Superposition Theorem

Based on principle of linearity

• Definition:
“…voltage across or current through
any resistor or source may be
calculated by adding all the individual
voltage or currents caused by the
separate independent source acting
alone…”
 Linearity Property
It is the property of an element describing a linear relationship between
cause and effect.
A linear circuit is one whose output is linearly related (or directly
proportional) to its input.

Basic properties for a linear function

1.Homogeneity (scaling) property
If a function is defined as v = i R
then by scaling property → kv=kiR

2.Additive property
If v1 and v2 are 2 functions such that
v1 = i1 R and v2 = i2 R then by additive property
→ v = (i1 + i2) R = v1 + v2
Superposition Theorem (Definition)

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.
 Steps to Solve Circuits using Superposition
Theorem
1. To find the current/ voltage in any branch, take one
source at a time and replace rest of the sources by their
internal resistances (if given).
2. Calculate the current/voltage by any
method(mesh/nodal/KVL/KCL).
3. Now calculate the current/ voltage in the same branch
by taking the other source in the circuit and replacing
rest of the sources by their internal resistances.
4. Repeat steps 1,2 till all the sources have been
considered.
5. Total current/voltage in the given branch= algebraic
sum of all the currents/voltages in the branch due to all
the current sources.
Implementation: Replacing the V or I
sources when internal R not given
• Replace V sources by Short
Circuit if their internal R is not
given

• Replace I sources by Open Circuit

if their internal R is not given
 Example: Calculate the current through 1Ω resistor

1V 1V

1Ω 1Ω I1 1Ω I2
I total

2V 2V

Step 1:Only 1V source prsent

Replace 2v source by short circuit(SC)
I1 = 1A
Step 2: Only 2V source present(Replace 1V source by SC)
I2 = 2A
Step 3:
I total = 1+2 = 3A
Example: Calculate the current through 1Ω resistor

1A 1A

1Ω 1Ω I1 1Ω I2
I total

2V 2V

Step 1: 1A source acting alone (replace 2V source by SC)

I1 = 1A
Step 2: 2V source acting alone (replace 1A source by OC)
I2 = 0A
Adding the two currents considering their signs
I total = I1+I2=1+0 = 1A
Example 2: Find voltage Vx using superposition
theorem

6Ω 4Ω
+
42V 3Ω Vx 10V
-
 6Ω I1
4Ω
+
42V 3Ω Vx
-

Considering 42Vsourceonly (10VsourceSC )

(3 || 4) (12 / 7)
Vx( 42V )   42   42
6  (3 || 4) 6  (12 / 7)
 9.333V
 6Ω 4Ω
-+
3Ω Vx 10V
-
+
I2

Only10Vsourceconnected (42VsourcereplacedbySC)
(6 || 3) 2
Vx(10V )   10   10
(6 || 3)  4 24
 3.333V
 6Ω 4Ω
+
42V 3Ω Vx 10V
-

TotalVolta ge 
Vx  Vx( 42V )  Vx(10V )
 9.333  3.333  6V
Example 3: Use superposition to find ix
 Step2:
Step 1:
Only 2A source connected(3V source is
Only 3V source connected(2A SC)
source is OC)
i x'' = 2x6/(6+9)=0.8 A
ix' =3/15=0.2 A
Step 3:Totalcurrent=0.2+0.8=1A

i x = 1.0 A
Step 1:
Only 10ma source connected in circuit(3mA source OC)
I=10mA

Step2: Only 3mA source connected(10mA source OC)

I’=3mA
Total Current:10mA-3mA=7mA