A load RL = 15 Ω is connected across a–b. Replace the rest of the circuit with its Thévenin equivalent and find the load current IL.
V1 = 18 VR1 = 20 ΩR2 = 4 ΩR3 = 20 ΩRL = 15 Ω
IL = A
10.Thévenin & NortonHard
Find the Norton current IN: the current that flows from a to b if the terminals are shorted.
V1 = 18 VIs = 6 AR1 = 4 ΩR2 = 6 ΩR3 = 5 Ω
IN = A
11.Op-amp circuitsMedium
The op-amp is ideal and runs from ±15 V supplies; its output saturates at ±14 V. The inverting amplifier is driven by a sine wave. Find the largest input amplitude Vin,max (peak value) for which the output does not clip.
R1 = 22 kΩRf = 100 kΩVsat = ±14 V
Vin,max = V
12.Op-amp circuitsHard
The summing amplifier uses an ideal op-amp with ±15 V supplies. Find the current If through the feedback resistor, flowing towards the output.
V1 = −1.7 VV2 = −2 VR1 = 2 kΩR2 = 22 kΩRf = 2 kΩ
If = mA
13.RC & RL transientsMedium
The inductor carries no current before the switch closes at t = 0. How long after the switch closes does the current reach 75% of its final value? Find t.
Vs = 12 VR = 22 ΩL = 150 mH
t = ms
14.RC & RL transientsHard
Just before the switch closes at t = 0, the capacitor holds 12 V with the polarity shown. Find the capacitor voltage vC at t = 40 ms.
Vs = 15 VR = 2.2 kΩC = 68 µFvC(0) = 12 Vt = 40 ms
vC = V
3Solutions
1.Series & parallel resistors
Answer: IR1 = 0.4197 A
Series and parallel resistors: in series the same current flows through each resistor and R = R₁ + R₂ + …. In parallel each resistor has the same voltage and 1/R = 1/R₁ + 1/R₂ + …. A ladder network is reduced one pair at a time until a single equivalent resistance remains.
Combine resistors from the far end
Start at the end farthest from the source and work back towards it. Resistors carrying the same current are in series; resistors across the same two nodes are in parallel.
R3 + R4 = 15 + 2 = 17 Ω
R2 ∥ 17 = 10·17/(10+17) = 6.296 Ω
Req = R1 + 6.296 = 8 + 6.296 = 14.3 Ω
Current from the source
The source sees only Req, so Ohm’s law gives the current it delivers. That current flows through R₁.
IR1 = V1/Req = 6/14.3 = 0.4197 A
Answer
IR1 = 0.4197 A
2.Series & parallel resistors
Answer: IR2 = 1.378 A
Series and parallel resistors: in series the same current flows through each resistor and R = R₁ + R₂ + …. In parallel each resistor has the same voltage and 1/R = 1/R₁ + 1/R₂ + …. A ladder network is reduced one pair at a time until a single equivalent resistance remains.
Combine resistors from the far end
Start at the end farthest from the source and work back towards it. Resistors carrying the same current are in series; resistors across the same two nodes are in parallel.
R5 + R6 = 10 + 30 = 40 Ω
R4 ∥ 40 = 9.231 Ω
R3 + 9.231 = 39.23 Ω
R2 ∥ 39.23 = 1.903 Ω
Req = R1 + 1.903 = 5 + 1.903 = 6.903 Ω
Current from the source
The source sees only Req, so Ohm’s law gives the current it delivers. That current flows through R₁.
IR1 = V1/Req = 10/6.903 = 1.449 A
Current through R₂
Subtract the drop across R₁ to get the voltage at node A, which is the voltage across R₂.
VA = V1 − IR1·R1 = 10 − 1.449·5 = 2.757 V
IR2 = VA/R2 = 2.757/2 = 1.378 A
Answer
IR2 = 1.378 A
3.Nodal analysis
Answer: IR3 = −1.367 A
Nodal analysis: choose a reference node, label the unknown node voltages, write Kirchhoff’s current law at each unknown node using Ohm’s law (I = ΔV/R), and solve the resulting equations.
