Superposition

Theorem
For ALTERNATING CURRENT
Superposition Principle
The superposition principle states that the
voltage across (or the current through) an element in
a linear circuit is the algebraic sum of the voltages
across (or currents through) that element due to
each independent source acting alone.
Because the circuit is linear we can find the
response of the circuit to each source acting alone,
and then add them up to find the response of the
circuit to all sources acting together. This is known
as the superposition principle.

Steps in Applying the Superposition Principle
1. Turn off all independent sources except one. Find the
output (voltage or current) due to the active source.

2. Repeat step 1 for each of the other independent
sources.

3. Find the total output by adding algebraically all of the
results found in steps 1 & 2 above.



NOTE: In some cases, but certainly
not all superposition can
simplify the analysis.




Example Problem 1:
+
-
AC
8O
0.2F 1H
2cos10t 30sin5t
+
-
v
0
(t)
Note: The voltage source and the current source have two different
frequencies. Thus, if we want to use phasors, the only way
we've solved sinusoidal steady-state problems, we MUST
use superposition to solve this problem. We will consider each
source acting alone, and then find v
0
(t) by superposition.
30sin5t
( )
30sin5 30cos 5 90 t t =
+
-
AC
8O
-j1 j5
30 90 Z
+
-
O.C.
1 1
1
5(0.2)
C
Z j
j C j e
= = =
5
L
Z j L j e = =
1
0
V
+
-
AC
8O
-j1 j5
30 90 Z
+
-
O.C.
1 1
1
5(0.2)
C
Z j
j C j e
= = =
5
L
Z j L j e = =
1
0
V
AC
Z
1
Z
2 V
S
V
0
+
-
+
-
Use voltage division
1
2
0
1 2
S
Z
Z Z
=
+
V V
2
( 1)( 5) 5
1.25
1 5 4
j j
Z j
j j j

= = =
+
1
8 Z =
( ) ( )
1
0
1.25 1.25 90
30 90 30 90
8 1.25 8.097 8.881
j
j
Z
= Z = Z
Z
V
Now consider first the acting
alone.We have e = 10 and
2cos10t
1/8 S
j2 -j/10
2 0 Z
+
-
10(0.2) 2
C
Y j C j j e = = =
1 1
10
10
L
Y j
j L j e
= = =
2
0
V
For a parallel combination of Y's we have
= YV I
1 8 2 0.1 0.125 1.90
eq i
j j j = = + = +

Y Y
2
0
2 0
1.05 86.24
1.904 86.24
Z
= = Z
Z
V
Y
eq
+
-
2
0
V
I
2
0
=
I
V
Y
1/8 S
j2 -j/10
2 0 Z
+
-
10(0.2) 2
C
Y j C j j e = = =
1 1
10
10
L
Y j
j L j e
= = =
2
0
V
1.904 86.24
eq
= Z Y
By superposition
+
-
AC
8O
0.2F 1H
2cos10t 30sin5t
+
-
v
0
(t)
( )
1
0
( ) 4.631sin 5 81.12 v t t =
( )
2
0
( ) 1.05cos 10 86.24 v t t =
1 2
0 0 0
( ) ( ) ( ) v t v t v t = +
Example Problem 2:

Given the circuit below:
Where:
R
i
= 100 ohm,
R
1
= 20 ohm,
L = 10 uH,
v
S
(t)=50cos(wt) V,
i
S
(t)=1cos(wt+30) A,
f=400 kHz.
Solve for I1 and I