ELP101 Laboratory Semester-I: 2024-25

(24/07/2024 ~ 14/11/2024)

Experiment - 2
Verification of Network Theorems (KVL, KCL, Thevenin's/Norton’s Theorem)

Aim:
(1) To verify Kirchhoff's Voltage Law (KVL) and Kirchhoff's Current Law (KCL) on a given
passive network (Fig. 1).
(2) To obtain Thevenin’s equivalent circuit of network given in Fig. 1 at the load terminals (A-B)
indicated in the same figure.
(3) To obtain Norton’s equivalent circuit of network given in Fig. 1 at the load terminals (A-B)
indicated in the same figure.

Apparatus:

S. No Components/Instruments/ Meters
1 (a) Breadboard, Connecting wires, Passive components,
(b) Voltmeters, Ammeters, Digital Multi-meter,
(c) Digital Storage Oscilloscope,
(d) DC power supply

(i) Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL):

At any instant in a closed-loop, the algebraic sum of the e.m.f’s acting round the loop is equal to
the algebraic sum of potential differences round the loop. It indicates the “Principle of
conservation of energy”.
n
i.e.  VRk  0 (1)
k 1

(ii) Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL):

At any instant the algebraic sum of currents at a junction in a network is zero. It indicates the
“Law of conservation of charge”.
n
i.e. I
k 1
k 0
(2)

If “Ik” is the current flowing through resistance (Rk) then the power dissipated in it is:

PRk  Rk I k2 (3)

M. Veerachary
 ELP101 Laboratory Semester-I: 2024-25
(24/07/2024 ~ 14/11/2024)

Test Circuit Diagram:

R1 R2 A
N2

N1
I1 I2
IL
Vin +
_ I6 I7
I4 R4 R6 R7 RL
I3 I5

DC Power Supply
R3 N3 R5 N4
B

Fig. 1. Experimental circuit diagram.

(Note: (a) Measure the currents (I1, I2,….) using “Ammeter” or “Multi-meter”,
(b) Measure the voltage across resistance (R1, R2,….) using “Voltmeter” or “Multi-
meter”)

Two Terminal
V0 Load
Linear Circuit

Fig. 2. Two-terminal network representation of Fig. 1 (Load: RL).

M. Veerachary
 ELP101 Laboratory Semester-I: 2024-25
(24/07/2024 ~ 14/11/2024)

Set
voltage/current
Two terminal Load
Linear Circuit Vth
V Load sources effect
equal to zero

Rth

Fig. 3(a). Equivalent circuit to measure Fig. 3(b). Equivalent circuit to measure
Thevenin’s voltage: Vth (Load: RL). Thevenin’s resistance: Rth (Load: RL).

Rth
A A

Vth +
_ RL IN Rth RL

B B
Fig. 4(a). Thevenin's equivalent circuit (Load:
Fig. 4(b). Norton's equivalent circuit (Load: RL).
RL).

Note: All resistance values are in ‘Ω’, voltages are in ‘Volt’ and currents are in ‘Amp’.

Step-by-step procedure for experimentation:

1) Choose appropriate resistors and measure their resistances using multi-meter (keep the multi-meter
setting to ‘Ω’ mode) and tabulate in Table-1.
2) Hook-up the network according to the resistances mentioned in Fig.1 on breadboard.
3) Turn on the DC power supply and ensure desired voltage is seen at source terminals of Fig. 1.

M. Veerachary
 ELP101 Laboratory Semester-I: 2024-25
(24/07/2024 ~ 14/11/2024)

4) Set the input DC power supply to desired value (e.g. 12 V); by slowly varying the “Knob” (coarse
variation knob).
5) Measure voltage across each resistor using Multi-meter (keep the Multi-meter setting to ‘DC’ mode).
6) Measure voltage across each element and tabulate it in the observations Table-2. Formulate all
possible loops (meshes) and verify the Kirchhoff's Voltage Law. Repeat the same process for all
such loops (meshes).
7) Measure the current in each branch connected to nodes (as shown in Fig. 1) and tabulate it in the
observations Table-3. Verify Kirchhoff's Current Law (KCL) at all nodes. Repeat the same process
for all such nodes of Fig. 1.
8) Obtain the Thevenin's equivalent circuit (shown in Fig. 4(a)) and compare the measured ‘Vth’ and
‘Rth’ with analytically computed values.
9) Verify the theorem by measuring ‘Vth’ and ‘Rth’ across load terminals (RL of the network given in
Fig.1).
10) Obtain the Norton's equivalent circuit (shown in Fig. 4(b)) and verify the theorem by measuring ‘IN’
and ‘Rth’ across load terminals (RL of the network given in Fig.1).

