1

Electrical Engineering &

Telecommunications
Lecturer:
Ted Spooner
Superposition
Elec1111 Elec1111
Rm124A EE email: e.spooner@unsw.edu.au
Superposition
If cause and effect are linearly related
then:
Total effect of several causes acting
simultaneously is equal to the sum of sum of
effect of individual causes effect of individual causes.
Superposition
Deflecting Beam
F1
F2
Superposition
Deflecting Beam
D1
F1
F2
Superposition
Deflecting Beam
D2
F2
F1
Superposition
Deflecting Beam
D1+D2 F1
F2
2
Superposition
Deflecting Beam
D2
F2
D1
F1
D1+D2 F1
F2
Superposition
Deflecting Beam
D3
D4
D3+D4
F4
F3
F3 F4
Superposition
- Linearity
Y
X
x1 x2 (x1+x2)
(Y1+Y2)
Y1
Y2
Y
X
Superposition in circuits
R
1
R
2
R
3
V
1
+
+
V
2
I3
I3
1
=current in R
3
caused by source V
1
alone.
We can analyse this circuit by
taking each independent
source separately and finding
its effect on the parameter of
interest. In this case the
current through R
3
.
I3 =Current flowing in R
3
due to both sources together.
I3 = I3
1
+ I3
2
I3
2
=current in R
3
caused by source V
2
alone.
Superposition in circuits
R
1
R
2
R
3
V
1
+
+
V
2
I3
R
1
R
2
R
3
V
1
+
I3
1
R
1
R
2
R
3
+
I3
2
V
2
I3 = sumof effects of each
independent voltage source
taken individually.
I3 = I3
1
+ I3
2
Replace independent voltage sources by a short circuit
leaving only one voltage source in circuit at a time.
To find I3
1
and I3
2
we need to take one source at a time.
Superposition
Independent Voltage sources replaced by
short circuits.
Independent Current sources replaced by
open circuits.
Dependent sources:
CANNOT be replaced.
3
i
x
v
s
=3V
+
_
6
9
i
s
=2A
Example Example Independent Sources Independent Sources
3V
+
_
6
9
/
x
i
/
3
0.2
6 9
x
i A = =
+
//
6
2 0.8
6 9
x
i A = =
+
/ //
0.2 0.8 1
x x x
i i i A = + = + =
6
9
2A
//
x
i
Solve using superposition Solve using superposition
ix
vs=3V
+_
6
9
is=2A
i
x
v
s
=3V
+
_
6
9
i
s
=2A
Solve using node analysis Solve using node analysis
3
b
v =
2
9 6
a a b
v v v
= +
9
a
v V =

1
9
a
x
v
i A = =
a
b
For node b:
KCL for node a:
i
x
10V
+
_
2 1
3A
+
_ 2i
x
Example with a DEPENDENT Source Example with a DEPENDENT Source
10V
+
_
2 1
+
_
/
x
i
/
2
x
i
/ / /
10 2 1 2 0
x x x
i i i + + + =
/
2
x
i A =
Solve using superposition Solve using superposition
ix
10V
+
_
2 1
3A
+
_ 2ix
2 1
3A
+
_
a
//
x
i
//
2
x
i
b
2
a
v
a
v
For node b:
b a
v v =
For node a:
1.2
a
v V =
//
0.6
2
a
x
v
i A

= =
ix
10V +
_
2 1
3A
+
_ 2ix
3
1 2
=

+
b a a
v v v
4
i
x
10V
+
_
2 1
3A
+
_
2i
x
10V
+
_
2 1
+
_
/
x
i
/
2
x
i
2 1
3A
+
_
a
//
x
i
//
2
x
i
b
( )
/ //
2 0.6 1.4
x x x
i i i A = + = + =
1V
+
_
1
1V
+
_
1V
1
+
_
+
_
1
1V
4W delivered
to resistor
1W delivered
to resistor
1W delivered
to resistor
+
Superposition does not work for Superposition does not work for power power
Maximum power transfer Maximum power transfer
v
s
R
t
+
_
R
L
+
_
v
i
given
What value to get
maximum power
delivered ?
v
s
R
t
+
_
R
L
+
_
v
i
2
s
L
t L
v
p R
R R

=

+

p is maximum when:
t L
R R =
2
max
4
s
L
v
p
R
=
Power delivered to R
L
as it varies w.r.t. R
t
Ref: Dorf
p is maximum when:
t L
R R =
2
max
4
t s
Ri
p =
i
s
R
t
R
L
+
_
v
i
5
i
10
10 10
30V
15V
3A
Final exam 2003: solve using superposition
i =?
10
10 10
30V
i
1
A i 1
10 10
10
) 10 || 10 ( 10
30
1
=
+

+
=
i
2
10
10 10
15V
A i 5 . 0
10 10
10
) 10 || 10 ( 10
15
2
=
+

+
=
i
3
10
10 10
3A
Apply current division:
3
1
10
3 1
1 1 1
10 10 10
i A = =
+ +
1 2 3
1 0.5 1 2.5 i i i i A = + + = + + =
Superposition Example
20V
10
R
radio
=12
5V
6
6
+
+
20V
10
R
radio
=12
5V
6
6
+
+
6
20V
10
R
radio
=12
5V
6
6
+
+
20V
10
R
radio
=12
5V
6
6
+
+