Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology

Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh

Laboratory On Electrical Circuits-I

EEE 102

Experiment Number - 3

Name of the Experiment:

Verification of Network Theorems In Linear Resistive DC Circuits.

Part-I Verification of Superposition Theorem

Part-II Determination Thevnin's and Norton's Equivalent Circuits

Part-III Verification of Maximum Power Transfer Theorem

Venue of the Experiment :

Electrical Circuit Laboratory I or II (Ground Floor-East)
ECE Building (East Wing), West Plassey Campus, BUET
Duration: 3 class hours (1 laboratory slot).
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 Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
EEE102 Electrical Circuits-I Laboratory (Experiment Part)
Experiment Number-3

Verification of Network Theorems In Linear Resistive DC Circuits.

Part-I Superposition Theorem, Part-II Determination of Thevnin's and

Norton's Equivalent Circuits and Maximum Power Transfer Theorem
Introduction:
This experiment is intended to verify several network theorems used in circuit solutions and
experimental determination of equivalent source and equivalent impedance between two
terminals in an electrical circuit. The theorems are applicable to linear circuits with both dc
and ac sources. However, the experiment in the laboratory will be performed in resistive
circuits with dc sources only. In this experiment followings applicable to linear circuits will
be performed carried out,

1) Application of Superposition Theorem to Linear Resistive Network with DC Excitration,

2) Determine Experimentally the Thevnin's and Norton's Equivalent Circuits of a Resistive
Network with DC Excitation, and
4) Verify Maximum power transfer theorem.

The experiments will be carried out in circuits constructed on breadboards with low watt
carbon resistors supplied from laboratory dual regulated dc power supply/supplies. Voltage
measurements will be made by multimeter in voltage scale. Current reading through
resistances are to be taken as voltage across a resistance divided by the known
resistance of the resistance (applying Ohm's Law, resistance value if not determinable
from color code has to be measured before hand by multimeter in resistance - Ohm
scale). Where indicated measure the current by ammeter connected in series with the
element or the circuit. For any measurement othe resistance value of a resistor, it has to
be taken out of the circuit completely. Keeping the resistance in the circuit will not allow
the resistance measurement by multimeter in R scale. The vlaue or resistance keeping it
in the circuit is only possible by using voltage and current reading of the resistance by
appropriate voltmeter/ammeter/multimeter and using Ohm's law R = Vdc/Idc. In ac
circuit R = Vrms/Irms will result in erroneous value of R because R of pure resistors
depends on frequency of the supply at which the circuit works. The rule of connecting
voltmeter (or multi-meter in voltage reading mode) in parallel and ammeter (or multi-meter in
current reading mode) in series must be followed throughout this and other laboratory
experiment in this lab. As in previous and all next experiments, table must be clean of any extra
material that is not needed during a particular set-up of the experiment.

Part-I
Verification Of Superposition Theorem:
Step-1
Construct the circuit of the following diagram (Fig. 1) without voltmeter connections shown.
Voltmeter connections shown will be multimeter in voltage scale connected individually for
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measuring the voltage of each resistance during the experiment.

 V1 V2 V3

A1 A3
R1 R2 R3

VS1=20Vdc

Vs3=10Vdc
Vs1

V4

V5

Vs3
R4 R5

Fig. 1

Record the values of current and voltages of all resistances and sources in the circuit in the
following table,

Table-1
Vs1 Vs3 R1 R2 R3 R4 R5
1.2kΩ 220Ω 220Ω 220 Ω 1.5kΩ
Voltage
Current
Power = VI
= V2/R = I2R

Step-2

Modify the circuit of Fig. 1 to Fig. 2 by deactivating source 1 (voltage source is taken out and
terminals are shorted so that the voltage across the terminals is 0, in case of current source the
source is taken out and the terminal is left open for current through the terminals is zero)

V1 V2 V3

A1 A3
R1 R2 R3
Vs3=10Vdc
V4
Vs1

V5

Vs3

R4 R5

Fig. 2

Record the values of current and voltages of all resistances and sources in the circuit in the
following table,
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Table-2
Vs1 Vs3 R1 R2 R3 R4 R5
1.2kΩ 220Ω 220Ω 220 Ω 1.5kΩ
Voltage
Current
Power = VI =
V2/R = I2R

Step-3

Modify the circuit of Fig. 1 to Fig. 2 by deactivating source 3 (voltage source is taken out and
terminals are shorted so that the voltage across the terminals is 0, in case of current source the
source is taken out and the terminal is left open for current through the terminals is zero)

V1 V2 V3

A1 A3
R1 R2 R3
VS1=20Vdc
Vs1

V4

V5

Vs3
R4 R5

Fig. 3

Record the values of current and voltages of all resistances and sources in the circuit in the
following table,

Table-3
Vs1 Vs3 R1 R2 R3 R4 R5
1.2kΩ 220Ω 220Ω 220 Ω 1.5kΩ
Voltage
Current
Power = VI =
V2/R = I2R

The voltages and currents of the resistances and sources of Table-1 should be (by
superposition theorem) the sum of voltages and currents of corresponding elements of Table -
2 and Table -3 when the circuit is acting with individual source acting alone, while other
sources are made inactive (Verify and explain any discrepancy).