Table-1. Resistances (Referring to Fig. 1)

Row
Resistance R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7
No.
1 Ideal (Ω)
2 Measured (Ω)
3 Tolerance (%)
Power rating
4
(Watt)

M. Veerachary
 ELP101 Laboratory Semester-I: 2024-25
(24/07/2024 ~ 14/11/2024)

Table-2. Observations: For KVL verification (Eqn. 1)

DC Voltage across resistance (VRk)
S. source
7
No. voltage VR1 VR2 VR3 VR4 VR5 VR6 VR7 VRL V
k 1
Rk

(Vin)
1
2
3
4
5

(Important Note: Choose Vin: 10 to 15 V in steps of 1.0 V; Identify the reasons for deviation in KVL,
7
i.e V
k 1
Rk  0 )

Table-3. Observations: For KCL verification (Eqn. 2)

Source voltage (Vin): ……… V

Node - 1 Node - 2 Node - 3
S. RLoad
No. (Ω) IR1 IR2 IRL I
k 1
k IR1 ….. …. I
k 1
k IR1 ….. …. I
k 1
k

1
2
3
4
5
(Important Note: (a) For current IRk computation use resistances given in Table-1 (Row No. 2 entries)
and voltage magnitudes given in Table-2
(b) Identify the reasons for deviation in KCL, i.e I
k 1
k 0 )

M. Veerachary
 ELP101 Laboratory Semester-I: 2024-25
(24/07/2024 ~ 14/11/2024)

Table-4. Observations: Power Dissipated in the Resistances (Eqn. 3)

R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7
Resistance (Ω)
Current (A)
Power
Dissipation in
Resistance-Rk
 P =R I 
k
2
k k

(Watt)
Total Power
Dissipated in
all Resistances
 N 

 P= R k I 2k 

 K 1


(Watt)
Power drawn
from the input
power supply
 PS 
(Watt)
 PS  P 
(Watt)
Important Note: (i) Use Table-3 observations for “Current” computation of Table-4 (3rd-row)
(ii) Identify the reasons for deviation in power  PS  P 

M. Veerachary
 ELP101 Laboratory Semester-I: 2024-25
(24/07/2024 ~ 14/11/2024)

Thevenin's Theorem: According to this theorem (Fig. 4a), one can replace the entire linear bilateral
passive network by an equivalent circuit that contains only an independent
voltage source in series with an equivalent resistance (Table-5) such that the
current-voltage relationship at the load is unchanged.
Norton's Theorem: This theorem (Fig. 4b) is identical to “Thevenin's Theorem” except that the
equivalent circuit is an independent current source (Table-5) is in parallel with
Norton resistance (Thevenin’s resistance). Therefore, the Norton equivalent
circuit is a source transformation of the Thevenin equivalent circuit.

Table-5. Parameters of Thevenin’s and Norton’s Equivalent Circuits

(Refer Figs. 3 and 4)
S. No. Vin (V) Rth (Ω) Vth (V) IN (A)
1
2
3

Sample theoretical calculations:

References:
[1] Edward Hughes, “Electrical and Electronic Technology”, 10th Edition, Pearson/
Prentice Hall.
[2] Smith and Dorf, “Circuits, Devices and Systems”, 5th Edition, Wiley Publishers.

M. Veerachary
 ELP101 Laboratory Semester-I: 2024-25
(24/07/2024 ~ 14/11/2024)

Format for report submission:

1) Aim of the Experiment
2) Apparatus used in the Experimental setup
3) Circuit diagram along with proper labeling
4) Theoretical formulations
5) Measurements/Tabular columns
6) Sample calculations and verifications
7) Conclusions

(Important Note for Report submission: Use A4-size plain white sheets for “Report” preparation)

M. Veerachary