Norton's Theorem

What is Norton's Theorem?

Any linear two-terminal network can be reduced to a single current source in parallel with a resistance, mirroring Thévenin's voltage-source-plus-series-resistance equivalent. The two representations are always interchangeable via a simple source transformation, and the resistance value is identical in both.

The five clues

Engineerdle #42 described Norton's Theorem with five clues, revealed one at a time from hardest to most direct. Each clue points at a different property of the concept.

1. 01Thévenin's theorem has a mirror-image twin, and this is it.
2. 02It replaces a whole network with just two components instead of many.
3. 03Where Thévenin uses a voltage source, this one uses a current source.
4. 04The two are related by a single, simple conversion formula.
5. 05Any linear two-terminal network can be replaced by a current source in parallel with a resistance.

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