Abstract

Superposition theorem states about simplification of complex circuits by taking

the summation of individual currents which is equal to the total current. To find
out the contribution of each individual source towards the circuit other sources
must be turned off. But this theorem works only with current and voltage but
not with power

Contents

Abstract................................................................................................................1
Contents...............................................................................................................2
1. Aim.................................................................................................................2
2. Theory............................................................................................................3
3. Equipments required......................................................................................3
4. Procedure........................................................................................................3
Fig 1......................................................................................................................4
Fig 2......................................................................................................................4
Fig 3......................................................................................................................5
5. Observations...................................................................................................5
6. Calculations....................................................................................................6
7. Results..........................................................................................................10
8. Assignment questions...................................................................................10
9. Discussion.....................................................................................................12

1. Aim
To investigate the effects of more than one voltage source in a network.

2. Theory
The current or voltage at any point in the network in any linear circuit
containing multiple independent sources, could be calculated as the
algebraic sum of the individual contribution of each source acting alone.

3. Equipments required
Bread boards

1K resistors

2K resistors

470 resistors

680 resistors

330 resistors

Multimeter

DC power supply units 2

Bread board wires

4. Procedure

R1

R4

973

324

R2
460

R3
2135

R5
661

+20V

+15V

Fig 1
Circuit was constructed as shown in the figure above on the bread board
using given resistors.
Constructed circuit was checked before connecting to the power supply.
The currents I1, I2, and I3 were measured using multimeter.

R1

R4

973

324

R2
460

R3
2135

R5
661

+15V

Fig 2

Circuit was again reconstructed, disconnecting the 15v source and linking
the resistors R3 and R5 as shown in the above diagram.
The currents I1 ' , I2 ' , and I3 '

R2
460

+20V

were measured using multimeter.

R1

R4

973

324
R3
2135

R5
661

Fig 3
Then removed the link between R3 and R5 and replaced the 15V source
connections as they were initially.
20V source was disconnected and R2 and R3 were linked as shown in the
above diagram.
The currents I1 ' ' , I2 ' ' , and I3 ' '

5.

were measured using multimeter.

Expected Value

Real Value

R1

1K

973

R2

470

460

R3

2K

2135

R4

330

324

R5

680

661

Resistor

Observations
A table was tabulated for the values gained by the resistors.

Current measured when the both sources are active,

I1 = 4.49mA
I2 = 6.09mA
I3 = -1.58mA
Current measured when 20V source is deactivated,
I1 '

= -4.73mA

I2 '

= 3.15mA

I3 '

= -7.93mA

Current measured when 15V source is deactivated,

I1 ' '

= 9.32mA

I2 ' '

= 2.90mA

I3 ' '

= 6.40mA

6. Calculations
Calculating the voltage when both sources are active.

R2
460

+20V

R1

R4

973

324
R3
2135

R5
661

+15V
6

Using nodal analysis calculating V

(V 20/1470) + (V 0/2200) + (V 15/1010) = 0
6.810-4V 13610-4 + 4.5410-4V + 9.910-4 148.510-4
=0
(6.8 + 4.54 + 9.9)V10-4
=284.510-4
21.24V = 284.5
V = 13.39

Calculating I1 using calculated V

I1 = (20 13.39/1470)
= 4.4910-3
= 4.49mA
Calculating I2 using calculated V
I2 = (13.39 0/2200)
= 6.0810-3
= 6.08mA
Calculating I3 using calculated V
I3 = (13.4 15/1010)
= 1.5810-3
= 1.58mA

Calculating voltage when only 15V source is active and 20V source is
deactivated.

R2
460

R1

R4

973

324
R3
2135

R5
661

+15V
7

Using nodal analysis calculating V

(V 0/1470) + (V 0/2200) + (V 15/1010) = 0
6.810-4V + 4.5410-4V + 9.910-4 148.510-4 =
0
(6.8 + 4.54 + 9.9)V10-4
=148.510-4
21.24V = 148.5
V = 6.99

Calculating

I1 '

using calculated V
I1 '

= (0 6.99/1470)

= 4.7510-3
=4.75mA
Calculating

I2 '

using calculated V
I2 '

= (6.99/2200)

= 3.1710-3
=3.17mA
Calculating

I3 '

using calculated V
I3 '

= (6.99 15/1010)

= 7.9310-3
= 7.93mA

Calculating the voltage only 20V source is active and 15V source is
deactivated.

