Lab 3 - Network Theorems

Adama Science and Technology University
School of Electrical Engineering and Computing

Course Title: Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering
Course Number: PCE2101
Lab: Laboratory Experiment No - 3
Title:Network Theorems
Prepared by:
Name ID No.
Submitted to:Lecturer Tewdros
Date of conduction: November 25, 2016

Date of submission: December 2, 2016
Acknowledgement
We would like to acknowledge our lab assistant Tewdros for his support and explanation in the
laboratory. Through the group work and experiment we were able to comprehend the topics
that were raised and able to communicate with each other well.
Theoretical Background
The 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 the techniques you know (like voltage divider rule, current divider
rule and so forth).
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.
Thevenin’s theorem states that a linear two-terminal circuit can bereplaced by an equivalent
circuit consisting of a voltage source VTh inseries with a resistor RTh, where VTh is the open-circuit
voltage at theterminals and RTh is the input or equivalent resistance at the terminalswhen the
independent sources are turned off.
Figure: Replacing a linear two-terminal circuit by its Thevenin equivalent: (a) original circuit,
(b) the Thevenin equivalent circuit.
To apply this idea in finding the Thevenin resistance, we need to consider two cases.
■CASE 1:If the network has no dependent sources, we turn off all independent sources. R th is
the input resistance of the network looking between terminals a andb.
Figure: Finding Vth and Rth

■CASE 2:If the network has dependent sources, we turn off all independent sources. As with
superposition, dependent sources are not to be turned off because they are controlled by
circuit variables. We apply a voltage vo source at terminals a and b and determine the resulting
current io. Then Rth = vo/io. Alternatively, we may insert a current source io at terminals a-b and
find the terminal voltage vo. Again R th = vo/io. Either of the two approaches will give the same
result. In either approach we may assume any value of v o and io.
Figure: Finding RTh when circuit has dependent sources.
Lab – 3: Network Theorems

Objectives:
 To verify super position theorem.

 To verify Thevenin’s theorem.
Apparatus Used:
 3 Fixed Resistors of different values

 2 DC power supply
Figure 3: DC power source
 Connectors
 2 Digital Multimeter (DMM)
Figure 4: Digital Multimeter
Procedures
i. Super Position Theorem
1. We first received three different resistors and placed them on a good surface.
Then we measured their resistance.
2. Then after we adjusted the first power supply (V1) to 15V and the second power
supply (v2) to 10V.
3. Following the above we constructed a circuit containing one resistor connected
in series to a power source and two resistors connected in parallel to another
source al found in a single circuit.
Figure 1: Circuit for Experiment super position theorem

4. Thereafter by applying superposition theorem we calculated the currents and
voltages found at each resistors using the theorem.
5. Then to apply superposition theorem practically we had to disconnect one of the
voltages at a time and observe their individual effect. So first we disconnected
V2 (10V) and measured each resistors current and voltage. After completing this
we disconnected V1 (15V) and found the voltage and current across each resistor
due to this power source.
6. Then we connected both sources at the same time and measured the current
and voltage across each resistor due to the two sources combined.
ii. Thevenin’s Theorem
1. Since only one power supply is needed for this part of the experiment we used
only the V1 (15V) power supply.
2. Then we constructed a circuit the same as before, except this time we removed
the second power source (V2 = 10V).
Figure 2: Circuit for Experiment of Thevenin theorem

3. By taking the third resistor as Load resistor we calculated the Thevenin
resistance and voltage by using the theorem.
4. Before transforming the circuit to the Thevenin equivalent circuit as shown on
figure 3, we measured the voltage and current on the load resistor (R 3).
5. Then when we were doing the practical part of the experiment, we omitted the
power source and at the two ends of the wires where the power source was
supposed to be we attached our meter and measured the Thevenin resistance.
6. Then we measured the Thevenin voltage which we can obtain by measuring the
voltage at the second resistor.
7. Following the above we transformed the first circuit into a circuit containing out
Thevenin resistance Thevenin voltage as a source and the load resistor.
Figure 3: Thevenin Equivalent Circuit

8. Finally we measured the voltage and current found at the load resistor and
compared them with the one we got before transforming to the Thevenin
equivalent circuit.
Result and Discussion

From the experiments we have done we have obtained the following measurements.
Super position Theorem

It(mA) I1(mA) I2(mA) I3(mA) V1(V) V2(V) V3(V)
Calculated Value 0.302 0.25 0.031 0.025 25 10 10
Measured Value due to V1 0.15 0.15 0 0 14.8 0 0
Measure Value due to V2 0.153 0.10 0.031 0.025 10.8 10.5 10.4
Measured value due to both sources 0.301 0.23 0.033 0.025 24.8 10.1 10.3
Thevenin Theorem
Rth(Ω ) Vth(V) IL (mA) VL(V) V1(V) V2(V) V3(V)
Calculated Value 76.3 11.44 75 9.83 5.16 9.83 9.83
Measured Value of Figure 2 76.9 11.43 75.2 9.81 5.15 9.81 9.81
Measure Value of Figure 3 - - 75.1 9.81 - - -
Conclusion
We have observed the following points about the super position theorem:
 The current and voltages across each resistors are the summation of the voltages that
occur because if the two power sources acting alone.
 The total current of the circuit is found where both power sources have total current.
We have observed the following points about the Thevenin theorem:
 The voltage at the load resistor and R 3are similar to each other, meaning that the values
we obtain on the Thevenin equivalent circuit are correct.
 The total current is similar on both figure 2 and figure 3.
 The Thevenin theorem provides an easier way to compute the voltage and current of
one load.
References
 Fundamentals of Electric Circuits, C. K. Alexander and M. N. O. Sadiku
Thank you!!!

Lab 3 - Network Theorems

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Lab 3 - Network Theorems

Uploaded by

Adama Science and Technology University

School of Electrical Engineering and Computing

Date of conduction: November 25, 2016

Steps to Apply Superposition Principle:

Figure: Finding Vth and Rth

Figure: Finding RTh when circuit has dependent sources.

Lab – 3: Network Theorems

 To verify super position theorem.

 3 Fixed Resistors of different values

Figure 3: DC power source

Figure 1: Circuit for Experiment super position theorem

Figure 2: Circuit for Experiment of Thevenin theorem

Figure 3: Thevenin Equivalent Circuit

Result and Discussion

Super position Theorem

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