SUPERPOSITION THEOREM

Activity 7

55054 Basic Electrical Engg Lab 0700 – 1000 Sat

March 27, 2021

BASIC CONCEPTS
The Superposition Theorem is one of those strokes of genius that takes a complex subject and
simplifies it in a way that makes perfect sense. The strategy used in the Superposition Theorem
is to eliminate all but one source of power within a network at a time, using series/parallel
analysis to determine voltage drops (and/or currents) within the modified network for each
power source separately. Then, once voltage drops and/or currents have been determined for
each power source working separately, the values are all “superimposed” on top of each other
(added algebraically) to find the actual voltage drops/currents with all sources active.

Superposition theorem states that in any linear, active, bilateral network having more than one
source, the response across any element is the sum of the responses obtained from each
source considered separately and all other sources are replaced by their internal resistance.
The superposition theorem is used to solve the network where two or more sources are present
and connected.

According to the superposition theorem, we can analyse a circuit one power source at a time.
This allows for easier analysis than when considering all of the power sources all at once. We
then can add up all the currents or voltages to get the total current or voltage in a certain part of
the circuit. When applying the superposition theorem, voltage sources are shorted out and
current sources are replaced with an open circuit. So this is how a circuit is analysed with the
superposition. The circuit is analysed with one power source in it and the remaining voltage
sources shorted out and the current sources replaced with an open circuit. At the end, once we
have analysed the circuit from each power source separately (with that one power source in the
circuit and the other removed), we add up all the currents and voltages in each part of the circuit
and this will equal the total current and voltage (in that part of the circuit).So the best way to see
the superposition theorem in practice is do an example.

OBJECTIVES

 This investigation is about Superposition Theorem and the objectives were to examine
Superposition Theorem.
 Record the readings of ammeter for each column on table V1, V2, and V3.
 Compute the current on table 2 by adding each row of the resistor I1, I2, and I3.
 Set the circuit in figure 5 and again the current along each resistor.

PROCEDURES AND SET-UP

Table 1 I1

Table 1 I2

Table 1 I3
 Table 2 Figure 5

DATA AND RESULTS

ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
On table 1, R1 and R2 have the same readings with a source of V1, V2, and V3. The reading for
both R1 and R2 are 0.15A for V1, -0.225A for V2, and 0.5A for V3. R3 has a different reading
for each volts, the readings are 4.5e-12A for V1, 2.25e-12A for V2, and -2.0000A for V3.

On table 2, the sum of V1, V2, and V3 for R1 and R2 have the same value which is 0.425A for
V1, V2, and V3 for R1 and 0.425A for the figure 5 R1. It’s also the same for R2, which is 0.425A
for V1, V2, and V3 for R2 and 0.425A for figure 5 for R2. R3 has different value for each
column, which are 6.75e-26 for R3 and -2.0000A for figure 5 R3.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

As a conclusion, it is can be said that the objective of the experiment which is to verify
experimentally the Superposition Theorem was achieved successfully. Superposition theorem is
used to find the solution to networks with two or more sources that are not series or parallel.
The current through, or voltage across, and element in a network is equal to algebraic sum of
the currents or voltages produced independently by each sources. Since the effect of each
sources will be determined independently, the number of networks to be analysed will equal
number of sources.

REFERENCES

 https://wiki.analog.com/university/courses/electronics/text/chapter-1
 https://circuitglobe.com/whatis-superposition-theorem
 http://www.learningaboutelectronics.com/Articles/Superposition-theorem.php
 https://www.slideshare.net/bhanupratap_11/9ppt-42154958