Source Transformations

• Actual circuits are not ideal, and the voltage decreases as you add more load

Examples

Superposition

• The total response of a circuit is the sum of the responses of each independent source
• This can be done by shorting each voltage source or creating an open circuit for each current source

Examples

Thevenin’s Theorem

• Any part of a circuit can be represented as a Thevenin Equivalent
• If there is a dependent source, must find the equivalent voltage $V_{\text{oc}}$ using superposition/analysis

Examples

Norton’s Theorem

• Any part of a circuit can be represented as a Norton Equivalent
• If there is a dependent source, must find the equivalent current $i_{\text{sc}}$ using superposition/analysis

Examples

Maximum Power Transfer Theorem

• Answers one of two questions:
  • Choose an $R_L$ to maximize $P$
  • Choose a circuit to provide max $P$ given $R_L$
• Expression for power

• Taking the derivative of $P$ wrt $R_L$, we obtain that the max power is achieved when $R_T = R_L$

Examples

References

• Course slides, chapter 5: Circuit Theorems