AC Analysis Using

Thevenin's Theorem
and Superposition

Discussion D11.2
Chapter 4

1
AC Thevenin's Theorem

2
 AC Thevenin's Theorem
Thevenin’s theorem states that the two circuits given below are
equivalent as seen from the load ZL that is the same in both cases.

I a Zth
I a

Linear
ZL ZL
Circuit AC VTh

b b

Zin Zin

VTh = Thevenin’s voltage = Vab with ZL disconnected (= ) = the

open-circuit voltage = VOC
3
 Thevenin's Theorem
I a Zth
I a

Linear
ZL ZL
Circuit AC VTh

b b

Zin Zin

ZTh = Thevenin’s impedance = the input impedance with all

independent sources turned off (voltage sources replaced by short
circuits and current sources replaced by open circuits). This is the
impedance seen at the terminals ab when all independent sources
are turned off.
4
Problem 4.57 in text: Solve Problem 4.40 using Thevenin's Thm.
 -j1
 -j1

+ j2 +
AC AC +
60 V 20 A 60 V VOC 20 A
- -
 -

I0

 -j1 VOC  6  2(1  j )  8  j 2

+ j2
8  j2 AC
 -j1
-


I0 ZTH  1  j1

8  j2 8  j 2 8.246  14.04 
I0   
1  j1  j 2  2 3  j1 3.16218.43

I 0  2.608  32.47
5
AC Superposition

6
 Superposition Principle
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.

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.

7
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.
In some cases, but certainly not all, superposition can simplify
the analysis.
8
Example


+
+
30sin 5t
AC
v0(t) 0.2F 1H 2 cos10t
- -

Note that 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 v0(t) by
superposition.
Remember that sin t  cos  t  90 


9
 
Example
+
+
30sin 5t AC
v0(t) 0.2F 1H 2 cos10t
- -

Consider first the 30sin 5t acting alone.

Since, 30sin 5t  30 cos  5t  90  ,we have  = 5 and

1 1

ZC     j1
jC j 5(0.2)

+
+
30  90AC V01 -j1 j5 O.C.
- -
Z L  j L  j 5

10
 1 1
Example 
ZC  
jC j 5(0.2)
  j1

Use voltage division +

+
30  90 AC

V01 -j1 j5 O.C.
Z1 - -
+ +
Z L  j L  j 5
VS AC Z2 V0
- -
( j1)( j 5) 5
Z2 Z2     j1.25
V  1
0 VS  j1  j 5 j4
Z1  Z 2
Z1  8

 j1.25 1.25  90 
V01 
8  j1.25
 30  90  
8.097  8.881   30  90 

V01  4.631  171.1

 
v10 (t )  4.631cos 5t  171.12  4.631sin 5t  81.12  
11
 
Example
+
+
30sin 5t
AC
v0(t) 0.2F 1H 2 cos10t
- -

Now consider first the 2 cos10t acting alone.

We have  = 10 and
YC  jC  j10(0.2)  j 2
S

+
V 2
0
j2 -j/10 20
-

1 1
YL     j 10
j L j10

12
 Example YC  jC  j10(0.2)  j 2
S

+
+
2 Yeq I
V 0 V02 j2 -j/10 20
- -

I 1 1
YV  I V  2
0
YL  
j L j10
  j 10
Y
For a parallel combination of Y's we have
Yeq   Yi  1 8  j 2  j 0.1  0.125  j1.90

Yeq  1.90486.24

2 0 
V02   1.05  86.24 

1.90486.24


v02 (t )  1.05cos 10t  86.24 
13
 
Example
+
+
30sin 5t
AC
v0(t) 0.2F 1H 2 cos10t
- -


v01 (t )  4.631sin 5t  81.12 

v02 (t )  1.05cos 10t  86.24 
By superposition
v0 (t )  v01 (t )  v02 (t )

 
v0 (t )  4.631sin 5t  81.12  1.05cos 10t  86.24  
14