24-4

Mapua Institute of Technology

School of Electrical, Electronics, and Computer Engineering
Department of Electrical Engineering

Experiment no. 5
Superposition Theorem and Linearity
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
SALVANERA, Pinky T.
EE101L/B7
2014141532

Engr. Ronaldo Cabuang

Professor Grade
Wiring Diagram

TINApro Simulation
FINAL DATA SHEET

Table 5.1 First Iteration

Vx ON, Iy OFF, Iz OFF

V1’ V2’ V3’ I1’ I2’ I3’

80 1000 0 40 40 0
27 27 27 27

Table 5.2 Second Iteration

Vx OFF, Iy ON, Iz OFF

V1’’ V2’’ V3’’ I1’’ I2’’ I3’’

−100 100 200 −50 4 − 2
27 27 27 27 27

Table 5.3 Third Iteration

Vx OFF, Iy OFF, Iz ON

V1’’’ V2’’’ V3’’’ I1’’’ I2’’’ I3’’’

0 - 18 −36 −100 8 −4
27 27

V1 = V1’ + V1’’ + V1’’’ = -8.143 V I1 = I1’ + V1’’ + I1’’’ = -4.074 A

V2 = V2’ + V2’’ + V2’’’ = 48.148 V I2 = I2’ + I2’’ + I2’’’ = 1.926 A
V3 = V3’ + V3’’ + V3’’’ = -54 V I3 = I3’ + I3’’ + V3’’’ = -6 A

GRAPHS
 CURRENT ACROSS EACH RESISTOR
Mesh and Nodal Analysis
vs.
Superposition Theorem

-6
Current 3
-6

Mesh and Nodal Superposition

1.93
Current 2
1.93

-4.07
Current 1
-4.07

Graph 1. Comparison of the calculated values for the currents,

superposition vs. mesh and nodal.

The currents obtained when using the mesh and nodal analysis compared to
the currents when superposition was used are precisely equal. Since we had
already been able to prove in the previous experiment that the mesh and
nodal analysis are accurate, we can say that superposition makes sense as
well.
 VOLTAGE ACROSS EACH RESISTOR
Mesh and Nodal Analysis
vs.
Superposition Theorem

-6
Current 3
-6

Mesh and Nodal Superposition

1.93
Current 2
1.93

-4.07
Current 1
-4.07

Graph 2. Comparison of the calculated values for the voltages,

superposition vs. mesh and nodal.

The same is true for the voltages; when mesh and nodal analysis results are
compared to the voltages yielded using superposition, we can see above that
both are precisely equal. This makes sense because the voltages were only
obtained indirectly by Ohm’s law (since I used mesh analysis) so when the
currents were equal, the voltages followed.
QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS
1 What does a negative response in a superposition imply?

A negative response in a superposition implies that the assumed current

direction or the voltage polarity given is incorrect. To correct this, simply
change the current’s direction or the polarity of the voltage.

2 How many responses are obtained from an N number of

independent sources present in a given circuit?

There are no responses obtained from a number of independent sources

present in a given circuit. Responses are any parameter like resistance,
voltage, or current. Thus, the number of responses can be obtained with the
number of constant parameters in the circuit since they are directly
proportional to each other.

3 Is it possible to eliminate dependent sources on superposition?

No, it is not possible to eliminate dependent sources whenever we are using

the superposition theorem. Only independent sources may be eliminated,
since the theorem states that “”for a linear system the response
(voltage or current) in any branch of a bilateral linear circuit having more
than one independent source equals the algebraic sum of the responses
caused by each independent source acting alone, where all the other
independent sources are replaced by their internal impedances.”

4 What are the possible limitations of the superposition theorem?

The following are the possible limitations of the superposition theorem: 1.) it
can be applied only to linear circuits, 2.) it can be applied only to voltage and
current, and 3.) it cannot be used to solve for the total power dissipated by
an element.

5 Determine the voltage, Vx, using superposition in the figure

below.

Solution:
10 V:ON;15 V: OFF;10 A:OFF

V 'x =10 (1.6

2+1.6 )
V 'x =4.44 V
 10 V:OFF;15 V: ON;10 A:OFF

V ''x =15 (11+8 ) ''

V x =1.67 V '''
V x =5.56 V

10 V:OFF;15 V:OFF;10 A:ON

TOTAL VX
5
''
I =10
x
5+4 ( ) ' ''
V x = Vx + V x + Vx
'''

V x =4.44 V+1.67 V+5.56 V

2
''
I =5.56 A
x
''
I =5.56
x
2+2( ) V x =11.67 V
''
I x =2.78 A
Answer: Vx is therefore 11.67V.

6 Determine the voltage across 5 ohm resistance using superposition

shown in the figure below.

Solution:
12 V:ON;7 A: OFF

V (5) =12 ( 2.5454

2+2.5454 )
V (5) =6.72V

V '(5) =6.72 (55+2 )

'
V (5) =4.8 V

12 V:OFF;7 A:ON

Using Nodal Analysis:

@ Node 1: (0.5+0.2) V(1) + 0.2 V(2) – 0.5 V(3) = -7 @ Node 2:

0.2 V(1) +(0.2+0.25+0.5) V(2) -(0.5+0.25) V(3) = 0

@ Node 3: (0.5+0.25+0.5) V(3) - 0.5 V(1) – (0.25+0.5) V(2) = 7

V (1) = -8.4 V; V(2) =0

Answer: The voltage across the 5-ohm

resistor is therefore 3.6V with the polarity
opposite the assumed one.
 V (3) = 2.24 V
''
V (5) = -8.4-0

TOTAL V5
' ''
V (5) = V( 5 ) + V(5 )
V (5) = 4.8 -8.4
V (5) = -3.6 V

7 Determine the voltage

across 3 mho using
superposition shown in
the circuit below.

