ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT

COURSE CODE: MEK425

PROGRAM: CEEM 242

LABAROTARY EXERSICE NO : 4

STUDENT NAME STUDENT ID

1. IZWAN HAZRI BIN ROPIZALHAZRI 2023268962
2. MUHAMMAD ZAKI BIN OMAR 2023214384
3. - -
MARKS RUBRICS
COMPONENTS MARKS COMMENTS
RESULTS /25
DISCUSSIONS /15
CONCLUSION /10
TOTAL /50
 STUDENT KIT LAB MODULE
Program: CEEM242 Semester: 1

Ownership: Discipline of Electronics

Version: 1.0 Date Issued: March 2022

Course Name: ELECTRIC CIRCUIT

Course Code: MEK425

Mode of Delivery: ✔ Face to Face Virtual

SUPERPOSITION, THEVENIN-NORTON, MAXIMUM POWER TRANSFER

THEOREM

Authors

Prepared by: Harnani binti Hassan Date : March 2022

1st Revision : Harnani binti Hassan Date : October 2023

2nd Revision : Date :

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 ASSESSMENT DETAILS

Field/Module: Electronics / E4

SUPEROSITION, THEVENIN-NORTON, MAXIMUM POWER

Experiment Title: TRANSFER THEOREM

At the end of the course, students should be able to:

CLO1: Identify the appropriate knowledge in performing

experimental tasks (C4).
CLO2: Analyze experimental findings through result and
Course Learning discussion (C4).
Outcomes: CLO3: Demonstrate proficiency using laboratory tools
appropriately in conducting experiment (P4).
CLO4: Follow the experiment and laboratory regulations in
conducting the laboratory work. (A3).
CLO5: Work in a team effectively to perform laboratory works (A3)

Upon completion of this experiment, students should able:

MO1 : to measure the response of voltage due to multiple DC source

when superposition theorem is applied to the circuit.
Module Outcomes: MO2 : to measure Thevenin voltage and Norton current when
Thevenin-Norton theorem is applied to the circuit.
MO3: to observe the Maximum Power Transfer of TheveninNorton
equivalent circuit.

Perform the following tasks:

Instructions: 1. Submit the report in group or individual as instructed by

Instructor.
2. The group shall consist maximum of 2-3 persons.

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 1. Make sure good sitting posture throughout the session.
Safety Instructions:
2. Good lighting and good ventilation.

1. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

Superposition Theorem: The basic concept of superposition states that in any linear, bilateral
network with more than one source, the response obtained from each source considered
separately and all other sources are replaced by their internal resistance. The superposition
theorem is used to solve a circuit with two or more sources connected. To consider the effects
of each source independent requires that the sources to be removed;
i. If the voltage source is removed, the terminal is short-

circuited ii. If the current source is removed, the is open-circuited

For example, in Figure 4.1

6A

2Ω 4Ω

3Ω

20 V 5Ω 5Ω 1Ω

Figure 4.1

Case 1: 20V (On), 6A (Off) /open-circuited

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 Open-circuited

2Ω 4Ω

3Ω

20 V 5Ω 5Ω 1Ω

Case 2: 6A (On), 20V (Off)/short-circuited

6A

2Ω 4Ω

3Ω

Short-circuited 5Ω 5Ω 1Ω

Thevenin’s Theorem: Any combination of sources and resistances with two terminals can be
replaced by a combination of a single voltage source (Thevenin voltage) in series with a single
resistor (Thevenin resistance). The value of the Thevenin voltage is the open circuit voltage at
the output terminals. The value of the Thevenin resistance is the equivalent resistance looking
back into the network at the output terminals with all voltage sources replaced by a short and
all current sources replaced by an open circuit.

In Figure 4.2 a particular driving circuit with output terminals a and b has been replaced by its
Thevenin equivalent circuit, consisting of a Thevenin voltage source VTH in series with the
Thevenin resistance RTH.

To find and apply the Thevenin equivalent circuit, follow the steps below:
1. Remove the resistor (often referred to as the load resistor, RL) to calculate the current
or voltage. Label these terminals (where the resistor was removed) as “a” and “b”.
Calculate the voltage across these open terminals, which is VTH.

