Lecture 07- Circuit Theorems

Part 1

Chapter
8
Superposition Theorem

Chapter
8
 Superposition Theorem

• It states that the voltage across (or current through)

an element in a linear circuit is the algebraic sum of
the voltage across (or currents through) that element
due to EACH independent source acting alone.

• The principle of superposition helps us to analyze a

linear circuit with more than one independent source
by calculating the contribution of each independent
source separately.
 Superposition Theorem
Removing a voltage source and a current
source to
• permit the application of the superposition
theorem.
Superposition Theorem

Two things have to be kept in mind:

1. When we say turn off all other independent

sources:
 Independent voltage sources are
replaced by 0 V (short circuit) and
 Independent current sources are
replaced by 0 A (open circuit).

2. Dependent sources are left intact because

they are controlled by circuit variables.

5
The approach to superposition is demonstrated in the following Figure
for a series-parallel circuit with two ideal voltage sources.
Continue
 Superposition Theorem
We consider the effects of 8A and
20V one by one, then add the two
effects together for final vo.

8
 Example 1
Use the superposition
theorem to find voltage
across the 4 Ω resistor in
the circuit shown below.
3A is
discarded by
open-circuit

6V is
discarded by
Answer = 10 V short-circuit

9
 Example 2

What does the ammeter

read for I2? R1 R3
2.7 kW I2 6.8 kW
VS1 +
- VS2 +
12 V + 1.56 mA
- 18 V -
Set up a table of R2
pertinent information 6.8 kW
and solve for each
quantity listed:
Source 1: RT(S1)= 6.10 kW I1= 1.97mA I2= 0.98mA
Source 2: RT(S2)= 8.73 kW I3= 2.06mA I2= 0.58mA
Both sources I2 = 1.56mA
The total current is the algebraic sum.
11
Example 3

12
Example 3—Step 1-Cont.

13
Example 3—Step 1-Cont.

14
Refer to the Figure 1, determine the branches current using
superposition theorem.
6W 2W

i1 i3
120 V i2 3W i4 4W 12 A

Figure 1

Solution
The application of the superposition theorem is
shown in Figure 1, where it is used to calculate
the branch current. We begin by calculating the
branch current caused by the voltage source of
120 V. By substituting the ideal current with open
circuit, we deactivate the current source, as
shown in Figure 2.
 6W v1 2W

i'1 i'3
120 V i'2 i'4 4W
3W

Figure 2

To calculate the branch current, the node

voltage across the 3Ω resistor must be
known. Therefore
v 1  120 v 1 v1
  =0
6 3 24
where v1 = 30 V
The equations for the current in each branch,
 120  30
i'1 = = 15 A
6
i'2 = 30 = 10 A
3
30
' '
i3 = i4 = =5A
6
In order to calculate the current cause by
the current source, we deactivate the ideal
voltage source with a short circuit, as shown
6W 2W

i1 " i 3"
i 2" 3W i4" 4W 12 A
To determine the branch current, solve the node
voltages across the 3Ω dan 4Ω resistors as shown
in Figure 4
6W 2W
+ +

v3 3 W v4 4 W 12 A

- -

The two node voltages are

v3 v3 v3  v4
  =0
3 6 2
v4  v3 v4
  12 =0
2 4
By solving these equations, we obtain
• v3 = -12 V
• v4 = -24 V
Now we can find the branches current,
To find the actual current of the circuit,
add the currents due to both the current
and voltage source,
 Example 1
Find the current in R3

15 V 100 W 20 W 13 V
V1 10 W R3 V2

R1 R2
15 V 100 W 20 W
V2 shorted
V1 10 W R3

REQ = 106.7 W, IT = 0.141 A and IR3 = 0.094 A

 continue

R1 R2
15 V 100 W 20 W 13 V
V1 10 W R3 V2

R1 R2
100 W 20 W 13 V
V1 shorted
10 W R3 V2

REQ = 29.09 W, IT = 0.447 A and IR3 = 0.406 A

 continue

R1 R2

15 V 100 W 20 W 13 V
V1 V2
0.094 A 0.406 A

With V2 shorted
REQ = 106.7 W, IT = 0.141 A and IR3 = 0.094 A
With V1 shorted
REQ = 29.09 W, IT = 0.447 A and IR3 = 0.406 A
Adding the currents gives IR3 = 0.5 A
 continue
R1 R2

15 V 100 W 20 W 13 V
V1 10 W R3 V2
0.5 A

With 0.5 A flowing in R3, the voltage across R3 must be 5 V

(Ohm’s Law). The voltage across R1 must therefore be 10 volts
(KVL) and the voltage across R2 must be 8 volts (KVL).
Solving for the currents in R1 and R2 will verify that the
solution agrees with KCL.
IR1 = 0.1 A and IR2 = 0.4 A

IR3 = 0.1 A + 0.4 A = 0.5 A

i1  6 / 12  0.5 A
i 2  3 * 8 /(8  4)  2 A
i  2 .5 A
v  v1  v1
 2  8  10 V
 Ex.
Given the circuit below. Find the current I
by using superposition.
12 W

IS = 3 A 6W +
_ VS = 54 V

IVs = 3 A
3 x12
IS  2 A
(3  12)
Total current I: I = IS + Ivs = 5 A
Ex1:
Find Ix using superposition theorem for the
circuit shown below
Ans:
Ix =Ix 1 +Ix 2
= 2.083 −3
= 1.92 Amp
Ex2:
Use superposition to find the current flowing
downward through the 3kΩ resistor.

Ix = Ix1 + Ix2
= -7.5mA + 0.5mA
= -7.0 mA