I.

INTRODUCTION
Thevenin’s theorem states that all linear circuits can be simplified to an equivalent circuit
with a single voltage source in series with a single resistor connected to a load.

Thevenin’s theorem can make circuit analysis easy by temporarily removing the load
resistance from the original circuit and reducing what’s left to an equivalent circuit composed
of a single voltage source and series resistance. This series resistance is called “Thevenin
Resistance” i.e. 𝑅𝑇𝐻 and the voltage source is called “Thevenin Voltage” i.e. 𝑉𝑇𝐻 .The load
resistance can then be re-connected to the Thevenin equivalent circuit, and calculations
carried out as if the whole network were nothing but a simple series circuit.

II. OBJECTIVES

Our main objectives include:

1. To evaluate the 𝑅𝑇𝐻 .

2. To evaluate 𝑉𝑇𝐻 .
3. To verify the theorem by measuring voltage by combining the Thevenin equivalent
circuit and the load resistance.

III. TASK
This involves theoretical evaluation and experimental evaluation.

THEORETICAL CALCULATION:

Consider the following circuits:

First, we evaluate 𝑅𝑇𝐻 and for that purpose we remove the load resistance and then we get:

1
𝑅𝑇𝐻 = + 2200Ω = 3300Ω
1 1
2200Ω + 2200Ω
Now, we have to evaluate 𝑉𝑇𝐻 and for that purpose the load resistance is removed thus:

5𝑉
For 5V, 𝐼 = 2200Ω = 2.273𝑚𝐴

1
Then, 𝑅 = 1 1 = 1100Ω
+
2200Ω 2200Ω

Finally, 𝑉𝑇𝐻 = 2.273𝑚𝐴 × 1100Ω = 2.5𝑉

15𝑉
Similarly for 10V, 𝐼 = 2200Ω = 6.82𝑚𝐴

1
Then, 𝑅 = 1 1 = 1100Ω
+
2200Ω 2200Ω

Finally, 𝑉𝑇𝐻 = 6.82𝑚𝐴 × 1100Ω = 7.5𝑉

Now, evaluating current across the 𝑅𝐿 and individual voltages across 𝑅𝐿 and 𝑅𝑇𝐻 . For this
purpose, we combine the 𝑅𝑇𝐻 ,𝑅𝐿 and 𝑉𝑇𝐻 in series.
For the 2.5V circuit, we use the voltage divider rule:
3300Ω
𝑉𝑅𝑇𝐻 = 2.5𝑉 × 3300Ω+1500Ω = 1.72𝑉

1500Ω
𝑉𝑅𝐿 = 2.5𝑉 × = 0.78𝑉
3300Ω + 1500Ω
Then, current through 𝑅𝐿 is as follows:
0.78𝑉
𝐼𝑅𝐿 = = 0.52𝑚𝐴
1500Ω
For the 7.5V circuit, using the voltage divider rule:
3300Ω
𝑉𝑅𝑇𝐻 = 7.5𝑉 × = 5.156𝑉
3300Ω + 1500Ω
1500Ω
𝑉𝑅𝐿 = 7.5𝑉 × = 2.34𝑉
3300Ω + 1500Ω
Then, current through 𝑅𝐿 is as follows:

2.34𝑉
𝐼𝑅𝐿 = = 1.56𝑚𝐴
1500Ω
Now, we evaluate the resistances of the resistors theoretically using color code technique.
The bands of resistors are as follows:

𝑅1 : Red, Red, Red, Gold thus 𝑅1 = 2.2𝑘Ω with 5% tolerance.

𝑅2 : Red, Red, Red, Gold thus 𝑅2 = 2.2𝑘Ω with 5% tolerance.

𝑅3 : Red, Red, Red, Gold thus 𝑅3 = 2.2𝑘Ω with 5% tolerance.

𝑅𝐿 : Brown, Green, Red, Gold thus 𝑅𝐿 = 1.5𝑘Ω with 5% tolerance.

EXPERIMENTAL CALCULATION:
APPARATUS: Bread Board, DC Power Supply, Jumper wires, Probe wires, Resistors (x4
i.e. 3 2.2kΩ resistors and one 1.5k), Digital Multi-meter
PROCEDURE:
1. Convert the DMM into ohmmeter and measure the values of resistances of the
resistors and record the values in a table.
2. Set up the components in the bread board (using the 5V) as follows:
3. Convert the DMM into ammeter and measure the values of current entering the 𝑅𝐿 .
4. Then remove the 𝑅𝐿 . Convert the DMM into voltmeter and measure the voltage by
placing the probe tips on the indicated in figure below. This voltage will be 𝑉𝑇𝐻 .

5. Now, evaluate the 𝑅 𝑇𝐻 by converting DMM into ohmmeter and setting up the
resistors on the bread board as follows and placing the probe tips on the indicated
points.

6. Now, we verify Thevenin’s theorem by combining 𝑅𝑇𝐻 ,𝑉𝑇𝐻 and 𝑅𝐿 in series circuit.

7. Convert the DMM into voltmeter and measure the voltages across 𝑅𝐿 and 𝑅𝑇𝐻 . The
sum of their voltages will add up to 𝑉𝑇𝐻 .
8. Convert DMM into ammeter. Displace the 𝑅𝐿 to break the circuit and measure the
value or current entering the 𝑅𝐿 .
 9. Repeat the procedure for 15V.
10. Evaluate error percentage by using this formula:

𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 − 𝐸𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒

𝐸𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 % = × 100
𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒
IV. CALCULATIONS
The following table below records theoretical and experimental resistances:

Resistors Theoretical Value Experimental Value Error %

𝑅1 2200Ω 2179Ω 0.95%
𝑅2 2200Ω 2170Ω 1.36%
𝑅3 2200Ω 2174Ω 1.18%
𝑅𝐿 1500Ω 1465Ω 2.33%
𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒−𝐸𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒
(∴ Error Evaluation % = 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒
× 100)

The following table below records experimental and theoretical values of voltages and
resistances:

Voltage 𝑅𝑇𝐻 Error % 𝑉𝑇𝐻 Error %

Source Theoretical Experimental Theoretical Experimental
5V 3300Ω 3.265𝑘Ω 1.06% 2.5V 2.52V -0.8%
15V 3300Ω 3.265𝑘Ω 1.06% 7.5V 7.58V -1.067%

The following table records verification values of 𝑉𝑇𝐻 ,𝑅𝑇𝐻 and 𝑅𝐿 :

𝑉𝑇𝐻 Voltage
𝑅𝑇𝐻 Error % 𝑅𝐿 Error%
Theoretical Experimental Theoretical Experimental
2.52V 1.72V 1.73V -0.58% 0.78V 0.79V -1.2%
7.58V 5.156V 5.2V -0.85% 2.34V 2.38V 1.71%

𝑉𝑇𝐻 Current
(𝐼𝑅𝐿 )
Theoretical Experimental Error %
2.52V 0.52mA 0.537mA -3.27%
7.58V 1.56mA 1.576mA -1.02%

V. CONCLUSION
Thus, we can conclude that;
1. Theoretical and experimental values of resistances differ, and ohmmeter can measure
resistances more accurately.
2. Thevenin Theorem helps to simplify the circuits and aids in calculations.
3. The 𝐼𝑅𝐿 theoretical and experimental values are close enough.
4. 𝑉𝑇𝐻 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑅𝑇𝐻 values are close enough.
5. Error may exist due to equipment error.