Set up the nodes
Ground is the bottom wire. Known node voltages come straight from the sources (V1 = 12 V). Unknowns: VA, VB.
KCL at node A
Currents leaving A through the resistors equal the current pushed into A by sources.
VA/R2 + (VA − V1)/R1 + (VA − VB)/R3 = 0
VA/15 + (VA − 12)/5 + (VA − VB)/4 = 0
0.5167·VA − 0.25·VB = 2.4
KCL at node B
Currents leaving B through the resistors equal the current pushed into B by sources.
VB/R4 + (VB − VA)/R3 = Is
VB/12 + (VB − VA)/4 = 3
−0.25·VA + 0.3333·VB = 3
Solve
Δ = (0.5167)(0.3333) − (−0.25)(−0.25) = 0.1097
VA = Δ1/Δ = 1.55/0.1097 = 14.13 V
VB = Δ2/Δ = 2.15/0.1097 = 19.59 V
Answer
IR3 = (VA − VB)/R3 = (14.13 − 19.59)/4 = −1.367 A
4.Nodal analysis
Answer: IR4 = 2.054 A
Nodal analysis: choose a reference node, label the unknown node voltages, write Kirchhoff’s current law at each unknown node using Ohm’s law (I = ΔV/R), and solve the resulting equations.
Set up the nodes
Ground is the bottom wire. Known node voltages come straight from the sources (V1 = 30 V, V2 = 9 V). Unknowns: VA, VB.
KCL at node A
Currents leaving A through the resistors equal the current pushed into A by sources.
VA/R3 + (VA − V1)/R1 + (VA − VB)/R2 = 0
VA/12 + (VA − 30)/4 + (VA − VB)/25 = 0
0.3733·VA − 0.04·VB = 7.5
KCL at node B
Currents leaving B through the resistors equal the current pushed into B by sources.
VB/R5 + (VB − VA)/R2 + (VB − V2)/R4 = Is
VB/30 + (VB − VA)/25 + (VB − 9)/15 = 4
−0.04·VA + 0.14·VB = 4.6
Solve
Δ = (0.3733)(0.14) − (−0.04)(−0.04) = 0.05067
VA = Δ1/Δ = 1.234/0.05067 = 24.36 V
VB = Δ2/Δ = 2.017/0.05067 = 39.82 V
Answer
IR4 = (VB − V2)/R4 = (39.82 − 9)/15 = 2.054 A
5.Mesh analysis
Answer: IR2 = −1.371 A
Mesh analysis: give each window of a planar circuit its own loop current, write Kirchhoff’s voltage law around each loop (sum of drops = sum of rises), and solve. Branch currents are the mesh current, or the difference of two mesh currents on a shared branch.
Assign mesh currents
Draw a clockwise current in each window: I1, I2. A resistor shared by two meshes carries the difference of their currents.
KVL around mesh 1
Going clockwise, the voltage drops across resistors equal the source voltage rises (− to + in the direction of travel).
R1·I1 + R3(I1 − I2) = V1
15·I1 + 5(I1 − I2) = 24
20·I1 − 5·I2 = 24
KVL around mesh 2
Going clockwise, the voltage drops across resistors equal the source voltage rises (− to + in the direction of travel).
R2·I2 + R3(I2 − I1) = −V2
5·I2 + 5(I2 − I1) = (−18)
−5·I1 + 10·I2 = −18
Solve
Δ = (20)(10) − (−5)(−5) = 175
I1 = Δ1/Δ = 150/175 = 0.8571 A
I2 = Δ2/Δ = −240/175 = −1.371 A
Answer
IR2 = I2 = −1.371 A
A negative mesh current flows anticlockwise.
6.Mesh analysis
Answer: VR4 = 7.117 V
Mesh analysis: give each window of a planar circuit its own loop current, write Kirchhoff’s voltage law around each loop (sum of drops = sum of rises), and solve. Branch currents are the mesh current, or the difference of two mesh currents on a shared branch.
