Chapter 4: Circuit Theorems

Fundamentals of Electric Circuits

circuit theorem

a rule or method to simplify the analysis of electrical circuits

linear circuit

a circuit in which voltage and current have a proportional relationship and obeys Ohm’s Law

superposition theorem

a method of analyzing a linear circuit with multiple independent sources by considering one co

source transformation

converting a voltage source in series with a resistor into an equivalent current source in a parallel with the same resistor, or vice versa

thevenin equivalent circuit

a simplified circuit consisting of one voltage source in series with one resistor that behaves the same resistor, or vice versa

norton equivalent circuit

a simplified circuit consisting of one current source in parallel with one resistor that behaves the same as the original circuit at its output terminals

maximum power transfer

the condition in which a load receives the greatest possible power from a circuit

linearity

when the output changes the proportionally with the input; obeys Ohm’s Law; inputs and outputs are proportional; superposition can be applied

Thevenin’s Theorem

any linear two-terminal circuit can be replaced with an equivalent voltage source and series resistance

Norton’s Theorem

any linear two-terminal circuit can be replaced with an equivalent current source in parallel with an equivalent resistance

maximum power transfer

a load receives the greatest amount of power when its resistance equals the Thevenin resistance of the source