1

Superposition,
Thvenin and Norton
Reading: Chapter 3 of A&L
6.002
CIRCUITS AND
ELECTRONICS
2
Review
Circuit Analysis Methods
! Circuit composition rules
! Node method the workhorse of 6.002
KCL at nodes using V s referenced from ground
KVL implicit in pattern
! KVL: KCL: VI
3
! Introduction to linear circuits
! Properties of linearity
! The superposition tool for your toolkit
! The Thvenin method
! The Norton method
Overview
Lets start by introducing linearity
4
Consider
Linearity
Write node equations
1
R
2
R
+

!

e
V
I
5
5
Linearity
Write node equations --
Rearrange --
0
2 1
= ! +
!
I
R
e
R
V e
linear in I V e , ,
1
R
2
R
+

!
V
I
e
6
1
R
2
R
+

!
V
I
e
Linearity
0
2 1
= ! +
!
I
R
e
R
V e
I
R
V
e
R R
+ =
!
"
#
$
%
&
+
1 2 1
1 1
Linearity
Homogeneity
Superposition
!
8
Linearity
Homogeneity
Superposition
Homogeneity
.
.
.
!
.
.
.
!
9
Linearity
Homogeneity
Superposition
Superposition
!
.
.
.
.
.
.
!
.
.
.
10
Specific superposition example:
Method 4: Superposition method
1. Find the responses of the circuit to each
source acting alone
2. Sum the individual respones
11
i
+

+
-
v
i
short
+
-
v
i
!

+
-
v
Each source acting alone means this
i
open
+
-
v
12
Back to the example
1
R
2
R
+

!

e
V
I
Use superposition method
13
1
R
2
R
+

!
V
I
e
Back to the example
Use superposition method
V
acting
alone
V
0 = I
2
R
+

1
R
14
15
Back to the example
Use superposition method
1
R
2
R
+

!
V
I
e
I
acting
alone
0 = V
I
1
R
2
R
!

I
e
V
R R
R
e
V
2 1
2
+
=
Voil !
By superposition, sum the two partial voltages
16
output shows
superposition
Demo
?
salt
water
Low freq
sinusoid
+

High freq
triangular wave
+

17
Consider
Yet another method
resistors
!

m
V
n
I
A
r
b
i
t
r
a
r
y

n
e
t
w
o
r
k

N

+
-
v !
i
i
Suppose I
want to
determine v
By superposition
18
Ri I V v
n
n
n m
m
m
+ + =
! !
" #
resistors
!
m
V
n
I
A
r
b
it
r
a
r
y
n
e
t
w
o
r
k
N

+
-
v
!
i
i
Independent of external
excitation and behaves like a
voltage.
TH
v
also
independent
of external
excitement and
behaves like
a resistor.
Lets call it R
TH

Lets call it
19
resistors
!
m
V
n
I
A
r
b
it
r
a
r
y
n
e
t
w
o
r
k
N

+
-
v
!
i
i
Ri I V v
n
n
n m
m
m
+ + =
! !
" #
In other words, as far as the external world is concerned (for the purpose of the
i-v relation), arbitrary network N is indistinguishable from:
20
i R v v
TH TH
+ =
i
+

TH
R
TH
v
!

+
-
v
Thvenin
equivalent
network
N
resistors
!
m
V
n
I
A
r
b
it
r
a
r
y
n
e
t
w
o
r
k
N

+
-
v
!
i
i
TH
R
TH
v
Resistance of network seen from port
( s, s set to 0)
m
V
n
I
Open circuit voltage seen at terminal pair (aka port)
21
Method 4: The Thvenin Method
E
!
+

i
+
-
v
N
+

TH
R
TH
v
+
-
v
i
E
Thvenin
equivalent
1. Replace network N
with its Thvenin
equivalent
2. Then solve with
external network E.
22
Example: Find i
1

1
R
V
+

1
i
Step 1: Replace N with
Thvenin equivalent
Network N
2
R
I
!

1
R
V
+

1
i
Network E
Network E
23
:
TH
V
:
TH
R
Network N
2
R
I
!

Step 1: Replace with Thvenin equivalent
open circuit voltage of network N
turn off all independent sources and measure resistance of N
24
1
R
V
+

1
i
TH
R
TH
V +

Step 2: Solve with external network E

Network E
1
R
V
+

1
i
N
2
R
I
!

E
2
IR V
TH
=
2
R R
TH
=
25
Graphically, i R v v
TH TH
+ =
i
v
+

TH
R
TH
v
+
v
i
26
Method 5: The Norton Method
!
+

i
+
-
v
Norton equivalent
N TH
R R =
N
I
!

TH
R

Resistance of network seen from port
( s, s set to 0)
m
V
n
I
Short circuit current seen at port
m
V
n
I
N
I
27
+

TH
R
TH
v
+
v
i
Norton equivalent
N TH
R R =
N
I
!

Thevenin equivalent
28
Summary
Discretize matter by agreeing to
observe the lumped matter discipline
29
Circuit analysis methods
KVL, KCL, I V
Combination rules
Node method
Superposition
Thvenin
Norton
Summary
Next Nonlinear networks