THE SUPERPOSITION THEOREM

INTRODUCTION
To superimpose something means to lay one thing on top of another. The
superposition theorem is a means by which we can solve circuits that have more than one
independent voltage source. Each source is taken, one at a time, as if it were the only source
in the circuit. All other source is replaced with their internal resistance. The superposition
theorem will work for any number of sources as long as you are consistent in accounting for
the direction of currents and the polarity of voltages.

AIM
1. We able to apply the superposition theorem to linear circuits with more than one
voltage source.
2. We able to construct a circuit with two voltage sources, solve for the currents and
voltages throughout the circuit, and verify your computation by measurement.

MATERIALS
Resistors:

One 4.7kΩ, one 6.8kΩ, one 10.0kΩ

PROCEDURE
1. Obtain the resistors listed in Table 11.1. Measure each resistor and record the
measured value in Table 11.1.
2. Construct the circuit shown in Figure 11.1. This circuit has two voltage sources
connected to a common reference ground.

Figure 11.1
3. Remove the 10V source and place a jumper between the point’s labeled C and D, as
shown in figure 11.2. This jumper represents the internal resistance of the 10V power
supply.

4. Compute the total resistance, Rт, seen by the +5.0V source. Then remove the +5.0V
source and measure resistance between points A and B to confirm the calculation.
Record the computed and measured values in table 11.2.
5. Use the source voltage, Vѕ, and the total resistance to compute the total current, Iт,
from the +5.0V source. This current flow through Rı, so record it as Iı in table 11.3.
Use the current divider rule to determine the currents in R² and R³. the current divider
rule for I and Iʒ is:

I² = Iт Rʒ and I³ = Iт R
R + Rʒ R + Rʒ

Record all three currents as positive values in table 11.3. This will be assigned
direction of current flow. Mark the magnitude and direction of the current on figure
11.3.
6. Use the currents computed in step 5 and the measured resistances to calculate the
expected voltage across each resistor of figure 11.3. Then connect the +5.0V power
supply and measure the actual voltages present in this circuit. Record the computed
and measured voltages in table 11.3. Because all currents in step 5 were considered
positive, all voltages in this step are also positive
7. Remove the +5.0V source from the circuit and move the jumper from between point
C and D to between points A and B. compute the total resistance between point C and
D. measure the resistance to confirm the calculation. Record the computed and
measured resistance in table 11.2.
8. Compute the current through each resistor in figure 11.3. Note that the total current
flows through R and divides between Rı and Rʒ. Mark the magnitude and direction of
the current on figure 11.3. important: record the current as a positive current if it is in
the same direction as recorded in step 5 and as a negative current if it is in the
opposite direction as in step 5. Record the computed currents in table 11.3.
 9. Use the current computed in step 8 and the measured resistances to compute the
voltage drops across each resistor. If the current through a resistor was a positive
current, record the resistor’s voltage as a positive voltage. If a current was a negative
current, record the voltage as negative voltage. Then connect the +10V source, as
illustrated in figure 11.3, measure, and record the voltages in table 11.3. The
measured voltages should confirm the calculation.
10. Compute the algebraic sum of the currents and voltages listed in table 11.3. Then
replaced the jumper between A and B with the +5.0V source, as shown in the original
circuit in figure 11.1. Measure the voltage across each resistor in this circuit. The
measured voltages should agree with the algebraic sums. Record the measured results
in table 11.3.

RESULTS
Listed Measured
value Value
R1 4.7kΩ 4.59kΩ
R2 6.8kΩ 6.72kΩ
R3 10.0kΩ 9.87kΩ
Table 11.1

Quantity Computed Measured

Step 4 Rт (Vѕı operating alone) 8.75kΩ 0.85kΩ
Step 7 Rт (Vѕı operating alone) 10kΩ 9.86kΩ
Table 11.2 Computed and measured resistances.

Step 4: Rт = R1 + Rѕ x R2 step 7: R2 + Rѕ x R1

Rѕ + R2 Rѕ + R1

= 4.7 + 10.0 (6.8) = 6.8 + 10.0(4.7)

10.1 + 6.8 10 + 4.7

 Computed Current Computed Voltage Measured Voltage

Iı I Iʒ Vı V Vʒ Vı V Vʒ
Step 5 0.57 0.34 0.23
Step 6 2.67 2.31 2.3 2.62 2.28 2.28
Step 8 0.68 1.0 0.32
Step 9 3.2 6.8 3.2 3.17 6.81 3.17
Step 10 0.11 0.66 0.55 0.52 4,49 5.5 0.43 4.51 5.67
Table 11.3 Computed and measured current and voltage

Step 5: R32 = 10 (6.8) / 10 + 6.8 Iт = Iı

= 4.05 kΩ Iʒ = Rʒ / R x Sт

Rт = 4.7 + 4.05 Rʒ

= 8.75 kΩ = 4.05 x 0.57

Vт = Iт Rт 10

Iт = Vт/ Rт = 5/ 8.75 = 0.23 kA

= 0.57kΩ

Kirchoof’s Law

Iѕ = Iʒ + I

I = Iѕ - Iʒ

= 0.57 - 0.23 = 0.34 kA

Step 6: Vı = IR V = IR Vʒ = IR

= 0.57 x 4.7 = 0.34 x 6.8 = 0.23 x 10

= 2.68 kV = 2.31 kV = 2.3 kV

Step 8: Rıʒ = 10 (4.7) / 10 + 4.7 Kirchhoff’s Law

= 3.2 kΩ Iѕ = Iʒ + Iı

Rт = 6.8 + 3.2 Iı = Iѕ - Iʒ

= 10 k Ω = 1- 0.32

Iт = Vт / Rт = 0.68A

= 10/10 = 1kΩ

Step 9: Vı = IR V = IR Vʒ = IR

= 0.68 (4.7) = 1 (6.8) = 0.32 (10)

= 3.2 kV = 6.8kV = 3.2kV

Step 10:

V I
Rı 3.2 -2.68 = 0.58 0.68-0.57 = 0.11
R 6.8-2.31 = 4.49 1- 0.34 = 0.66
Rʒ 3.2 + 2.3 = 5.5 0.32 + 0.23 = 0.55
DISCUSSION
In experiment, superposition theorem is used to compute the current and voltage at each
resistor. The voltage at resistor also were measured by using the multimetre .

The experiment succeeds.

CONCLUSION
All objectives achieve.