168 Electrical Circuit Analysis If the internal resistances are not known, voltage source is replaced by short-circuit and current source is replaced by open-circuit. This theorem is not useful for nonlinear networks. Steps for solving electrical networks using superpostion theorem 1. Firstly, all internal impedances are represented as external impedances. For a voltage source, internal impedance is represented as external impedance in series with ideal voltage source. For a current source, it is represented as shunt resistance in parallel with ideal current source. 2. Response (voltage or current) due to each source is determined by considering only one source at a time while other sources are made inactive. 3. Total response is found by adding all individual responses. Superposition theorem is better understood by the following examples. EXAMPLE 6.1 By superposition theorem, find the current flows through 6 Q resistor in the circuit shown in Fig. 6.1. 5a 40 av 6a: BV Fig. 6.1 Solution The network has two voltage sources of 24 V and 18 V. First 18 V source is made inactive by short-circuiting it as shown in Fig. 6.2. sa av? ea Fig. 6.2 The equivalent resistance across the 24 V source is (4x6) (4+6) 24 So, the current supplied by the 24 V source alone (Is) = 27 (4) +5=