2. From the open terminals, (“a” and “b”) calculate the resistance “looking back” into the
circuit with all voltage sources removed and replaced by a short and all current sources
removed and replaced by an open. The resistance obtained is RTH.
3. Hence, draw the Thevenin equivalent circuit as Figure 4.2 with the current through and
the voltage across RL.

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 Figure 4.2: Thevenin Equivalent Circuit

Norton’s Theorem: Any combination of sources and resistances with two terminals can be
replaced by a combination of a single current source (Norton current) in parallel with a single
resistor (Norton resistance). The value of the Norton current is the short circuit current at the
at the output terminals. The value of the Norton resistance is the equivalent resistance looking
back into the network at the output terminals with all voltage sources replaced by a short and
all current sources replaced by an open.

In Figure 4.3 a particular driving circuit with output terminals a and b has been replaced by its
Norton equivalent circuit, consisting of a Norton current source IN in parallel with the Norton
resistance RN.

One method obtain the Norton equivalent circuit is to determine the Thevenin equivalent, and
then perform a source transformation. Another method to determine the Norton equivalent
circuit is to;
1. Remove the resistor (often referred to as the load resistor, RL) to calculate the current
or voltage. Label these terminals (where the resistor was removed) as “a” and “b”. Short
these terminals together and determine the current that flows through this short
connection. This short circuit current is IN.
2. From the open terminals, (“a” and “b”) calculate the resistance “looking back” into the
circuit with all voltage sources removed and replaced by a short and all current sources
removed and replaced by an open. The resistance obtained is RN.
3. Hence, draw the Norton equivalent circuit as Figure 4.3 with the current through and
the voltage across RL.

Figure 4.3: Norton Equivalent circuit

2. PRE-LAB WORK

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 1. Calculate voltage responses for V when superposition theorem is applied to the circuit
in Figure 4.4. Show your calculation and write down your results in Table 4.2.

R1 = 6 kΩ A

R2 = 2 kΩ

20V R3 = 4 kΩ V

3V

Figure 4.4

2. Calculate the value of VTH, RTH and IN in Figure 4.5. Follow the instruction below;
a. Remove resistor R3 in the circuit of Figure 4.5
b. Find the Thevenin equivalent circuit. Please show all your work and draw the circuit.
c. Find the Norton equivalent circuit. Please show all your work and draw the circuit.

3. Using the Thevenin equivalent circuit from instruction (No.2b) above;

a. Find the current through R3 if connected back into the terminals a and b of the Thevenin
equivalent circuit (Record in Table 4.3).
b. Find the voltage across R3 if connected back into the terminals a and b of the Thevenin
equivalent circuit (Record in Table 4.3).

4. Using your Norton equivalent circuit from instruction (No.2c) above;

a. Find the current through R3 if connected back into the terminals a and b of the Norton
equivalent circuit (Record in Table 4.3).
b. Find the voltage across R3 if connected back into the terminals a and b of the Norton
equivalent circuit (Record in Table 4.3).

Figure 4.5

Students/Group leader has to get your instructor to approve all your PRE-LAB work before
commencing the experiment. Submit the pre-lab work together with the report.

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3. EXPERIMENTAL WORK

Superposition Theorem:

1. For experimental work, you need to use

TinkerCAD:https://www.tinkercad.com/dashboard online simulator to assemble circuit
in Figure 4.4. You have to setup an account and sign in using your email to start the
simulator.

2. Once your signed in, a dashboard under your account will be appeared. Next, click
Create> Circuit a new circuit to start the simulator as shown in Figure 4.6.

Figure 4.6: TinkerCAD simulator

3. Next, assemble a circuit according to Figure 4.4, using TinkerCAD simulator. The
equipment and component that you will be needed are tabulated in Table 4.1.

