Thevenin Norton Equivalencies - GATE

Study Material in PDF

In these GATE 2018 Notes, we explain the Thevenin Norton Equivalencies.

Thevenin’s and Norton’s Theorems are two equally valid methods of reducing a
complex network down to something simpler to analyse. These methods help a great
deal in simplifying complex networks and thereby save a great amount of time.

These concepts are important Network Theorems that form the bedrock of
Electrical Networks. These free GATE Study Notes will deal with Thevenin
Norton Equivalencies in circuits with only independent sources, in circuits with
only dependent sources as well as circuits with both dependent and independent
sources. You can download these GATE Study Material in PDF.

These notes are useful for GATE EE, EC, IES, BARC, DRDO, BSNL and other exams.
However, before you move on to Thevenin and Norton Theorems it is advised that
you have your basics clear.

Recommended Reading –

Basic Network Theory Concepts

Source Transformation & Reciprocity Theorem

Kirchhoff’s Laws, Node and Mesh Analysis

Voltage Division, Current Division, Star-Delta Conversion

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Thevenin's Theorem
Any two terminal bilateral linear DC circuits can be replaced by an equivalent circuit
consisting of a voltage source and a series resistor.

Norton’s Theorem
Any two terminal bilateral linear DC circuits can be replaced by an equivalent circuit
consisting of a current source and a parallel resistor.

Now we will discuss how to solve different kind of problems using these theorems.

1. Problem with only Independent Sources

To find Rth : Replace all voltage sources with short circuit and all current sources
with open circuit. Find the resistance across the load terminals, that resistance is
called Thevenin’s resistance (Rth) or Norton’s resistance (RN).

To find Voc : Calculate the open circuit voltage across load terminals. This open
circuit voltage is called Thevenin’s voltage (Vth).

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To find Isc : Short the load terminals and then calculate the current flowing through
it. This current is called Norton current (or) short circuit current (Isc).

Example 1:

Find ix using Thevenin’s and Norton’s theorems.

Solution:

Rth:

⇒ Rth = RN =1Ω

Vth:

By Nodal Analysis

Vth −10
−2=0
1

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⇒ Vth = 12V

Isc:

⇒Isc = 12A

Thevenin’s equivalent:

By kVL

12
⇒ ix = = 4A
3

Norton’s equivalent:

By current division

1
⇒ ix = 12 × 3 = 4A

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2. Problem with both Dependent and Independent
Sources
To find Voc: Calculate the open circuit voltage across load terminals. This open
circuit voltage is called Thevenin’s voltage (Vth).

To find Isc: Short the load terminals and then calculate the current flowing through
it. This current is called Norton current (or) short circuit current (Isc).

To find Rth: Since there are Independent sources in the circuit, we can’t find Rth
directly. We will calculate Rth using Voc and Isc and it is given by

Voc
R th = Isc

Example 2:

Find the value of ix using Thevenin’s and Norton’s theorems.

Solution:

Voc:

By Nodal Analysis

Voc −10
⇒ − 2Vx = 0
1
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⇒ Voc − 2Vx = 10 → (1)

By KVL

−10 + Vx + Voc = 0

⇒ Voc = 10 − Vx → (2)

By (1) & (2)

⇒ Voc = 10V

Isc:

By Nodal Analysis

V1 −10 V1
− 2Vx + =0
1 2

⇒ 3V1 − 4Vx = 20 → (3)

By KVL,

Vx = 10 − V1 → (4)

By (3) & (4)

60
⇒ V1 = V
7

V1 30
Isc = = A
2 7

Rth:

Voc 10 7
R N = R th = = 30/7 = 3 Ω
Isc

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Thevenin’s equivalent:

By KVL

10 15
ix = 7 = A
+3 8
3

Norton’s equivalent:

By current division,
7
30 30 7 15
ix = [73 ] = [16] = A
7 +3 7 8
3

3. Problems with only Dependent Sources

Such circuits can’t function on their own so Vth and Isc doesn’t exists but still they
exhibit resistance, that resistance can be indirectly determined by V/I method by
placing an active source across the terminals.

1. Place a voltage source of 1V across the terminal and find the current (IT) flowing
through it. Then,

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 1V
R th = R N = IT

(or)

2. Place a current source of 1A across the terminals and find the voltage (Vt) across the
current source. Then,

V
R th = R N = 1AT

Example 3:

Find the Thevenin’s resistance across terminals x-y

Solution:

1. by placing 1V voltage source across terminals x-y

By nodal analysis,

V1 V1 −1
− 2Vo + =0
3 5

And,

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 2
Vo = V1 (3)

V1 4V1 V1 1
⇒ − + −5=0
3 3 5

−4V1 1 −1
⇒ = 5 ⇒ V1 =
5 4

−1
1−V1 1−( ) 1
4
IT = = = 4A
5 5

1V 1
∴ R x−y = R Th = R N = = 1 = 4Ω
IT
4

2. by placing 1A current source across terminals x-y

By nodal analysis

V1
− 2Vo − 1 = 0
3

And,

2V1
Vo = 3

𝑉1 4𝑉1
⇒ − − 1 = 0 ⇒ 𝑉1 = −1
3 3

By KVL,

−𝑉1 − 5 + 𝑉𝑇 = 0 ⇒ 1 − 5 + 𝑉𝑇 = 0 ⇒ 𝑉𝑇 = 4𝑉

𝑉 4
𝑅𝑥−𝑦 = 𝑅𝑡ℎ = 𝑅𝑁 = 1𝐴𝑇 = 1 = 4Ω

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