Experimental Verification of Superposition Theorem

GROUP MEMBERS:

1. Sultan Aljoode _______________

Name 1 Signature

2. Faisal Alotaibi _______________

Name 2 Signature

Date: 20/7/2017
Introduction

The superposition theorem is a means by which we can solve circuits that have more than one

independent voltage source. Each source is taken, one at a time, as if it were the only source in the

circuit. All the other sources are replaced by their internal resistance, so our objective is to verify

experimentally the superposition theorem.

Theory

Superposition theorem states that: "In any linear circuit containing multiple independent sources, the

current or voltage at any point in the network may be calculated as the algebraic sum of the individual

contributions of each source acting alone. If the circuit has N independent sources, you must analyze

the circuit N-times by removing all independent sources, except one. To remove a voltage source:

replace it by a short circuit.

To remove a current source: replace it by an open circuit.

Materials (or Equipment)

1. Two DC power supplies (1 = 4, 2 = 2).
2. Digital multi-meter.
3. Breadboard.
4. Electrical wires.
5. Three random resistors ( = 1000 , 1 = 330 , 2 = 220 ).

2|Page
Procedure
1. Construct the circuit shown in Figure 1 using the values below. This circuit has two voltage sources
connected to a common reference ground.

1 2

2. Remove the 2V source and place a jumper as shown in figure 2. This jumper represents the
internal resistance of the 2V power. And the multi-meter readings are recorded.

1 2

3. Analyze the new circuit and find the voltages and currents across the 3 resistors

(1 , 2 , , 1 , 2 , ). These will be the theoretical values.

4. Remove the 4V source and place a jumper as shown in figure 3. This jumper represents the
internal resistance of the 4V power. And the multi-meter readings are recorded.

1 2

5. Analyze the new circuit and find the voltages and currents across the 3 resistors

(1 , 2 , , 1 , 2 , ). These will be the theoretical values.
3|Page
 6. Calculate the final solution which is the sum of the answers from step#3 and step#5.

7. Compare Theoretical voltages and currents to the measured values and Compute the percentage
error in the two measurements.

% = | | 100%

Results

1- Step#1: Keep the = and short the, = .

Resistors calculations:
2201000
- R(1000,220)=220+1000 = 180.33

- The equivalent resistance= = 330 + 180.33 = 510.33

Current calculations:

4
- 1 = = = 7.84 103 = 7.84
510.33

R(1000,220)
1 7.84180.33

- 2 = = = 6.43
2 220

(1000,220)
1 7.84180.33
- = = = 1.41
R 1000

Voltage calculations:

- 1 = 1 1 = 7.84 103 330 = 2.59

- 2 = 2 2 = 6.43 103 220 = 1.41

- = = 1.41 103 1000 = 1.41

- KVL (CW): 1 + = 2.59 + 1.41 = 4 =

4|Page
2- Step#1: Keep the = and short the, = .

Resistors calculations:
3301000
- R(1000,330)=330+1000 = 248.12

- The equivalent resistance= = 220 + 248.12 = 468.12

Current calculations:

2
- 2 = = 468.12 = 4.27 103 = 4.27

R(1000,330)
2 4.27248.12

- 1 = = = 3.21
1 330

(1000,330)
2 4.27248.12
- = = = 1.06
R 1000

Voltage calculations:

- 1 = 1 1 = 3.21 103 330 = 1.06

- 2 = 2 2 = 4.27 103 220 = 0.94

- = = 1.06 103 1000 = 1.06

- KVL (CW): 2 + = 0.94 + 1.06 = 2 =

3- Step#3: The final solution is the sum of the answers from step#1 and step#2

- = + = 1.41 + 1.06 = 2.47

- 1 = 1 1 = 7.84 3.21 = 4.63

- 2 = 2 2 = 6.43 4.27 = 2.16

Note: we have to subtract the currents for IR1 and IR2 because they flow in opposite directions.

- = + = 1.41 + 1.06 = 2.47

5|Page

- 1 = 1 1 = 2.59 1.06 = 1.53

- 2 = 2 2 = 1.41 0.94 = 0.47

4- Comparing theoretical and measured values and computing the error

The following table summarizes the measured and calculated values of voltages and currents in

the circuit, also it contains the percent error in each value.

For step#1:

Theoretical 1.41 mA 7.84 mA 6.43 mA 1.41 V 2.59 V 1.41 V
Measured 1.38 mA 8 mA 6.3 mA 1.39 V 2.67 V 1.38 V
Error % 2.13% 2.04% 3.6% 1.42% 3.1% 2.13%

For step#2:


Theoretical 1.06 mA 3.21 mA 4.27 mA 1.06 V 1.06 V 0.94 V
Measured 1.03 mA 3.3 mA 4.2 mA 1.04 V 1.08 V 0.92 mA
Error % 2.83% 2.8% 1.64% 1.9% 1.9% 2.13%

For step#3:
IR IR1 IR2 VR VR1 VR2
Theoretical 2.47 mA 4.63 mA 2.16 mA 2.47 V 1.53 V 0.47 V
Measured 2.41mA 4.7 mA 2.1 mA 2.43 V 1.59 V 0.46 V
Error % 2.43% 1.5% 2.7% 1.62% 3.9% 2.13%

Discussion (or Analysis)

The focus of the experiment was the superposition theorem. The current and the voltage in the circuit

were measured and recorded using calibrated multi-meter. In the experiment, the individual current from

separate power sources was measured. It was done by short circuiting one power source and find the

current from the other source. First total resistance was found out and then using the formula V=IR, the

resultant current was then found out. Same procedure was then carried out for the rest the voltage

sources. After the individual currents were found out, they were then algebraically added up to the load
6|Page
we were observing. This equaled the total current with all the power supplies voltages attached. The

result from the experiment proves that the total current in a branch of the circuit is equal to the current

from the individual sources. The measured values and theoretical values were almost close to each other

but not exact due to experimental errors present such as: the resistance of the connecting wire and clips

which might have altered the actual current values. To reduce this resistance, a sand paper could be used

to sand the surface of the clips.

Conclusion

From the experiment carried out, it was determined that the total current entering a load from combined

voltage or current independent sources equals the algebraic sum of individual caused by these sources

acting along. Thus satisfying the superposition theorem.

7|Page