Electronics fundamentals

Circuits, devices, and applications

Series-Parallel Circuits

Chapter 6

Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition

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Chapter 6

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Chapter 6
Summary

Identifying series-parallel relationships

Most practical circuits have
combinations of series and parallel
components.
Components that are connected in
series will share a common path.

Components that are connected in

parallel will be connected across 1 2
the same two nodes.

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Chapter 6
Summary

Combination circuits

Most practical circuits have various combinations of

series and parallel components. You can frequently
simplify analysis by combining series and parallel
components.
An important analysis method is to form an equivalent
circuit. An equivalent circuit is one that has
characteristics that are electrically the same as
another circuit but is generally simpler.

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Chapter 6
Summary

Equivalent circuits

For example:

R1
1.0 k is equivalent to R1
2.0 k
R2
1.0 k

There are no electrical measurements that can

distinguish the boxes.

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Chapter 6
Summary

Equivalent circuits

Another example:
is equivalent to

R1 R2 R1,2
1.0 k 1.0 k 500 

There are no electrical measurements that can

distinguish the boxes.

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Chapter 6
Summary
is equivalent to

R1
1.0 k R3 R 1,2 R3
R2 4.7 k 3.7 k 4.7 k
2.7 k

is equivalent to
There are no electrical
R1,2,3
measurements that can
2.07 k
distinguish between the
three boxes.
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Chapter 6
Summary
Kirchhoff’s voltage law and Kirchhoff’s current law
can be applied to any circuit, including combination
circuits.
For example,
applying KVL, R2
the path shown 470 
R4
will have a sum VS R1
5.0 V 270 
of voltage = 0 V. 100 
R3 R5
330  100 
R6
Start/Finish
100 

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Chapter 6

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Chapter 6 Example
Total Resistance between A to B.

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Chapter 6 Example
Total Resistance between A to B.

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Chapter 6 Example

Total Resistance between A to B.

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Chapter 6 Example
Ex: Find the resistance between the terminals A and B for the network
shown in figure.

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Chapter 6 Example
Determine the current through R4 if Vs. = 5.0 V.
Ans: I4 = 3.45 mA

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Chapter 6
Summary R1
VS + 270 
10 V
Combination circuits R2 R3
330  470 

Tabulating current, resistance, voltage and power is a

useful way to summarize parameters. Solve for the
unknown quantities in the circuit shown.

I1= 21.6 mA R1= 270  V1= 5.82 V P1= 126 mW

I2= 12.7 mA R2= 330  V2= 4.18 V P2= 53.1 mW
I3= 8.9 mA R3= 470  V3= 4.18 V P3= 37.2 mW
IT= 21.6 mA RT= 464  VS= 10 V PT= 216 mW
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Chapter 6
Summary R1
VS + 270 
10 V
Kirchhoff’s laws can be applied
R2 R3
as a check on the answer. 330  470 

Notice that the current in R1 is

equal to the sum of the branch currents in R2 and R3.
The sum of the voltages around the outside loop is zero.

I1= 21.6 mA R1= 270  V1= 5.82 V P1= 126 mW

I2= 12.7 mA R2= 330  V2= 4.18 V P2= 53.1 mW
I3= 8.9 mA R3= 470  V3= 4.18 V P3= 37.2 mW
IT= 21.6 mA RT= 464  VS= 10 V PT= 216 mW
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Chapter 6
Summary
Loaded voltage divider R1
+
A
The voltage-divider equation
R2 R3
was developed for a series
circuit. Recall that the output
voltage is given by
 R2 
V2 =   VS
 RT 
A voltage-divider with a resistive load is a combinational
circuit and the voltage divider is said to be loaded. The
loading reduces the total resistance from node A to ground.

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Chapter 6 Example

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Chapter 6 Example

Determine the unloaded output voltage divider.

Determine the loaded output voltage of voltage divider for RL = 10 Kohm
Ans: Vout = 3.40V (unloaded)
Ans: Vout = 2.58V (loaded)

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Chapter 6
Summary
Loaded voltage divider VS =
R1
+15 V
330  A
R2 R3
What is the voltage 470  2.2 k
across R3?

Form an equivalent series circuit by combining R2 and

R3; then apply the voltage-divider formula to the
equivalent circuit: R2,3 = R2 R3 = 470  2.2 k = 387 
 R2,3   387  
V3 = V2,3 =  VS =  15 V = 8.10 V
R +R   330  + 387  
 1 2,3 

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Chapter 6

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Chapter 6
Practice
Ex: Find VCE and VAG for the given circuit.

