11

Thevenins Theorem, AC
Objective
Thevenins Theorem will be examined for the AC case. The Thevenin source voltage and Thevenin impedance will be determined experimentally and compared to theory. Loads will be examined when driven by both an arbitrary circuit and that circuits Thevenin equivalent to determine if the resulting load potentials are indeed identical. Both resistive and complex loads will be examined as well as well source impedances that are inductive or capacitive.

Theory Overview
Thevenins Theorem states that any linear two port networ can be replaced by a single voltage source with series impedance. !hile the theorem is applicable to any number of voltage and current sources" this exercise will only examine single source circuits for the sa e of simplicity. The Thevenin voltage is the open circuit output voltage. This may be determined experimentally by isolating the portion to be Theveni#ed and simply placing an oscilloscope at its output terminals. The Thevenin impedance is found by replacing all sources with their internal impedance and then applying appropriate series$parallel impedance simplification rules. %f an impedance meter is available" an easy method of doing this in the lab is to replace the sources with appropriate impedance values and apply the impedance meter to the output terminals of the circuit portion under investigation.

Equipment
&'( AC )unction *enerator &'( -scilloscope &'( .ariable )requency %mpedance /eter &'( 0ecade 1esistance Box serial number+,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, serial number+,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, serial number+,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, serial number+,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Components
&'( .' 2) &'( .34 2) &'( '5 m6 &'( 75 &'( '.5 &'( '.7 &'( 8.8 actual+,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, actual+,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, actual+,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, actual+,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, actual+,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, actual+,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, actual+,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Thevenins Theorem" AC

Schematics

Figure 11 1

Figure 11 !

Figure 11 "

#roce$ure
'. )or the circuit of figure ''.'" calculate the voltage across the ' load using 1'9'.7 " 1898.8 " and C9.34 2)" with a ' volt pea ' 6# source. 1ecord this value in Table ''.'. Also calculate the expected Thevenin voltage and Thevenin impedance. 1ecord these values in Table ''.8. 8. Build the circuit of figure ''.' using 1'9'.7 " 1898.8 " 1load9' and C9.34 2). :et the generator to a ' 6# sine wave at ' .pea . /a e sure that the Bandwidth Limit of the oscilloscope is engaged. This will reduce the signal noise and ma e for more accurate readings. /easure the load voltage and record in Table ''.'. ;. 1emove the load and measure the unloaded output voltage. This is the experimental Thevenin voltage. 1ecord it in Table ''.8. 3. 1eplace the voltage source with a 75 resistor to represent its internal impedance. :et the impedance meter to ' 6# and measure the resulting impedance at the open load terminals. This is the experimental Thevenin impedance. 1ecord these values in Table ''.8 and compare with the theoretical values.
<xercise ''

7. =sing the decade resistance box and capacitor" build the Thevenin equivalent circuit of figure ''.8 and apply the ' load resistor. /easure the load voltage and record in Table ''.'. Compare with the values of the original &non$Theveni#ed( circuit and determine the deviation between the original and Theveni#ed circuits. >. To verify that Thevenins Theorem also wor s with an inductive source and a complex load" repeat steps ' through 7 in li e manner. =se figure ''.; with 1'9'.7 " 1898.8 " L9'5 m6" 1load9' with Cload9.' 2). :et the generator to a '5 6# sine wave at ' .pea . 1ecord results in Tables ''.; and ''.3.

%ata Tab&es
Vload Theory Vload Origina& Vload Thevenin ' %eviation Tab&e 11 1

Theory EThevenin ZThevenin

E(perimenta&

' %eviation

Tab&e 11 ! Vload Theory Vload Origina& Vload Thevenin ' %eviation Tab&e 11 "

Theory

E(perimenta&

' %eviation

Thevenins Theorem" AC

EThevenin ZThevenin Tab&e 11 )

*uestions
'. 6ow does the AC version of Thevenins Theorem compare with the 0C version?

8. !ould the Thevenin equivalent circuits be altered if the source frequency was changed? %f so" why?

;. Based on the results of this exercise" would you expect @ortons Theorem for AC to behave similarly to its 0C case?

<xercise ''