Verification of Thevenin’s and Norton’s Theorems,
Superposition and Maximum Power Transfer Theorem
Mechanical Engineering (BEng.) Degree
MEC1151 – Electrical Circuits and Analysis
27/10/22
School of Engineering
University of Glasgow
Date of Completion: 16/11/2022
, Table of Contents
Abstract ....................................................................................................................................... 3
Introduction................................................................................................................................. 3
1.1 Equipment .......................................................................................................................... 3
Theoretical Background................................................................................................................ 5
2.1 Superposition Theorem ....................................................................................................... 6
2.2 Thevenin’s Theorem ........................................................................................................... 6
2.3 Norton’s Theorem............................................................................................................... 6
2.4 Maximum Power Transfer Theorem .................................................................................... 7
Experiment Procedures ................................................................................................................ 7
3.1 Verification of Superposition ............................................................................................... 7
3.2 Verification of Thevenin’s Theorem ..................................................................................... 8
3.3 Verification of Norton’s Theorem ........................................................................................ 9
3.4 Verification of Maximum Power Transfer Theorem .............................................................. 9
Experimental Result and Analysis ............................................................................................... 10
Discussion .................................................................................................................................. 16
5.1 Experimental Discussion ................................................................................................... 16
5.2 Experimental Questions .................................................................................................... 16
Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 18
References ................................................................................................................................. 18
, Abstract
The objective of this lab report is to be able to verify the Superposition Theorem, the Thevenin’s
Theorem, the Norton’s Theorem, and the Maximum Power Transfer Theorem. A linear network
consists of linear elements, linear dependent sources, and linear independent sources. The network
theorems will allow the simplification of a complex linear circuit, thereby making circuit analysis
much simpler. The circuit was then analysis using Ohm’s Law and Kirchhoff’s Laws, as well as a GPS-
3033 (power supply), a DMM and a resistance decade box. Through 4 different experiments, the
theoretical value and experimental value were relatively similar to each other, thus the theorems
were found to be valid.
Introduction
The purpose of this report is to provide verification of the circuit theorems by conducting 4 different
experiments in a complex linear circuit using a breadboard with jumper wires, a power supply, a
DMM, a resistance decade box and resistors with varying resistance. The theorems will allow the
simplification of a linear circuit which eases circuit analysis.
The first part of this lab consists of proving the Superposition Theorem which can be applied to
circuits that contains two or more independent sources. By turning off the independent sources, an
independent voltage source is replaced by a short circuit and an independent current source is
replaced by an open circuit. This will simplify the circuit into a simple Ohm’s Law, voltage division, or
just a current division equation.
The second part consists of proving 3 theorems: Thevenin’s Theorem, Norton’s Theorem, and the
Maximum Power Transfer Theorem. The Thevenin’s and Norton’s Theorem both help the
simplification of a circuit by replacing the whole circuit with a much simpler circuit consisting of an
independent source and a resistance.
1.1 Equipment
Breadboard
The breadboard is used for building temporary circuits. The breadboard consists of two terminal
strips and two bus strips as shown in Figure 1. Each bus strip has two columns of contacts. Each of
the two columns of contacts are a node.
Figure 1: An example of a breadboard
Superposition and Maximum Power Transfer Theorem
Mechanical Engineering (BEng.) Degree
MEC1151 – Electrical Circuits and Analysis
27/10/22
School of Engineering
University of Glasgow
Date of Completion: 16/11/2022
, Table of Contents
Abstract ....................................................................................................................................... 3
Introduction................................................................................................................................. 3
1.1 Equipment .......................................................................................................................... 3
Theoretical Background................................................................................................................ 5
2.1 Superposition Theorem ....................................................................................................... 6
2.2 Thevenin’s Theorem ........................................................................................................... 6
2.3 Norton’s Theorem............................................................................................................... 6
2.4 Maximum Power Transfer Theorem .................................................................................... 7
Experiment Procedures ................................................................................................................ 7
3.1 Verification of Superposition ............................................................................................... 7
3.2 Verification of Thevenin’s Theorem ..................................................................................... 8
3.3 Verification of Norton’s Theorem ........................................................................................ 9
3.4 Verification of Maximum Power Transfer Theorem .............................................................. 9
Experimental Result and Analysis ............................................................................................... 10
Discussion .................................................................................................................................. 16
5.1 Experimental Discussion ................................................................................................... 16
5.2 Experimental Questions .................................................................................................... 16
Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 18
References ................................................................................................................................. 18
, Abstract
The objective of this lab report is to be able to verify the Superposition Theorem, the Thevenin’s
Theorem, the Norton’s Theorem, and the Maximum Power Transfer Theorem. A linear network
consists of linear elements, linear dependent sources, and linear independent sources. The network
theorems will allow the simplification of a complex linear circuit, thereby making circuit analysis
much simpler. The circuit was then analysis using Ohm’s Law and Kirchhoff’s Laws, as well as a GPS-
3033 (power supply), a DMM and a resistance decade box. Through 4 different experiments, the
theoretical value and experimental value were relatively similar to each other, thus the theorems
were found to be valid.
Introduction
The purpose of this report is to provide verification of the circuit theorems by conducting 4 different
experiments in a complex linear circuit using a breadboard with jumper wires, a power supply, a
DMM, a resistance decade box and resistors with varying resistance. The theorems will allow the
simplification of a linear circuit which eases circuit analysis.
The first part of this lab consists of proving the Superposition Theorem which can be applied to
circuits that contains two or more independent sources. By turning off the independent sources, an
independent voltage source is replaced by a short circuit and an independent current source is
replaced by an open circuit. This will simplify the circuit into a simple Ohm’s Law, voltage division, or
just a current division equation.
The second part consists of proving 3 theorems: Thevenin’s Theorem, Norton’s Theorem, and the
Maximum Power Transfer Theorem. The Thevenin’s and Norton’s Theorem both help the
simplification of a circuit by replacing the whole circuit with a much simpler circuit consisting of an
independent source and a resistance.
1.1 Equipment
Breadboard
The breadboard is used for building temporary circuits. The breadboard consists of two terminal
strips and two bus strips as shown in Figure 1. Each bus strip has two columns of contacts. Each of
the two columns of contacts are a node.
Figure 1: An example of a breadboard