Answer: VCE = -5V, VAG = 30V

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Chapter 6
Summary
Wheatstone bridge

The Wheatstone bridge consists R1 R3

of a dc voltage source and four VS +
Output
resistive arms forming two -

voltage dividers. The output is R2 R4

taken between the dividers.
Frequently, one of the bridge
resistors is adjustable.
When the bridge is balanced, the output voltage is zero,
and the products of resistances in the opposite diagonal
arms are equal. R R =R R 1 4 2 3

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Chapter 6
Summary
Wheatstone bridge

R1 R3
Example: What is the VS + 470  330 
value of R2 if the bridge 12 V Output
is balanced? 384 
-

R2 R4
270 

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Chapter 6
Summary
Wheatstone bridge
Assume R2 is adjusted until the Wheatstone bridge is balanced. At
this point, the voltage across R4 is measured and found to be 5.0 V.
What is the voltage across R1 ?

R1 R3
VS +
12 V - + RL -

R2 R4
5.0 V

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Chapter 6
Summary
Wheatstone bridge
An unbalanced Wheatstone bridge has the voltages shown. What is
the voltage across R4?
R1 R3
VS + 7.0 V
12 V
- + RL -
1.0 V
R2 R4

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Chapter 6 Thevenin’s theorem
Thevenin’s theorem states that any two-terminal, resistive
circuit can be replaced with a simple equivalent circuit
when viewed from two output terminals. The equivalent
circuit is:
RTH
VTH

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Chapter 6 Thevenin’s theorem
VTH is defined as the open circuit voltage between the two
output terminals of a circuit.
RTH is defined as the total resistance appearing between
the two output terminals when all sources have been
replaced by their internal resistances.
RTH
VTH

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Chapter 6 Thevenin’s theorem
RTH
Steps to find Thevenin’s circuit VTH

– Step-1: Open the two terminals between which you want to

find the Thevenin’s circuit.

– Step-2: Determine the voltage across the terminals.

– Step-3: Determine the resistance viewed from the terminals,

voltage sources replaced with short and current sources
replaced with open circuit.

– Step-4: Connect VTH and RTH in series to produce the

Thevenin’s Equivalent circuit.

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Chapter 6 Steps for Calculating VTH

Step 1
Remove the resistor, R through which you wish to calculate the current
or across which you want to know the voltage.
Label these terminals (where the resistor was removed) “a” and “b”.

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Chapter 6 Steps for Calculating VTH

Step 2
Calculate the voltage that appears across these open terminals. This is
called the open circuit voltage or the Thevenin equivalent voltage, VTH.

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Chapter 6 Steps for Calculating RTH

Step 3
From the open terminals, (“a” and “b”) calculate the resistance “looking
back” from the open terminals into the network. Each voltage source
must be replaced by a resistor equal to the internal resistance of the
voltage source before the Thevenin resistance is evaluated. If RInternal = 0,
then replace the voltage source with a zero-ohm resistor (short). This
resistance is RTH.

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Chapter 6 Steps for Calculating RTH

Step 4
Thevenin equivalent circuit with the load resistor, R,

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Chapter 6 Thevenin’s theorem
What is the Thevenin voltage for the circuit? VTH= 8.76 V

What is the Thevenin resistance for the circuit? RTH= 7.30 k

R1 Output terminals
VS 10 k Remember, the load
resistor has no affect
12 V R2 RL
on the Thevenin
27 k 68 k
parameters.

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Chapter 6 Thevenin’s theorem
Ex: For the circuit shown in figure, calculate the current in the 10 ohm
resistance. Use Thevenin’s theorem only.
Answer: I = 0.32 A

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Chapter 6 Thevenin’s theorem
What is the Thevenin voltage for the circuit from B to C?
VTH= 2.43 V
What is the Thevenin resistance for the circuit from B to C?
RTH= 2.5 k

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Chapter 6 Thevenin’s theorem
Ex: Apply this theorem to calculate the current through the 4 Ω resistor in
the circuit.
Answer: I4 = 0.136 A

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Chapter 6 Thevenin’s theorem
Ex: Calculate Vth and Rth between terminals A and B of the circuit shown
in figure. All resistance values are in ohms.
Hint: Calculate voltage drop across 4 Ω to find Vth

Answer: Vth = 32V, Rth= 4Ω

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Chapter 6 Thevenin’s theorem
Ex: For the circuit shown in below, find the current IL through 6 Ω
resistor using Thevenin’s theorem.
Answer: IL= 2.625 A

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Chapter 6 Thevenin’s theorem
Thevenin’s theorem for Wheatstone bridge

Thevenin’s theorem is useful for solving the Wheatstone bridge. One way
to Thevenize the bridge is to create two Thevenin circuits - from A to
ground and from B to ground.