Find the power of each resistance either by V2/R or by I2R formula in all three tables. Apply
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superposition of power in table-2 and table-3 to of each element. Do the readings match with
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corresponding total power of the elements in table-1. If no, why? (hints: P = k V2 or P = k I2
is not a straight line i.e. not linear, superposition applies to only linear systems)

Part-II

Experimental Determination of Thevenin's Voltage, Norton's Current and Thevenin

Resistance Between Two Terminals in an Electrical Circuit:

Step-1
Construct the circuit of Fig. 4 on the bread board. The resistances should be of 1/2 to 1 watt
values so that they do not burn out during circuit operation with supplies ON. Measure
voltages of all resistances and sources by a multimeter in voltage scale, find corresponding
currents of resistances by applying Ohm's law. Record the values of voltages and currents in
an appropriate table.

R1 R5 R2
X Y
470 100
470
20

10
R6 R7
220
V1

V2
220

R3 R4

470 470
Fig. 4
Step-2

Take out the R5 = 100 Ω resistance between terminals X-Y and obtain the circuit of Fig. 5 as
below. Measure the open circuit voltage between terminals X-Y by a voltmeter or a
multimeter on voltage scale. This voltage is the open circuit voltage or the Thevnin's voltage
for the Thevnin's circuit to replace the circuit of Fig. 4 between X-Y.
R1 R2
X Vm Y
470
470
20

10

R6 R7
220
V1

V2
220

R3 R4

470 470
Fig. 5
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Step-3

Take out the R5 = 100 Ω resistance between terminals X-Y and obtain the circuit of Fig. 6 by
shorting the terminals X-Y by an ammeter or multimeter in ammeter scale ( in multimeters,
ammeter terminals are separate than those of voltage/Ω terminal, and the internal
impedance of between ammeter terminals is ideally zero). Measure the short circuit
current through terminals X-Y as read in the ammeter or the multimeter in current scale. This
current is the short circuit current through X-Y or the Norton's current for the Norton's circuit
to replace the circuit of Fig. 4 between X-Y.

Step-4

The Thevenin's equivalent resistance between terminals X-Y of the circuit of Fig. 4 is
obtained by taking the ratio of VTH = VOC between X-Y obtained in step 2 and the ISC = IN
through X-Y as obtained in step-3 (i.e. RTH = VTH/ISC = VOC/IN).

R1 R2
X A Y
470
470
20

10
R6 R7
220
V1

V2
220

R3 R4

470 470
Fig. 6
Step - 5

Build the Thevnin and Norton equivalent circuit of the circuit of Fig. 4 between X-Y as Fig. 7
and Fig. 8 respectively and connect the resistance R5 of 100Ω (that was between X-Y of Fig.
4) between X-Y of Thevnin and Norton equivalent circuit of Figs. 7 and 8 respectively.
Measure the current and voltage of R5 (100Ω) in circuit of Figs. 7 and 8. The readings should
match the reading obtained in step-1 in the original circuit of Fig. 4.
RTH
X
VTH = VOC

R5
100
6

Y
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Fig. 7
 X

ISC = IN
RTH R5
100

Y
Fig. 8

Part-3 Verification of Maximum Power Transfer Theorem in Circuits Having DC

sources and resistive elements only:

Step-1
Build the circuit of Fig. 9 and change the resistance R9 to values shown in the Table-4, and
calculate the power of R9+R8 each time using the formula V2/(R9+R8). In the circuit R8 + R9
= R5 of Fig. 4

Table-4
R9 R9+R8 = R9+100Ω Voltage of R9+R8 Power of R9+R8 =
R9+R8 = R5 of Fig. which is R5 of V2/(R9+R8)
4 Fig. 4 R9+R8 = R5 of Fig. 4
100Ω
150Ω
200Ω
220Ω
320Ω
470Ω
1kΩ

Where does the maximum power occur (at what value of R9+R8, i.e. R9+R8 = R5 of Fig. 4
and what relationship this value has with Thevnin resistance)?

R9
R1 R8 R2
X 1k Y
470 100
470
20

10

R6 R7
220
V1

V2
220

R3 R4

470 470
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Fig. 9
Construct the circuit of Fig. 10 (RTH should be nearly 300Ω and VTH = VOC should be nearly
1.9 VDC and take the readings and fill up the Table-5
RTH
X

VTH = VOC
RL

Y
Fig. 10
Table-5
RL in Ω Voltage across RL VRL in Volts Power of RL = VRL2 / RL
100
150
200
220
300
320
470
570
1k

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