NAME: Abdul-Hamid Opeoluwa Arowona

MATRIC NUMBER: D.E. STUDENT

GROUP NUMBER: 9
INSTRUCTOR’S NAME: DR. NORBERT EDOMAH
DATE: Monday, November 27th, 2023

EXPERIMENTAL VERIFICATION OF THEVENIN’S

THEOREM

Introduction
Thevenin's Theorem is a fundamental concept in electrical circuit analysis that simplifies the
analysis of complex circuits. It states that any linear two-terminal circuit can be replaced by
an equivalent circuit consisting of a single voltage source (VTH) in series with a single resistor
(RTH). This simplified circuit is called the Thevenin equivalent circuit and provides an easier
way to analyse and solve circuits.
The Thevenin’s theorem states that: “Any two-terminal linear bilateral DC network can be
replaced by an equivalent circuit consisting of a voltage source and a series resistor”
Any linear one-port network can be “replaced with” a single voltage source in series with a
single resistor (see Figure 1). The voltage source is called the Thevenin equivalent voltage,
and the resistor is called the Thevenin equivalent resistance. What this means is that a single
voltage source and series resistor will behave identically to the actual part of the circuit it is
replacing.

Figure 1. A network replaced with its Thevenin equivalent circuit.

Steps to Find Thevenin Equivalent Circuit:
1. Remove the resistor (R) through which you wish to calculate the current or across
which you want to know the voltage. This is called the open circuit voltage or the
Thevenin equivalent voltage, VTH.
2. From the open terminals, calculate the resistance “looking back” from the open
terminals with all voltage sources removed and replaced by their internal resistances
(if Rinternal = 0, replace the voltage source with a short). This resistance is RTH.
3. The current (through R) to be calculated will be:

𝑉𝑇𝐻
𝐼𝑅 =
𝑅𝑇𝐻 + 𝑅

The voltage across R will be:

𝑉𝑇𝐻 (𝑅)
𝑉𝑅 = 𝐼(𝑅) =
𝑅𝑇𝐻 + 𝑅
where:
VTH = Thevenin equivalent voltage
RTH = Thevenin equivalent voltage
R = value of the resistor removed in Step 1.

Aim
The aim of this experiment is to calculate the Thevenin’s equivalent of a given circuit and to
experimentally verify Thevenin’s theorem.

Materials:
• Breadboard
• A set of resistors (56Ω, 51Ω, 100Ω)
• Digital Multimeter
• Variable DC Power Supply
• Jumper wires
• Digital trainer kit
 Figure 2.

Figure 3.

Figure 4.

Procedure
• The resistance of the resistors was obtained using the Resistor Colour code.
• The digital multimeter was then used to measure the resistance of each resistor and
the value obtained was recorded in Table 1.
• The Circuit in Figure 2 was then reproduced on the breadboard.
• The currents IA, IB and IC were then measured and the values obtained were recorded
in table 1.
• The resistor R3 (Load) was then removed and the open-circuit voltage VOC at the
terminals AB was measured and the value obtained was recorded in table 2.
• The Voltage sources 15V and 10V were then removed and replaced with a short.
 • The Resistance across the open terminals AB, ROC was then measured and the value
obtained was recorded in Table 2.
• The Theoretical values of VOC and ROC were then calculated and their values were
recorded in table 2.
• The value of IC was then calculated by analysing the circuit above and using the
theoretical values of VOC and ROC. The value obtained was compared with that of the
original circuit.
• The Value of V in the circuit shown in Figure 4 was then calculated using the
theoretical value of R3 and the value of IC.
• The values of IA and IB were then calculated with the formula; V = E − I × r
• The values gotten were compared with that of the original circuit in Figure 2.

Results

Table 1. Resistor values.

R1(Ω) R2(Ω) R3(Ω) IA(mA) IB(mA) IC(mA)

56 51 100 -51.7 116.6 186.8

Table 2.

Measured VOC(V) Measured ROC(Ω) Calculated VOC(V) Calculated ROC(Ω) IC(mA)

11.80 25.60 12.62 26.69 99.6

Discussion
The primary aim of this experiment was to demonstrate and verify Thevenin's Theorem in
electrical circuits using a breadboard setup. The experiment aimed to determine the
Thevenin equivalent circuit for a network, compare the theoretical and experimentally
obtained values, and validate the theorem's application for simplifying circuit analysis.
The results of the experiment successfully achieved the aim by confirming the applicability
of Thevenin's Theorem in the practical setup. The Thevenin equivalent circuit parameters,
namely Thevenin voltage (VTH) and Thevenin resistance (RTH), were determined
experimentally and were found to closely match the theoretical values as seen in Table 2.
The experiment produced these results by applying Thevenin's Theorem, which states that
any linear circuit can be simplified to an equivalent circuit comprising a voltage source and a
resistor.
Comparing the results of this experiment with findings from other research on Thevenin's
Theorem reveals a consistent confirmation of the theorem's principles. The agreement
between theoretical predictions and experimental measurements aligns with broader
understanding in the field, showcasing the universal applicability of Thevenin's Theorem
across different circuit configurations. The close correspondence between theoretical
expectations and practical results reaffirms the reliability of Thevenin's Theorem.
While the experiment demonstrated success, potential sources of error may include
inaccuracies in resistor values due to tolerance, the quality of electrical connections on the
breadboard, or variations in the power supply.

Conclusion
In conclusion, the experiment effectively demonstrated Thevenin's Theorem in a breadboard
setup, providing valuable insights into its practical applicability. Thevenin’s theorem was
verified as the Voltage across the Load R3 and the current flowing through it are
approximately equal to the Thevenin’s equivalent voltage and the current flowing through
the load after getting the Thevenin's equivalent circuit.

References

Kuphaldt, T. R. (2015, February 12). Thevenin’s Theorem. Allaboutcircuits.com; All About

Circuits. https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/direct- current/chpt-10/thevenins-
theorem/

admin. (2018, July 3). Thevenin’s Theorem and Its Application. Electrical Concepts.
https://electricalbaba.com/thevenins-theorem-application/

Robert L. Boylestad, “Introductory Circuit Analysis”, 10th Edition, Prentice Hall, New York,
2005-2006, pp. 328-330.
Appendices

𝑉 = 𝐼𝑅
𝑅𝑡
𝑉𝑖 = 𝑉𝑡 ( )
𝑅𝑖
𝑅𝑡
𝐼𝑖 = 𝐼𝑡 ( )
𝑅𝑖

∑ 𝐼𝑖𝑛 = ∑ 𝐼𝑜𝑢𝑡

∑ 𝑉𝑖 = 0

𝑉𝑇𝐻
𝐼𝑅 =
𝑅𝑇𝐻 + 𝑅
𝑉𝑇𝐻 (𝑅)
𝑉𝑅 = 𝐼(𝑅) =
𝑅𝑇𝐻 + 𝑅
For IC:
𝑉𝑂𝐶
𝐼𝐶 =
𝑅𝑂𝐶 + 𝑅3
For ROC:
𝑅1 𝑅2
𝑅𝑇 =
𝑅1 + 𝑅2
For VOC:
I1 + I3 + I2 = 0
𝑉𝑂𝐶 − 10 𝑉𝑂𝐶 − 15
+ +0=0
𝑅1 𝑅2