Solution: 6 A :ON @ Node 2:

-7 V(1) +8 V(2) -5 V(3) = 0
-6+2 ( V(1 ) - V(2 )) +5 ( V (1 ) - V( 2) ) =0

@ Node 3:
@ Equation 1: V (2) - V(3) = 10
7 V (1) -7 V (2) = 6

-(5+2) V(1) + 13 V(2) = 0 V (1) =2.143 V; V (2) =5 V; V(3) =-5 V —

@ Equation 2: -3A-ON
-7 V (1 ) +13 V (2) = 0
' '
V (1) = 1.857 V; V ( 2) = 1 V
12 A :ON @ Node 1:
7 V (1) -7 V (2) =0

@Node 2:
-7 V(1) +3 V(2) =12
V (1) =2 V; V ( 2) =2 V
10 V:ON

@ Node 1: 7 V (1) -5 V (2) -2 V(3) = 0

@ Mesh 1:
0.33 I(1) +0.33 I (1) = 0
Answer: The voltage across the right 3-
I (1) =0 mho is 8V while the left 3-mho is 2V
with its polarity opposite the assumed.

V1 = (0.33)I (1)
(3 Ω)
V1 = 0V
(3 Ω) V1 = 8V
(3 Ω)

Total Voltage @ left

Total Voltage @ right
V1 = V '( 2) + V''(2 ) - V'''( 2 ) + V 1
(3 )
Ω (3 Ω )
' '' '''
V1 = V + V +V +V 1
( 2) ( 2) (2 )
(3 Ω) (3 Ω) V 1 = 1+2+ ( -5 ) +0
(3 Ω)
V 1 = 1+2+5+0
(3 Ω) V1 = -2V
(3 Ω)
INTERPRETATION OF DATA / DATA ANALYSIS

We were given the same circuit diagram as the last experiment and we used
the same data like our group number, birthdate, age, etc. We solved for the
voltages and currents of our own individual circuits using the superposition
theorem wherein we turned off independent sources one at a time.
Afterwards, we compared the results with the values gathered in experiment
4 to check whether they are equal or not.

Last week, the values I obtained for the currents I 1, I2, and I3 are -4.07A,
1.926A, and -6A respectively. In this experiment, I used mesh analysis to
determine the currents, so the currents were the crucial values. The voltages
were obtained indirectly using Ohm’s law. When I added all the different
iterations of I1 , (I1’ + I1’’ + I1’’’ ) I obtained the same value as last week’s,
which is -4.074 A. The same was true for all of the other currents and
voltages.

This reaction is not the same for power though. One formula for power is
V2/R. And, V2/R + V2/R is not equal to (V+V)2/R. Superpostion only works for
linear equations and values that are additive like voltages, currents, etc.

There weren’t much sources of error in this experiment since we mostly

solved values on our own and compared them to the values from last week’s
experiment. A possible source of error though would be a weak grasp of
previous lessons since Kirchoff’s laws, mesh analysis, etcetera, are
techniques needed to solve the different circuits in superposition. Another
would be errors in algebra. There are a lot of equations when using the
superposition theorem so even though the equations are simple, solving
them can be tedious and committing mistakes is common.
CONCLUSION
The objectives of the experiment are to 1.) investigate the effects of multiple
active linear sources in a network, 2.) verify that the linear response at any
point in a linear circuit having several independent linear sources is
equivalent to the algebraic sum of individual responses produced by each
independent source acting alone, and 3.) illustrate the principle of linearity

A linear circuit, as defined in the theoretical discussion part, is a circuit

composed entirely of independent sources and linear elements.
Superposition is limited to linear circuits only. We can still apply it even if
there is a dependent source but the dependent source musn’t be omitted.
Moreover, the solutions would be harder since we can’t simplify the circuit
that easily because the controlling variable of the dependent source musn’t
be touched as well.

As expounded in the data analysis, the sum of the reactions when

independent sources are made active one at a time is equal to the reaction
when all the independent sources are made active. With this, we have
verified that the superposition theorem actually works for circuits with
multiple independent sources.

Linearity is a principle wherein the obtained solutions in a set of linear

equations (in this experiment, obtained using superposition) can be added
together so that the sum is also a solution. We saw the principle of linearity,
because, as discussed in the previous paragraph, the sum of the individual
solutions amounted to a whole solution itself. Moreover, since superposition
uses linearity as its main principle, it is limited to linear elements and linear
equations only. Non-linear reactions like power cannot be solved directly;
solving for the individual powers and adding them would not yield an equal
result as to when we solve for the power when all the currents had already
been added up.
To sum up, the experiment had been a success; we were able to meet the
objectives set. We were able to see the effects of multiple active linear
sources in a circuit, we were able to see that the sum of the individual
reactions whenever only one source is equal to the actual effect of that
source when we look at the complete network. And lastly, the principle of
linearity was demonstrated in every part of the experiment.