Table 4.1: Equipment and component

Superposition
Equipment needed Component
Theorem condition
Power Supply with minimum
current, 5A setting
20V (ON) Multimeter with voltage
setting
Breadboard R1 = 6kΩ, R2 = 2 kΩ and
Power Supply with minimum R3 = 4 kΩ
current, 1A setting
3V (ON) Multimeter with voltage
setting
Breadboard

4. You may find the equipment and component on right of the layout. Click and drag your
equipment and component. Hence, click at the end of the component to make
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 connection. The circuit will be saved under your account. If you prefer to continue your
work later, you may logout. If you want to continue, you can click ‘Tinker this’ after
signed the account.

5. After assemble the circuit, click ‘Start Simulation’ button at right corner top of the
layout window. Print screen or capture your circuit with the simulation results for both
conditions. The screenshots and circuit assembled in TinkerCAD MUST BE
ATTACHED together in the report.

6. Show your simulation result and write down your result in Table 4.2 (Result section).
Thevenin-Norton, Maximum Power Transfer Theorem:

1. For this experiment, you need to connect the circuit in Figure 4.5 using LTspice
software. Hence, measure and record in Table 4.4 (Result section) the current through
and voltage across R3. Note: Use LTSpice to construct the circuit. The readings for
currents and voltages can be obtained when you run the DC Operating Point Analysis.
The screenshots of netlist and circuit drawn in LTSpice MUST BE ATTACHED together
in the report.

To obtain the Thevenin and Norton Equivalent and Validation

2. Remove resistor R3. Then replace with a resistor value of 9,999,999 ohm. Then
measure and record the Thevenin voltage in Table 4.5. (It is also referring to the voltage
across 9,999,999 ohms. The value of 9,999,999 ohm is too big, thus it is assuming as
an open circuit). Thus, the voltage across open terminals a and b is the VTH).
3. Next, replace the R3 with a resistor with a value of 0.001 ohm. Then measure and record
the current value across the resistor 0.001 ohm. The very small value of resistance is
referring to a short circuit between terminals a and b. Thus, we are measuring the
Norton current, IN.
4. The RTH is obtained using a relationship of VTH = RTH * IN. Calculate the value of RTH.
RTH is the resistance between terminals a and b.
5. Using the results of VTH (from step 2) and IN (from step 3), connect the Norton and
Thevenin equivalent circuit respectively. Connect resistor RL between terminals a and
b (should look similar as Figure 4.2 and Figure 4.3).
6. Measure and record in Table 4.5 the current through and voltage across R3.

To measure the Maximum Power Delivered to Load Calculation

1. The formula for maximum power delivered to the load is Pmax = (VTH/RLoad +RTH)2*RLoad.
Fill up the Table 4.6 and plot the graph Power vs. RLoad. Observed the graph and give comments
on the maximum power delivered to the RLoad. (RLoad = RL).

4. RESULTS

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Superposition Theorem:
1. Fill in the Table 4.2 with your calculated and simulated results.

Table 4.2: Calculated and simulated voltage response

Superposition Theorem Calculated voltage Simulated voltage
response, V response, V
20V (ON) 3.62 V 3.65 V
3V (ON) 1.64 V 1.65 V
Total V 5.26 V 5.30 V

2. Hence, show your calculation, print screen/screen shot or captured circuit assemble along
with the simulated results for both superposition theorem conditions.
Thevenin-Norton, Maximum Power Transfer Theorem:
Table 4.3: Calculated Voltage and Current of Resistor R3
Thevenin-Norton, Maximum Thevenin Equivalent Norton Equivalent
Power Transfer Theorem
IR3 1.33 mA 4.8 mA
VR3 5.28 V 19.2 V

Table 4.4: Simulated value of VTH, RTH and IN

VTH 21.43 V
IN 0.02 A
RTH (Use relationship 1071.45 Ω
of VTH and IN)

Table 4.5: Simulated Voltage and Current of Resistor R3

Thevenin-Norton, Maximum Thevenin Equivalent Norton Equivalent
Power Transfer Theorem
IR3 5.0 Ma 0.03 A

VR3 16.18 V 67 V

Table 4.6: Measurement of Power at RLoad

Value of RLoad (ohm) Power at RLoad (Watt)
500 0.094

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 700 0.103
900 0.107
1071 0.108
1200 0.108
1600 0.104
3300 0.090

5. DISCUSSIONS

Questions: Superposition Theorem

1. Based on the results of Tables 4.2, can superposition be applied successfully to

determine the value of voltage in Figure 4.4?

