- Reciprocity Theorem Definition: The reciprocity theorem states that in a reciprocal circuit, the current remains the same when the positions of the voltage source and ammeter are swapped.
- Reciprocal Circuit: A circuit that follows the reciprocity theorem, where voltage and current are interchangeable, is called a reciprocal circuit.
- Ideal Components: For the reciprocity theorem to work, both the voltage source and ammeter must have zero internal resistance.
- Transfer Resistance: In a reciprocal circuit, the ratio of voltage to current is called transfer resistance.
- Complex Network Simplification: Complex reciprocal passive networks can be simplified for easier analysis and understanding.
What is Reciprocal Property?
The Reciprocity Theorem says that in a linear passive network you can swap the voltage source and the ammeter and the ammeter still reads the same current. Connect an ideal voltage source to one pair of terminals and read the current at another pair.
Then put the source where the ammeter was and put the ammeter where the source was. The ammeter reading does not change.
The ammeter shows the same current in both arrangements. That interchange is the reciprocal property. A circuit that has it is a reciprocal circuit and obeys the reciprocity theorem.
Explanation of Reciprocity Theorem
The voltage source and the ammeter in this statement are ideal, so each has zero internal resistance. The network may be simple or complex; a linear passive reciprocal network can still be reduced. In that network the supply voltage (V) and the observed current (I) may be interchanged.
The ratio of voltage (V) to current (I) is the transfer resistance. The figure below shows the two interchanged positions.
