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

2. Additive property

kv=kiR

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 1 resistor

1V 1 2V I total

1V 1 I1 2V 1 I2

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 1 resistor

1A 1 2V I total

1A 1 I1 2V 1 I2

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

6 42V 3 + Vx -

4 10V

6 42V

I1

4 + Vx -

Considering 42Vsourceonly (10VsourceSC ) (3 || 4) (12 / 7) Vx( 42V ) 42 42 6 (3 || 4) 6 (12 / 7) 9.333V

6 3
I2
-+

4 Vx +

10V

Only10Vsourceconnected (42Vsourcerep lacedbySC) (6 || 3) 2 Vx(10V ) 10 10 (6 || 3) 4 24 3.333V

6 42V 3 + Vx -

4 10V

TotalVoltage Vx Vx( 42V ) Vx(10V ) 9.333 3.333 6V

Example 3: Use superposition to find ix

Step 1: Only 3V source connected(2A source is OC)

' ix =3/15=0.2 A

Step2: Only 2A source connected(3V source is SC)

'' ix = 2x6/(6+9)=0.8 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