NETWORKS LAWS AND

THEOREMS
DC Circuit Theorems
INTRODUCTION
• A major advantage of analyzing circuits using Kirchhoff’s
laws as we did is that we can analyze a circuit without
tampering with its original configuration.

• A major disadvantage of this approach is that, for a large,

complex circuit, tedious computation is involved.
INTRODUCTION
• The growth in areas of application of electric circuits has
led to an evolution from simple to complex circuits.

• To handle the complexity, engineers over the years have

developed some theorems to simplify circuit analysis.
LINEARITY
• Property of an element describing a linear relationship
between cause and effect.

• A circuit is linear if it is both additive and homogeneous.

LINEARITY
• Consists of only linear elements, linear dependent sources,
and independent sources.

• Output is linearly related (or directly proportional) to its

input.
Superposition Principle
• states that the voltage across(or current through)an
element in a linear circuit is the algebraic sum of the
voltages across(or currents through)that element due to
each independent source acting alone.
Steps to Apply Superposition Principle:
1. Turn off all independent sources except one source. Find
the output (voltage or current) due to that active source
using nodal or mesh analysis.
Steps to Apply Superposition Principle:
2. Repeat step 1 for each of the other independent
sources.

3. Find the total contribution by adding algebraically all the

contributions due to the independent sources.
Example
Use the superposition theorem to find v in the circuit
Answer: 10 V
SOURCE TRANSFORMATION
• A source transformation is the process of replacing a
voltage source vs in series with a resistor R by a current
source is in parallel with a resistor R, or vice versa.
Example
Use source transformation to find vo in the circuit
Answer: 3.2 V
Activity 7a
Find io in the circuit using source transformation.
Answer: 1.78 A
Thevenin’s Theorem
• States that a linear two-terminal circuit
can be replaced by an equivalent circuit
consisting of a voltage source VTh in series
with a resistor RTh
Thevenin’s Theorem
• VTh is the open-circuit voltage at the terminals and RTh is
the input or equivalent resistance at the terminals when
the independent sources are turned off.
Thevenin’s Theorem
Thevenin’s Theorem
Case 1
If the network has no dependent sources, we turn off
all independent sources. RTh is the input resistance of
the network looking between terminals a and b

Case 2
If the network has dependent sources, we turn off all
independent sources.
Example 1
Find the Thevenin equivalent circuit of the circuit, to the left
of the terminals a-b. Then find the current through RL = 6,16,
and 36 Ω.
Answer: RTH=4 Ω, VTH=30 V
Norton’s Theorem
• States that a linear two-terminal circuit
can be replaced by an equivalent
circuit consisting of a current source IN in
parallel with a resistor RN,

Edward Hans
Lawry Ferdinand
Norton Mayer
Norton’s Theorem
• Where IN is the short-circuit current through the terminals
and RN is the input or equivalent resistance at the terminals
when the independent sources are turned off.
Norton’s Theorem
Example 1
Find the Norton equivalent circuit of the circuit
Answer: IN=1 A
Activity 7b
Find the Norton equivalent circuit for the circuit
Answer: RN=3 Ω, IN=4.5 A
 NETWORKS LAWS AND
THEOREMS
Prepared by Engr. JP Timola
Reference: Electric Circuit Analysis by Johnny Tan
Fundamentals of Electric Circuits by C. Alexander, M. Sadiku