Superposition can be applied successfully to determine the value of the voltage in

Figure 4.4.
2. If one of the sources in Figure 4.4 had been inserted with the opposite polarity, would
there be a significant change in the resulting voltage, V? Could both the magnitude and
polarity change?

When a source with the opposite polarity is inserted, the value of another current is
subtracted because it is negative, changing both the polarity and the amplitude of the
current.

3. If both sources in Figure 4.4 had been inserted with the opposite polarity, would there
be a significant change in the resulting voltage, V? Could both the magnitude and
polarity change?

The voltage will remain the same but the polarity will be negatively impacted if both
sources are inserted with opposing polarity.

4. Why is it important to note the polarities of the measured voltages and currents?

Power in an electric circuit is the result of the product of current and voltage(P=VI).
Whether power is positive or negative depends on the voltage and current's polarity.
Ignoring the polarities can cause you to calculate power erroneously and draw wrong
conclusions about how the circuit perform.

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Questions: Thevenin-Norton, Maximum Power Transfer Theorem

5. Do the load voltages for the original (Figure 4.5) and Thevenized circuits (Figure 4.2)
match for both loads? Is it logical that this could be extended to any arbitrary load
resistance value?

Yes. It makes sense because the Thevenin equivalent circuit is made to deliver the same
voltage across the load terminal for any given load resistance as the original circuit did.
Therefore, it should function properly for any load resistance within the circuit's linear
operating range if it matches the original circuit for the particular load you have tested.
Because Thevenin's theory assumes a linear circuit and that component behavior does
not exceed saturation or non-linear areas, the linear operating range is crucial. It is
therefore rational and legal to extend this equivalency to any arbitrary load resistance
value within the circuit's linear operating voltage range if the load voltages match for
the original and Thevenin equivalent circuit for a range of loads.

6. Assuming several loads were under consideration, which is faster, analysing each load
with the original circuit of Figure 4.5 or analysing each load with the Thevenin
equivalent of Figure 4.2?

When dealing with complex circuits, it is faster and more effective to analyze each load
using the Thevenin equivalent circuit rather than the actual circuit shown in Figure 4.5.
The main explanation for this is that the Thevenin equivalent circuit makes computation
and analysis easier by offering a condensed, two-component representation of the
original circuit.

7. How would the Thevenin equivalent computations change if the original circuit
contained more than one voltage source?

Finding the Thevenin equivalent gets trickier when there are multiple voltage sources
in the original circuit. Thevenin's theorem, which simplifies linear circuits, makes the
assumption that the original circuit had a single independent voltage source. If you wish
to get the Thevenin equivalent for the complete circuit with every source active, you
will need to temporarily isolate each source, compute the Thevenin equivalent for that
particular source, and take superposition into consideration.

Student should discuss on the results that they have obtained & relate it with the theoretical
and simulation concept.

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6 CONCLUSIONS

Write the conclusion for experiments. What has been achieved/obtained regarding to the
experiments?

In short, the experiment on Superposition, Thevenin-Norton, and Maximum Power Transfer

Theorem helped us understand essential concepts in electrical circuits. By applying these
principles practically, we learned how to analyze complex circuits step by step using
superposition. We also became skilled at simplifying circuits using Thevenin and Norton
equivalents, making them easier to work with. The experiment highlighted the significance of
the Maximum Power Transfer Theorem in optimizing power usage. Successfully completing
this experiment means we now have practical skills to analyze and simplify electrical circuits,
laying the foundation for more advanced applications in electrical engineering.

8 REFERENCES
1. Alexander C. K. & Sadiku M. N. O., Fundamentals of Electric Circuits, 6th Edition,
McGraw-Hill, 2016 (eBook – Text Book)
2. John Bird, Electrical Circuit Theory and Technology, Taylor & Francis Ltd, 2017, ISBN
9781138673496

END

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