Circuit Theory-Compensation Theorem

Compensation Theorem

This theorem based on one basic concept. When electric current flows through any resistor, there would be a voltage drop across the resistor according to Ohm's law. This dropped voltage opposes the source voltage. Hence voltage drop across an electric resistance in any network can be assumed as a voltage source acting opposite to the source voltage. The compensation theorem depends upon this concept.

According to this theorem, any resistance in a network may be replaced by a voltage source that has zero internal resistance and a voltage equal to the voltage drop across the replace resistance due to the current which was flowing through it. This imaginary voltage source is directed opposite to the voltage source of that replaced resistance. Think about a resistive branch of any complex network whose resistance value is R. Let's assume current I flowing through that resistor R and voltage drop due to this current across the resistor is V = I.R. According to compensation theorem this resistor can be replaced by a voltage source whose generated voltage will be V ( = IR) and directed against the direction of network voltage or direction of current I.

The compensation theorem can easily be understood by this following example.

Compensation Theorem

Here in the network for 16 V source, all the currents flowing through the different resistive branches are shown in the first figure. The current through the right most branch in the figure is 2A and its resistance is 2 Ω. If this right most branch of the network is replaced by a voltage source V = 2ΩX2A = 4V directed as shown in the second figure, then current through the other branches of the network remain same as shown in the second figure.