15EEE111-07 SUPERPOSITION THEOREM

The Superposition principal states that the voltage across (or current
through) an element in a linear circuit is the algebraic sum of the voltages
across (or current through) that element due to each independent source
acting alone.

Steps to Apply Superposition Principle:

1. Short ALL independent voltage sources and open ALL independent current
sources EXCEPT ONE source. Find the output (voltage or current) due to
that active source using a suitable method.
2. Repeat step 1 for each of the other independent sources.
3. Find the total contribution by adding algebraically all the contributions due
to the independent sources.

EXAMPLE

Use superposition theorem to find v in the circuit given below.

SOLUTION
 Since there are two sources , let
V= v1 +v2
Where v1 and v2 are the contributions due to the 6 v voltage source (acting
alone)and the 3 A current source(acting alone), respectively.

Step 1 To obtain v1 set current source to zero (open the 3A current

source) as shown below

Applying KVL to the loop in above figure , we get

8 i1 + 4 i1 – 6 = 0

12 i1 = 6

I1 = 0.5 A

Thus v1 = 4 i1 = 4 × 0.5 = 2 V

Step 2 To obtain v2 set the voltage source to zero (short the 6V voltage
source) as shown below
Using current division formula, we get

I2 = × 3 = 2A

Thus v2 = 4 i2 = 4 × 2 = 8 V

Step 3 Thus we get

V = v1 + v2 = 2 + 8 = 10 V

EXAMPLE

Use superposition theorem to calculate the voltage( v ) across 3

resistor in the circuit given below .

SOLUTION

Since there are two sources , let

V= v1 +v2

Where v1 and v2 are the contributions due to the 10 v voltage source and
the 1 A current source, respectively.

Step 1 To obtain v1 set current source to zero (open the 1A current

source) as shown below

Applying Ohm’s law , we get

I = = 1A

V1 = I × 3 = 1 × 3 = 3 V

Step 2 To obtain v2 set the voltage source to zero (short the 10V
voltage source) as shown below

Applying current division formula, we get

 I = 1× = 0.5 A

Thus V2 = I × 3 = 0.5 × 3 = 1.5 V

Step 3 Thus we get

V = v1 + v2 = 3 + 1.5 = 4.5 V

EXAMPLE

Using superposition theorem find the voltage drop ( va ) across 3 resistor in

the circuit given below .

SOLUTION

Since there are three sources , let

Va= va1 +va2 +va3

 Where va1,va2 and va3 are the contributions due to the 24 v voltage
source 60 v voltage source and the 10 A current source acting alone,
respectively

To obtain va1(which is the contribution of 24 v source) set 10 A current source

to zero (open the 10A current source) and 60 v voltage source to zero ( short the
60v voltage source ) as shown below

Here I= = = 1.365 A (Here we have applied Ohm’s law,

series resistance formula and parallel resistance formula)

Va1 = I × 3 = 1.365 × 3 = 4.09 V

To obtain va2 (which is the contribution of 60 v source) set 10 A current

source to zero (open the 10A current source) and 24 v voltage source to zero (
short the 24v voltage source ) as shown below
 Here I= = = 3.17 A (Here we have applied Ohm’s law,

series resistance formula and parallel resistance formula)

By current division formula, we get I1 = = 2.44 A

Va2 =- I1 × 3 = -2.44 × 3 = - 7.32 V ( It is – ve, because current I1 is in opposite

direction to current I in va1 case above.)

To obtain va3 (which is the contribution of 10A source) set 24 V and 60 V

voltage sources to zero ( short the 24v and 60 V voltage sources ) as shown

below

Applying KVL , we get ,

I1 = 10 A --------------------------------------------(1)
 3 I2 + 6(I2 - I1 ) + 30 ( I2 - I3 ) = 0

39 I2 - 30 I3 = 60 ---------------------------------(2)

12 ( I3 - I1 ) + 30 ( I3 - I2 ) = 0

-30 I2 + 42 I3 = 120 -------------------------------(3)

Solving (!) , (2) and (3) , we get

I2 = 8.29 A i3 = 8.78 A

Va3 = i2 × 3 = 8.29 × 3 = 24.87 V

Va = va1 + va2 + va3 = 4.09 - 7.32 + 24.87 = 21.64 V

EXAMPLE

Use superposition theorem to find power across 3 Ω resistor (all R are in Ω) in the
circuit given below.

SOLUTION

Considering 20V source alone, the circuit reduces to

6 and (1+2 =3) are in parallel, thus by resistors in parallel formula, we get
equivalent value as

= 2 Ω. This gives us

I20V = = 4A

Considering 15A source (upper) alone, the circuit reduces to circuit 1

Convert 15A current source with 2Ω in parallel to (15×2 =30V) voltage

source with 2Ω in series, the circuit reduces to circuit 2.
3Ω and 6Ω are in parallel, the equivalent value is 2 Ω. The above circuit
further reduces to as shown below. We get

I= = 6 A (Ohm’s law) and

I15A upper = 6 × = 4A (Current division law)

Now consider 15A source (lower) alone, the circuit reduces to circuit 1
and 2 as shown below.

Convert 15A current source with 1Ω in parallel to (15×1) V voltage

source with 1Ω in series, the circuit reduces to circuit 3.

3Ω and 6Ω are in parallel, the equivalent value is 2Ω, circuit further

reduces to circuit 4. We get
I= = 3A

Applying current division rule to circuit 5, we get I15A Lower = 3× = 2A

Summing up, we get current through 3Ω resistor

I3Ω = I20V + I15A Upper + I15A Lower = (4 + 4 – 2)A = 6A(2A is minus because
this current is in opposite direction to the other two currents)

Power through 3Ω resistor = I2R = 62×3 = 108W