1

AC Analysis Using
Thevenin's Theorem
and Superposition
Discussion D11.2
Chapter 4

2
AC Thevenin's Theorem
3
AC Thevenin's Theorem
Thevenins theorem states that the two circuits given below are
equivalent as seen from the load Z
L
that is the same in both cases.
V
Th
= Thevenins voltage = V
ab
with Z
L
disconnected (= ) = the
open-circuit voltage = V
OC
Linear
Circuit
b
a
in
Z
I
Z
L
b
a
Th
V
AC
Z
L
in
Z
I
Z
th
4
Thevenin's Theorem
Z
Th
= Thevenins 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.
Linear
Circuit
b
a
in
Z
I
Z
L
b
a
Th
V
AC
Z
L
in
Z
I
Z
th
5
Problem 4.57 in text: Solve Problem 4.40 using Thevenin's Thm.
0
8 2 8 2 8.246 14.04
1 1 2 2 3 1 3.162 18.43
j j
j j j
Z
= = =
+ + + Z
I
6 2(1 ) 8 2
OC
j j = + = V
1O
2 0 A Z
6 0 V Z
AC
2O
-j1O
+
-
j2O
I
0
1O
2 0 A Z
6 0 V Z
AC
-j1O
+
-
V
OC
+
-
1O -j1O
1 1
TH
j = Z
1O
8 2 j
AC
2O
-j1O
+
-
j2O
I
0
0
2.608 32.47 = Z I
6
AC Superposition
7
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.
8
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.
9
Example
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 v
0
(t) by
superposition.
( )
sin cos 90 t t e e = Remember that
+
-
AC
8O
0.2F 1H
2cos10t 30sin5t
+
-
v
0
(t)
10
Consider first the acting alone.
Since, ,we have e = 5 and
Example
( )
30sin5 30cos 5 90 t t =
30sin5t
+
-
AC
8O
0.2F 1H
2cos10t 30sin5t
+
-
v
0
(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
11
Example
+
-
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
1
0
4.631 171.1 = Z V
( ) ( )
1
0
( ) 4.631cos 5 171.12 4.631sin 5 81.12 v t t t = =
12
Now consider first the acting alone.
We have e = 10 and
Example
2cos10t
+
-
AC
8O
0.2F 1H
2cos10t 30sin5t
+
-
v
0
(t)
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
13
Example
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
( )
2
0
( ) 1.05cos 10 86.24 v t t =
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
14
By superposition
Example
+
-
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 =
( ) ( )
0
( ) 4.631sin 5 81.12 1.05cos 10 86.24 v t t t = +
1 2
0 0 0
( ) ( ) ( ) v t v t v t = +