1

Superposition theorem:the current through or voltage across

an element in a linear bilateral network is equal to the
algebraic sum of the currents or voltages produced
independently by each source.
Example: find the current through R
2
for all resistor value of
100 , vs
1
=10v and vs
2
=5v for the figure shown
below(Thomas,L,Floyd).

Set vs
2
=0v(short circuit) the circuit become as shown below:

The current through R
2
is
I
2
=I/2 , I=v/R
T
, R
T
=100+100/2=150, I=10/150, I
2
=5/150
Set vs
1
=0v(short circuit) the circuit become as shown below:

2


The current through R
2
is
I
2
=I/2 , I=v/R
T
, R
T
=100+100/2=150, I=5/150, I
2
=2.5/150
The total current through vs
1
and vs
2
is
I
2
=5/150+2.5/150
H.W finds the current through R
1
and R
3.
H.W for the above example reversing vs
1
and finds the
required value.
Example:for the circuit shown below find the current through
10 resistor using superposition theorem.

Solution:
Setting 2A and 1A off(open circuit)
The circuit become as shown below

3


The voltage across 10 ohm resistor using voltage divider rule
V
10
=10*10/(10+20+30)=1.67v
Setting 10 v off (short circuit) and 2A off(open circuit) the
circuit become


The current through 10 ohm resistor is
I
10
=1*30/60 (current divider rule)
I
10
=.5 Amp
And voltage across 10 ohm is
V
10
=I*R=10*.5=5volt
Setting 10v off and 1A off the circuit become

4


The current through 10 ohm resistor is
I
10
=2*50/60=1.67
And the voltage across 10 ohm resistor is
V
10
=I*R=1.67*10=16.67 volt
The net voltage across 10 ohm resistor is
V
10
=V
10v
+V
2A
-V
1A
=1.67+16.67-5=13.34VOLT
H.W reversing the polarity off sources the find the current
through 30 ohm resistor Example:

Setting 5A off the circuit become

The current through 3ohm is
I
3A
=2*5/10=1 Amp

5

Setting 2A off the circuit become


The current through 3 ohm is
I
3A
=5*3/10=1.5 Amp
The net current through 10 ohm is
I
3A
=I
5A
+I
3A
=1+1.5=2.5Amp
Example: using superposition theorem finds the current
through 10 ohm resistor for the circuit shown below.


6

When 6A and 18V is off the circuit become as shown
below

The current through 10 ohm resistor can be found as
follows
R
T
=(((10//6)+4)//8)+8=11.937
I
T
=V/R
T
=12/11.937=1.005 Amp
The current through 7.75 ohm resistor is

I
7.75
=1.005*8/15.75=-0.51Amp
I
10
=0.51*6/16=0.19Amp
When 12 and 18 volt is off the circuit become

7


And simplify to


When 6A and 12 volt are off The circuit become

Simplify the circuit to become

8



Finally the total current through 10 ohm resistor is





Example :for the circuit shown below find the current through 4
ohm resistor using(h.w)
1)nodal method
2)loop method
3)by inspection
4)superposition theorem
Then decide which method you prefer

9



Repeat the above exercise for the following circuits:

10