COMSATS UNIVERSITY ISLAMABAD

Lab: 08
Course: ECA-1
Instructor: Dr. Ahsan Khawaja
Student:
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ASSESSMENT
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Post-Lab: /
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Instructor’s remarks:
 Lab 8: Experimental Validation of Norton’s & Thévenin’s
Theorem
Part: A (Norton’s Theorem)

Objective:

⦁Determine the value of Norton’s current IN and the Norton’s resistance RN in

a DC circuit theoretically and experimentally

⦁Determine the Thevenin Voltage VTH theoretically and experimentally

⦁Find the Thevenin’s resistance RTH by various methods and compare values.
⦁Verify that the values of current through and voltage across the load resistance

⦁Demonstrate that maximum power is delivered to load when its value is equal
are comparable in original and Thevenin and Norton Equivalent circuits.

to RTH.

Concept of lab:

Norton’s theorem states that any linear two-terminal circuit can be replaced by
an equivalent circuit consisting of a current source IN in parallel with a
resistance RN were

⦁IN is the short-circuit current flowing through the terminals.

⦁RN is the equivalent resistance seen thru the terminals provided that all the
independent sources are turned off. RN is the same as RTH.

Please note that the Thevenin's and Norton’s equivalent circuits are related by a
source transformation.

Finding IN: Determine the short circuit current ISC flowing through the load
terminals. This is known as Norton’s current IN.

Finding RN: Remove all sources from the circuit, i.e., replace all voltage
sources with a short circuit and current sources with an open circuit. Then with
the help of a multimeter find the resistance between the points ‘a’ and ‘b,’
denoted by Req.
Task 01:

⦁Find the Norton’s equivalent circuit of the circuit shown in Fig. 10.1. Draw the
Norton’s equivalent circuit in the space provided in Fig. 10.2. Record the
calculated values in Table 10.1

. ⦁Connect on breadboard the circuit (Fig. 10.1). Remove the load resistance.
Turn off all the independent sources. Replace the voltage sources with short-
circuits and current sources with open circuits. Then using an ohmmeter find the
equivalent resistance between load points ‘a’ and ‘b.’ This is RN.

⦁Short the points ‘a’ and ‘b.’ Measure the current flowing through 470Ω
resistance using an ammeter. This is Norton current ‘IN.’ Record the value in
Table 10.1

Table 1

Norton Resistance RN (Ω) Norton Current IN (A)

Calculated Measured Calculated Measured

986.7 986 4.82 4.76

Table 10.1
Task (2): (Finding IL using the Norton’s equivalent circuit)
Task 1. Calculate the current flowing through the load resistance RL shown in Fig.
10.1. Solve the circuit for RL=470Ω and RL=1000Ω and record the values in Table
10.2. The values must coincide with the current values determined in task one.
Task 2. Table 2

Current through load resistance IL (mA)

RL(Ω)
Original circuit Norton Equivalent circuit

470 3.22

Critical Analysis:
In this experiment we made Norton Equivalent by Norton’s Theorem. For this first we
calculate Norton Resistance and then Norton Current. This information allows us to make a
Norton Equivalent circuit. Then we can use this circuit to find the current going through load
resistance for different values of resistance.

Post Lab:
Q1: Briefly describe a practical application of Norton theorem?

Ans: The Norton equivalent circuit is used to represent any network of linear sources and
impedances at a given frequency.

Q2: What is the theoretical and practical advantage of using Norton theorem in circuit
analysis?

Ans: An extremely useful application of Norton's theorem is in solving the problem of

parallel generators having unequal emf’s and unequal internal impedances. All generators
(voltage generators) are converted into current generators by applying Norton's theorem.
Then, these current generators can be combined easily to form one single current generator
with only one impedance connected across it.
Part: B (Thevenin’s Theorem)

Task (1) (Measuring Thevenin Voltage VTH)

Task [Link] on breadboard the circuit shown in Fig. 10.6. The aim is to determine the
current through and the voltage across the 1kΩ resistance R1 connected between the two
nodes A and B.

Task [Link] the load resistor R1from the circuit on breadboard.

Task [Link] the voltage at nodes A and B (preferably using nodal analysis). Determine
the open-circuit voltage (voltage between points A and B i.e., VAB) using a voltmeter. The
voltage VAB is the Thevenin voltage calculated as VOC (open-circuit voltage) = VTH =VAB
=VA-VB. Record the value in Table 10.3.

Task [Link] the experiment for terminals C-D and record the values.

+
a
Circuit V Voltmeter
b
-

R1 R3
A B
1k 2.2k
R5
10k
V1 R6 V2
5V dc C D 10V dc
2.2k

R4
5k

Figure 5: Example circuit to evaluate the validity of the Thevenin’s theorem

 R3
A B
2.2k
R5
10k
V1 R6 V2
5V dc C D 10V dc
2.2k

R4
5k

Figure 6: Finding VTH

1. Determine the Thevenin resistance at terminals A-B and C-D using the four methods
mentioned above. Fill the table 10.4 with calculated and measured values.
2. Compare the values of RTH being found using different methods.

Measurement Table 2
Thevenin Resistance RTH(Ω)
Terminal
Calculated Measured Values
s
Values Method A Method B Method C Method D

A-B

C-D

Table 10.4
 Task (3) (Simulation Task)
Task [Link] the original circuit shown in figure 10.6 and note the value of current
through and voltage across the load resistance w.r.t. terminals A-B and C-D (denote them
by IL’ and VL’).

Task [Link] the Thevenin equivalent circuit consisting of voltage source ‘VTH,’
resistance ‘RTH ‘and load resistance. Note the value of current through and voltage across
the load resistance w.r.t. terminals A-B and C-D. (denote them by IL and VL). Record the
values in table 10.5.

Task [Link] the corresponding values.

Measurement Table 3
Voltage across load resistance
Current through load resistance (mA)
Terminals (volts)

IL IL’ VL VL’

A-B

C-D

Table 10.5
Post Lab
Questions:
1) What is the theoretical and practical advantage of using Thevenin and Norton
theorem in circuit analysis?
It reduces a complex circuit to a simple circuit viz a sole source of e.m.f. Eth in series
with a single resistance RTh. It simplifies the part of the circuit of the lesser importance and
enables us to view the action of the output part directly.

2) Which theorem is typically used to determine the range of output voltages for a
series-parallel circuit with a variable load?
Thevenin's theorem states that any linear circuit, no matter how complex, can be simplified
to an equivalent circuit consisting of a single voltage source with a series resistance
connected to a load. This page will walk you step-by-step through the process of determining
the Thevenin equivalent circuit.

3) A circuit has a voltage source of fifteen volts and three fifteen Ω resistors connected
in parallel across the source. What Thevenin resistance (RTH) would a load "see"
when connected to this circuit?
According to the question, all the resistors are connected in a parallel combination. Substitute the
given values in the above equation. Thus, the equivalent resistance of parallel combination the
three 15Ω resistance is Req=5Ω R e q = 5 Ω

4) Which theorem could be used (along with Ohm's law) to calculate the bridge current
in a Wheatstone bridge?
Wheatstone Bridge with Thevenin's Theorem.