R2
460

+20V

R1

R4

973

324
R3
2135

R5
661

Using nodal analysis calculating V

(V 20/1470) + (V 0/2200) + (V 0/1010) = 0
6.810-4V 13610-4 + 4.5410-4V + 9.910-4 =
0
(6.8 + 4.54 + 9.9)V10-4 =
13610-4
21.24V = 136
V = 6.40

Calculating

I1 ' '

using calculated V
I1 ' '

= (20 6.4/1470)

= 9.2510-3
=9.25mA
Calculating

I2 ' '

using calculated V
I2 ' '

= (6.4/2200)

= 2.9010-3
=2.90mA
Calculating

I3 ' '

using calculated V
I3 ' '

= (6.4/1010)

= 6.3310-3
= 6.33mA

I1

I1 '

I1 ' '

I1 ' + I 1 ' '

4.49mA

-4.75mA

9.25mA

4.50mA

I2

I2 '

I2 ' '

I2 ' + I 2 ' '

6.08mA

3.17mA

2.90mA

6.07mA

I3

I3 '

I3 ' '

I3 ' + I 3 ' '

-1.58mA

-7.93mA

6.33mA

-1.60mA

7.
Results
According to the above table value of I1 is almost equal to the algebraic
sum of I ' + I ' '
1

I1 = I1 '

+ I1 ' '

Also I2 and I3 proves the same principle

I2 = I2 '

+ I2 ' '

I3 = I3 '

+ I3 ' '

8. Assignment questions
10

1. Do the current directions agree with those shown in Fig 1?

I1 and I2 both currents agree with the current directions shown in Fig 1.
But I3 has a minus value for the direction shown in Fig 1. So I3 current
flows to the opposite direction.
2. Again do the directions of the currents agree with those shown on the Fig
3?
Yes now the directions of current agree with the diagram.

3.

Can you notice any relationship between I1, I1 ' , and I3 ' ' ?
Yes the algebraic sum of the values of I1 is equal to I1 '

4.

Does the same relationship hold for I2 with I2 '

'

and I2 ' ' , also I3 with I3

and I3 ' ' ?

Yes, the same relationship valid for I2 with I2 '

'

+ I1 ' '

and I2 ' ' , also I3 with I3

and I3 ' '

5. Do your calculations agree with the experimental values found?

Values which have been measured dont agree well to the calculated
values but they agree approximately. The table below shows the
calculated values and measured values.

I1

I1 '

I1 ' '

I2

I2 '

I2 ' '

I3

I3 '

I3 ' '

MEASURED

4.49

-4.73

9.32

6.09

3.15

2.90

-1.58

-7.93

6.40

CALCULATED

4.49

-4.75

9.25

6.08

3.17

2.90

-1.58

-7.93

6.33

All values are in mA

6. Do these agree with the experimental findings?
Yes, they agree with the experimental findings.
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7. Does the algebraic sum of the currents due to individual sources equal
the total currents due to the two sources?
As an example lets consider the values of

I1

I '1 I 1 ' '

obtained in both

methods
I1

I1 '

I1 ' '

I1 ' + I 1 ' '

MEASURED

4.49

-4.73

9.32

-4.62

CALCULAT
ED

4.49

-4.75

9.25

4.50

As the table shows the algebraic sum of the currents due to individual
sources equal the total current due to two sources, simply that is
I 1 ' + I 1 ' ' =I 1

9. Discussion
In a situation where cells are used instead of power supply to power the
circuit, dissipation in the measured and the calculated values may occur.
To avoid this, resistor is used instead of short circuiting which equals to
the value of internal resistance of the cell.
12

The difference between the calculated values and the measured values is
due to the very small internal resistance of the connectors and
sometimes the resistance in the bread board may also cause this
difference.
If so, the difference of the measured and the calculated values would be
minimal and considered to be same.
Though the circuit diagram shows the measured values calculations
have been done by the expected values.
Using this practical session we verified the Superposition Theorem and
observed that the algebraic sum of the currents produced when each
source acting alone equals the currents when both voltage sources are
present.
The practical consideration and application of the Superposition Theorem
enables calculations more easily in analysis of complex electrical and
electronic circuits with multiple sources.
It is more useful when independent sources are present.

10. Reference
Irwin, J.D. and Nelms, R.M. (2011), Basic Engineering Analysis, John Wiley
and Sons

13