Assign mesh currents
Draw a clockwise current in each window: I1, I2, I3. A resistor shared by two meshes carries the difference of their currents.
KVL around mesh 1
Going clockwise, the voltage drops across resistors equal the source voltage rises (− to + in the direction of travel).
R1·I1 + R4(I1 − I2) = V1
15·I1 + 8(I1 − I2) = 10
23·I1 − 8·I2 = 10
KVL around mesh 2
Going clockwise, the voltage drops across resistors equal the source voltage rises (− to + in the direction of travel).
R2·I2 + R4(I2 − I1) + R5(I2 − I3) = 0
5·I2 + 8(I2 − I1) + 4(I2 − I3) = 0
−8·I1 + 17·I2 − 4·I3 = 0
KVL around mesh 3
Going clockwise, the voltage drops across resistors equal the source voltage rises (− to + in the direction of travel).
R3·I3 + R5(I3 − I2) = −V2
4·I3 + 4(I3 − I2) = (−24)
−4·I2 + 8·I3 = −24
Solve
Δ = det of the coefficient matrix = 2248
I1 = Δ1/Δ = 432/2248 = 0.1922 A
I2 = Δ2/Δ = −1568/2248 = −0.6975 A
I3 = Δ3/Δ = −7528/2248 = −3.349 A
Answer
IR4 = I1 − I2 = 0.8897 A
VR4 = IR4·R4 = 0.8897·8 = 7.117 V
A negative mesh current flows anticlockwise.
7.Superposition
Answer: IR2 = 0.1074 A
Superposition: in a linear circuit, any voltage or current is the sum of the responses to each independent source acting alone. To switch a source off, replace an ideal voltage source with a short circuit and an ideal current source with an open circuit. Resistors stay where they are.
Case 1 · V1 acting alone
Iₛ becomes an open circuit, so R₃ and R₄ form one series branch from A to ground, in parallel with R₂.
R3+R4 = 12+5 = 17 Ω
R2 ∥ (R3+R4) = 6·17/(6+17) = 4.435 Ω
VA = 6·4.435/(15+4.435) = 1.369 V
VB = VA·R4/(R3+R4) = 1.369·5/17 = 0.4027 V
IR2′ = (0 − VA)/R2 = (0 − 1.369)/6 = −0.2282 A
Case 2 · Is acting alone
V₁ becomes a short, so R₁ is in parallel with R₂. Iₛ splits at B between R₄ and the path through R₃.
R1 ∥ R2 = 15·6/(15+6) = 4.286 Ω
Req = R4 ∥ (R3+R1∥R2) = 5 ∥ 16.29 = 3.826 Ω
VB = Is·Req = (−2)·3.826 = −7.651 V
VA = VB·(R1∥R2)/(R3+R1∥R2) = −7.651·4.286/16.29 = −2.013 V
IR2″ = (0 − VA)/R2 = (0 − −2.013)/6 = 0.3356 A
Add the contributions
IR2 = IR2′ + IR2″
IR2 = (−0.2282) + 0.3356 = 0.1074 A
A negative result means the real current flows against the arrow.
8.Superposition
Answer: IR2 = −0.753 A
Superposition: in a linear circuit, any voltage or current is the sum of the responses to each independent source acting alone. To switch a source off, replace an ideal voltage source with a short circuit and an ideal current source with an open circuit. Resistors stay where they are.
Case 1 · V1 acting alone
V₂ becomes a short and Iₛ an open circuit. Seen from A, R₃ is in parallel with the series pair R₂+R₄.
A negative result means the real current flows against the arrow.
9.Thévenin & Norton
Answer: IL = 0.07826 A
Thévenin’s theorem: any linear two-terminal network behaves like a single voltage source Vth in series with a resistance Rth. Norton’s theorem gives the same network as a current source IN = Vth/Rth in parallel with Rth.
Find Rth with every source switched off
Replace voltage sources with shorts and current sources with opens, then look into the circuit from a–b.
