Study

of Thevenin’s and Norton’s Theorems

AIM: Verification of Thevenin’s and Norton’s theorems.

LIST OF EQUIPMENT & COMPONENTS:

Name of the Equipment Quantity

DC power supply (0-5)V
Digital Multi Meter (DMM)

Resistors
4.7 k
Connecting wires
Bread board

PROCEDURE:

a) Verification of Thevenin’s theorem

1. Connect the circuit as shown in the Figure 1 with V1 = 5V, R1 = 4.7k , R2 = 1k , R3 = 4.7k and
R4 = 1k .

2. Theoretically obtain the Thevenin’s equivalent circuit parameters across the resistor R2 and note
down the values in Table 1.

1 R1 2 R3 3

A
R4

Figure 1: Circuit diagram for Thevenin’s theorem verification

3. Remove the resistor R2 from the circuit and measure the voltage across the terminals 2 and 0.
Note down this voltage as Vth in Table 1.

4. Disconnect the voltage source V1 from the circuit, short the port (1, 0) with wire and measured

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Department of Energy Science & Engineering, IIT Bombay EN205 Lab Manual

the resistance across the port (2, 0). Note down this value as Rth in Table 1.
5. Form the Thevenin’s equivalent circuit, calculate the value of current through R2 and note down
the value in Table 1.
6. Measure the value of current flowing through R2 (Figure 1) and note down it as I in Table 1.
Compare the value of I with its calculated value.
Table 1: Readings for Thevenin’s theorem
Measured Calculated
Rth (k ) Vth (V) I (mA) Rth (k ) Vth (V)

b) Verification of Norton’s theorem

1. Connect the circuit as shown in the Figure 2 with V1 = 5V, R1 = 4.7k , R2 = 1k , R3 = 4.7k and
V2 = 4V.
2. Obtain the Norton’s equivalent circuit parameters across the resistor R2 theoretically and note
down the values in Table 2.

1 R1 2 R3 3

A
V2

0
Figure 2: Circuit diagram for Norton’s theorem verification

3. Remove the resistor R2 from the circuit and short the terminals 2 and 0. Measure the current in
the branch 2–0 and note down it as IN in Table 2.
4. Disconnect the voltage sources V1 and V2 from the circuit and short the terminals (1, 0) and (3, 0)
with wire and measure the resistance across (2, 0). Note down this as RN in Table 2.
5. Form the Norton’s equivalent circuit, calculate the value of voltage drop across R2 and note down
the value in Table 2.
6. Measure the voltage drop across the resistor R2 (Figure 2) and note down it as VR2 in Table 2.
Compare the value of VR2 with its calculated value.
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Department of Energy Science & Engineering, IIT Bombay EN205 Lab Manual

Table 2: Readings for Norton’s theorem

Measured Calculated
RN (k ) IN (mA) VR2 (V) RN (k ) IN (mA) VR2 (V)

QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED IN THE JOURNAL:

1. What do you understand from the Thevenin’s and Norton’s theorems? Are they applicable in all
circuits?
2. Why the load resistor is open circuited in case of Thevenin’s theorem whereas in Norton’s
theorem it is short circuited?

3. What is the inference of part-I of the experiment? Also, give some applications of Maximum power
transfer theorem.

4. Derive an expression for power transfer efficiency between source and load in an electric circuit.

5. What is the power transfer efficiency at maximum power point ?

6. What is the six band resistor color coding? Find the maximum expected resistance offered by a
resistor with color code “Silver, Gold, White, Yellow, Yellow” ?

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