### Norton's Theorem
Norton's Theorem is a fundamental principle used in electrical engineering to simplify complex linear circuits. The theorem states:
**"Any two-terminal linear electrical network containing independent sources (voltage or current sources) and resistors can be replaced with an equivalent circuit consisting of a single current source (called the Norton current) in parallel with a single resistor (called the Norton resistance)."**
This equivalent circuit behaves the same as the original circuit when connected to the same load.
### Steps to Apply Norton’s Theorem
To find the current through a load using Norton’s Theorem, follow these steps:
1. **Identify the Portion of the Circuit to Analyze:**
- Identify the two terminals of the circuit where the load is connected.
2. **Remove the Load Resistor:**
- Temporarily remove the load resistor from the circuit.
3. **Calculate Norton Resistance (R<sub>N</sub>):**
- Deactivate all independent sources in the circuit:
- Replace all independent voltage sources with short circuits (a wire).
- Replace all independent current sources with open circuits (a break in the wire).
- Calculate the equivalent resistance between the two terminals where the load was connected. This resistance is the Norton resistance, \( R_N \).
4. **Calculate Norton Current (I<sub>N</sub>):**
- Reconnect the original sources.
- Calculate the short-circuit current between the two terminals where the load was connected. This current is the Norton current, \( I_N \).
5. **Construct the Norton Equivalent Circuit:**
- Draw a current source \( I_N \) in parallel with the resistance \( R_N \).
6. **Reconnect the Load Resistor:**
- Attach the load resistor back to the Norton equivalent circuit.
7. **Calculate the Load Current (I<sub>L</sub>):**
- Use the parallel circuit analysis to calculate the current through the load resistor.
### Example: Finding the Current Through a Load Using Norton’s Theorem
Let's solve a problem using Norton's theorem.
**Given Circuit:**
Assume you have a circuit with the following components:
- A voltage source \( V_s = 12 \, V \)
- A series resistor \( R_1 = 4 \, \Omega \)
- A parallel combination of resistors \( R_2 = 6 \, \Omega \) and \( R_3 = 3 \, \Omega \)
- A load resistor \( R_L = 2 \, \Omega \)
**Objective:** Find the current through \( R_L \) using Norton’s Theorem.
#### Step 1: Identify the Portion of the Circuit
- The portion of the circuit of interest is where \( R_L \) is connected.
#### Step 2: Remove the Load Resistor
- Remove \( R_L \) from the circuit.
#### Step 3: Calculate Norton Resistance (R<sub>N</sub>)
1. **Deactivate the Voltage Source:** Replace the voltage source \( V_s \) with a short circuit.
2. **Calculate the Equivalent Resistance:**
- The resistors \( R_2 \) and \( R_3 \) are in parallel.
- Calculate their equivalent resistance:
\[
R_{23} = \left(\frac{1}{R_2} + \frac{1}{R_3}\right)^{-1} = \left(\frac{1}{6} + \frac{1}{3}\right)^{-1} = \left(\frac{1}{6} + \frac{2}{6}\right)^{-1} = \left(\frac{3}{6}\right)^{-1} = 2 \, \Omega
\]
- Now, \( R_1 \) is in series with \( R_{23} \):
\[
R_N = R_1 + R_{23} = 4 \, \Omega + 2 \, \Omega = 6 \, \Omega
\]
#### Step 4: Calculate Norton Current (I<sub>N</sub>)
1. **Reconnect the Voltage Source**:
- Now, calculate the short-circuit current between the terminals where \( R_L \) was connected.
- The total resistance seen by the source \( V_s \) is:
\[
R_{total} = R_1 + \left(\frac{R_2 \times R_3}{R_2 + R_3}\right) = 4 \, \Omega + 2 \, \Omega = 6 \, \Omega
\]
- The current through \( R_1 \) is:
\[
I = \frac{V_s}{R_{total}} = \frac{12 \, V}{6 \, \Omega} = 2 \, A
\]
- The current through the parallel combination \( I_{parallel} \) is the same as \( I \) because it's a series circuit before the parallel combination:
\[
I_{parallel} = 2 \, A
\]
- The Norton current is the same as the current through \( R_3 \) because of the parallel network:
\[
I_N = I_{parallel} \times \frac{R_2}{R_2 + R_3} = 2 \, A \times \frac{3 \, \Omega}{6 \, \Omega} = 1 \, A
\]
#### Step 5: Construct the Norton Equivalent Circuit
- The Norton equivalent circuit is a current source \( I_N = 1 \, A \) in parallel with \( R_N = 6 \, \Omega \).
#### Step 6: Reconnect the Load Resistor
- Reconnect \( R_L = 2 \, \Omega \) across the Norton equivalent circuit.
#### Step 7: Calculate the Load Current (I<sub>L</sub>)
- Use parallel circuit analysis to find the current through \( R_L \):
\[
I_L = I_N \times \frac{R_N}{R_N + R_L} = 1 \, A \times \frac{6 \, \Omega}{6 \, \Omega + 2 \, \Omega} = 1 \, A \times \frac{6}{8} = 0.75 \, A
\]
### Final Answer
The current through the load resistor \( R_L = 2 \, \Omega \) using Norton’s Theorem is **0.75 A**.