABCDEA circuit, it
doesn't meet KVL law. There is no solution of Isc.
The equivalent resistance of ports, the means by Norton Figure 9
theorem and Thevenin's theorem is completely the same. It
is showed as figure 6. In Figure 8, circuit for the port equivalent resistance is oo,
equivalent to disconnect. In Norton equivalent circuit, Ro
can break, but in Thevenin equivalent circuit, Ro can't be
10O disconnected.

10Q
i 4Q As shown in figure 9 of the circuit, port for resistance is
0, equivalent to the equivalent resistance short-circuit. In
Thevenin equivalent circuit, Ro can be short-circuit, but in
Norton equivalent circuit, Ro can't be short-circuit.
Obviously, figure 8 circuit exists Norton equivalent
Figure 6 circuit, does not exist Thevenin equivalent circuit; While
Also, Ro=OQ, in Norton circuit it is also equivalent to a figure 9 circuit exists Thevenin equivalent circuit, but does
short-circuit. not exist Norton equivalent circuit.

Norton equivalent circuit is showed in figure 7 below. The discussion above only contains the circuit, the same
independent source for some controlled source of two ends

521
with linear circuit,and Thevenin equivalent and Norton
equivalent cannot also adapt slightly. By the above
examples, it is easy to see with this two theorems for a
circuit, equivalent method of equivalent resistance is the
same, so if, the circuit exists only for Thevenin equivalent
circuit; If the calculated, then the original circuit exists only
Norton equivalent circuit.
III. CONCLUSIONS
Ensemble above, for any linear two-ports source circuit,
only when it got a unique solution, we can just use an ideal
voltage source connected with a resistor to equal the circuit,
and also can we can use an ideal current source parallel
connected with a resistor to equal the circuit.
REFERENCES
[1] Zhou Dingwen ^ Fu Zhitong,. Electrotechnical, Beijing:Higer
Education Press,2004
[2] Li Hansun, Circuit Analysis, Beijing:Higer Education Press,2002

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