EE201 Lecture 10 P.

Linearity and Superposition

Consider the circuit:
6

+ 9 iS
vS _
ix

We can solve for the ‘output’ ix using mesh

analysis.
M1: vs - 6i1 - 9(i1 - i2) = 0
vs - 15i1 + 9i2 = 0
M2: i2 = -is
But, i x = i 1 - i2
ix = (vs / 15) + (6is / 15)
 EE201 Lecture 10 P. 2

Solution, ix = (vs / 15) + (6is / 15) is linearly

related to the ‘inputs’ vs and is.
Solve for output ix by considering the effect of
each input separately.
Step 1: Deactivate current source
6

vS + 9
_
ix1

Solve for ix1.

ix1 = vs / 15
 EE201 Lecture 10 P. 3

Step 2: Deactivate voltage source

6

9 iS
ix2

Solve for ix2.

ix2 = [(1 / 9) / (5 / 18)] is = (2/5) is
Step 3: Add ix1 and ix2 to obtain solution.
ix = (vs / 15) + (2/5) is
ix = (vs / 15) + (6is / 15)
This technique is called superposition.
Superposition works because internal voltages
and currents depend linearly on the independent
sources.
 EE201 Lecture 10 P. 4

Example:
1A

i2
2 10V
+
4 _ I i
1A i5 3 2A
i1 3A 1
i6
+ +
_ _
12V 7V
5V
+
_

3
i4

2A
Find I for this circuit using superposition.
 EE201 Lecture 10 P. 5
Step 1: Short all voltage sources, open all but
one current source.

2

4 I
1A
1

3

I1 = - [(1/6) / ((1/6)+(1/4))] 1 = - 0.4 A

 EE201 Lecture 10 P. 6
Step 2: Short all voltage sources, open all but
one current source.

1A
2

4 I
1

3

I2 = - [(1/8) / ((1/8)+(1/2))] 1 = - 0.2 A

 EE201 Lecture 10 P. 7
Step 3: Short all voltage sources, open all but
one current source.

2

4 I
1

2A

3

I3 = - [(1/1) / ((1/1)+(1/9))] 2 = - 1.8 A

 EE201 Lecture 10 P. 8
Step 4: Short all voltage sources, open all but
one current source.

2

4 I
1

3
2A

I4 = [(1/7) / ((1/7)+(1/3))] 2 = 0.6 A

 EE201 Lecture 10 P. 9
Step 5: Short all voltage sources, open all but
one current source.

2

4 I
1

3A

3

I5 = - [(1/4) / ((1/4)+(1/6))] 3 = - 1.8 A

 EE201 Lecture 10 P. 10

Step 6: Open all current sources.

2 10V
+
4 _ I
1
+ +
_ _
12V 7V
5V
+
_

3

KVL: 5 - 1I6 + 10 - 2I6 - 4I6 - 12 - 3I6 + 7 = 0

10 - 10I6 = 0
I6 = 1A
 EE201 Lecture 10 P. 11

Solution:
I = I1 + I2 + I3 + I4 + I5 + I6
I = -0.4 - 0.2 - 1.8 + 0.6 - 1.8 + 1
I = -2.6 A (see Lect. 8 notes)
Principle of Linearity
If x1(t) and x2(t) are two inputs (excitations) and
y(t) is an output (response), then there exists
coefficients A and B such that
y(t) = A x1(t) + B x2(t)
Note: inputs and outputs are voltages or currents.
For general case,
y(t) = A1x1 + A2x2 + A3x3 + ... + Amxm
where xj are voltage or current values from
independent sources, and A are constants.
 EE201 Lecture 10 P. 12

Example: Find A and B so that Vo = A VS1 + B VS2

6 +
24 12 Vo
_

VS1 + VS2 +
_ _

Step 1: Short VS2 and compute Vo1.

Vo1 = (4 / 28) VS1
Step 2: Short VS1 and compute Vo2.
Vo2 = (8 / 14) VS2
Therefore,
Vo = (1/7) VS1 + (4/7) VS2 A = (1/7); B = (4/7)
 EE201 Lecture 10 P. 13

Linearity (cont.) and Source Transformations

Last time, the notion of linearity was introduced.

y(t) = A1u1 + A2u2 + A3u3 + ... + Amum
For any resistive circuit, the outputs are linearly
related to the inputs (superposition).

Example: The table contains measurement data

from a linear circuit. Find the output voltage
when va = 10 V and ib = 8 A. Also, determine the
coefficients A1 and A2 for vout = A1va + A2ib

Va (V) ib (A) Vout (V)

5 0 3

0 2 6
 EE201 Lecture 10 P. 14

Solution: Outputs are proportional to inputs.

Therefore, Vo1 / 10 = (3 / 5)  Vo1 = 6 V
Vo2 / 8 = (6 / 2)  Vo2 = 24 V
Using superposition
Vout = Vo1 + Vo2 = 30 V
Now, solve for coefficients.
vout = A1va + A2ib
To find coefficients, plug in numbers,
3 V = A1(5) + A2 (0)
6 V = A1(0) + A2 (2)
Therefore,
vout = 0.6 va + 3 ib