The resistance between point A and R1 R2

VS
ground is R1||R3 and the resistance + RL
A B
from B to ground is R2||R4. The -
R3 R4
voltage on each side of the bridge is
found using the voltage divider rule.

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Chapter 6 Simplifying a Wheatstone bridge with
Thevenin’s theorem.

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Chapter 6 Thevenin’s theorem
Ex: For the bridge shown, calculate the load current IL by
using Thevenin theorem.
R1 R2
VS 330  390 
Answer: IL = 1.27 mA + RL
+15 V A B
- 150 
R3 R4
330  330 

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Chapter 6
Summary
Maximum power transfer
The maximum power is transferred from a source to a
load when the load resistance is equal to the internal
source resistance.
RS

VS +
RL

The maximum power transfer theorem assumes the

source voltage and resistance are fixed.
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Chapter 6
Summary
Maximum power transfer

What is the power delivered to the matching load?

RS
The voltage to the 50 
load is 5.0 V. The VS +
10 V RL
power delivered is 50 
V 2 ( 5.0 V )
2

PL = = = 0.5 W
RL 50 

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Chapter 6
Summary
Superposition theorem
The superposition theorem is a way to determine currents
and voltages in a linear circuit that has multiple sources by
taking one source at a time and algebraically summing the
results.

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Chapter 6 Superposition theorem

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Chapter 6
Summary
Superposition theorem

R1 R3
What does the 2.7 k 6.8 k
I2
ammeter read for VS1 +
- VS2 +

I2? (See next slide 12 V -

+
18 V -
R2
for the method and 6.8 k
the answer).

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Chapter 6
Summary
What does the ammeter
RR111 RR33
read for I2?

2.7 kkk
2.7 II22 6.8 kk
6.8 
k
VS1 +
-- VS2
+
12 V ++1.56 mA
18 V
Set up a table of
- -
RR222
pertinent information 6.8 kk
6.8 
k
and solve for each
quantity listed:
Source 1: RT(S1)= 6.10 k I1= 1.97 mA I2= 0.98 mA
Source 2: RT(S2)= 8.73 k I3= 2.06 mA I2= 0.58 mA
Both sources I2= 1.56 mA

The total current is the algebraic sum.

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Chapter 6 Superposition theorem
Ex: For the circuit shown in below, find the current Ix using
superposition theorem.
Answer: Ix= 0.833 A

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Chapter 6 Superposition theorem
Ex: Find the current passing through the 2Ω resistor using superposition
theorem.

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Chapter 6 Superposition theorem
Ex: Find Ix and Iy using Superposition theorem.

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Chapter 6 Practice
Ex: Compute the power dissipated in the 9Ω, resistor by applying
Superposition principle. All resistances are in ohms.

Answer: 100 W

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Chapter 6 Practice
Ex: With the help of superposition theorem, computer the value of
current I and voltage V0 in the given circuit.
Answer: I = -5A and V0 = 60 V

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Chapter 6
Selected Key Terms
Loading The effect on a circuit when an element that
draws current from the circuit is connected
across the output terminals.
Load current The output current supplied to a load.

Bleeder The current left after the load current is

current subtracted from the total current into the circuit.

Wheatstone A 4-legged type of bridge circuit with which an

bridge unknown resistance can be accurately measured
using the balanced state. Deviations in resistance
can be measured using the unbalanced state.

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Chapter 6
Selected Key Terms
Thevenin’s A circuit theorem that provides for reducing
theorem any two-terminal resistive circuit to a single
equivalent voltage source in series with an
equivalent resistance.
Maximum power The condition, when the load resistance
transfer equals the source resistance, under which
maximum power is transferred to the load.
Superposition A method for analyzing circuits with two or
more sources by examining the effects of each
source by itself and then combining the
effects.

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Chapter 6
Practice Problems

Section 6-1,6-2,6-3,6-4 (17), 6-5,6-6,6-7 and 6-8.

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