R1 ∥ R2 = 20·4/(20+4) = 3.333 Ω
Rth = (R1 ∥ R2) + R3 = 3.333 + 20 = 23.33 Ω
Find Vth, the open-circuit voltage
With a–b open, no current flows through R₃, so there is no drop across it and V_b = V_A. R₁ and R₂ form a voltage divider.
Vth = V1·R2/(R1+R2) = 18·4/(20+4) = 3 V
Connect the load to the Thévenin equivalent
The Thévenin source and R_th in series behave exactly like the original circuit at a–b, so the load sees a simple series loop.
IL = Vth/(Rth + RL) = 3/(23.33 + 15) = 0.07826 A
10.Thévenin & Norton
Answer: IN = 7.459 A
Thévenin’s theorem: any linear two-terminal network behaves like a single voltage source Vth in series with a resistance Rth. Norton’s theorem gives the same network as a current source IN = Vth/Rth in parallel with Rth.
Find Rth with every source switched off
Replace voltage sources with shorts and current sources with opens, then look into the circuit from a–b.
R1 ∥ R2 = 4·6/(4+6) = 2.4 Ω
Rth = (R1 ∥ R2) + R3 = 2.4 + 5 = 7.4 Ω
Find Vth, the open-circuit voltage
With a–b open, the only path for Iₛ is through R₃ into node A. Find V_A by superposition of V₁ and Iₛ, then add the drop across R₃.
VA = V1·R2/(R1+R2) + Is·(R1∥R2) = 10.8 + 6·2.4 = 25.2 V
Vth = VB = VA + Is·R3 = 25.2 + 6·5 = 55.2 V
Norton equivalent
A Norton source is the same circuit seen as a current source in parallel with R_th. Its current is the short-circuit current at a–b.
IN = Vth/Rth = 55.2/7.4 = 7.459 A
11.Op-amp circuits
Answer: Vin,max = 3.08 V
Ideal op-amp rules: with negative feedback, the op-amp drives its output so that its two inputs sit at the same voltage (V₋ = V₊), and no current flows into either input. Writing KCL at the inverting input with these two facts gives the output.
Gain
|Av| = Rf/R1 = 100/22 = 4.545
Largest input before clipping
Vin,max = Vsat/|Av| = 14/4.545 = 3.08 V
Answer
Vin,max = 3.08 V
12.Op-amp circuits
Answer: If = −0.9409 mA
Ideal op-amp rules: with negative feedback, the op-amp drives its output so that its two inputs sit at the same voltage (V₋ = V₊), and no current flows into either input. Writing KCL at the inverting input with these two facts gives the output.
Input currents
V₋ = 0, so each input resistor has its full input voltage across it.
I1 = V1/R1 = −1.7/2 = −0.85 mA
I2 = V2/R2 = −2/22 = −0.09091 mA
If = I1 + I2 = −0.9409 mA
Answer
If = −0.9409 mA
13.RC & RL transients
Answer: t = 9.452 ms
First-order transients: in a circuit with one capacitor or one inductor, every voltage and current moves exponentially from its initial value to its final value: x(t) = x(∞) + [x(0) − x(∞)]·e−t/τ, with τ = RC or τ = L/R. After about 5τ the circuit has settled.
Time constant and final current
Long after the switch closes the inductor behaves like a short circuit, so the final current is set by R alone.
τ = L/R = 150 mH / 22 Ω = 6.818 ms
i(∞) = Vs/R = 12/22 = 0.5455 A
Solve for the time
0.75 = 1 − e−t/τ → t = −τ·ln(1 − 0.75)
t = −6.818·ln(0.25) = 9.452 ms
Answer
t = 9.452 ms
14.RC & RL transients
Answer: vC = 12.7 V
First-order transients: in a circuit with one capacitor or one inductor, every voltage and current moves exponentially from its initial value to its final value: x(t) = x(∞) + [x(0) − x(∞)]·e−t/τ, with τ = RC or τ = L/R. After about 5τ the circuit has settled.
Initial value, final value, time constant
The capacitor voltage cannot jump, so it starts at its stored value and heads for the source voltage.