EXPERIMENT NO.

5: SUPERPOSITION LAW
5.1. EXERCISE TITLE: SUPERPOSITION SOLUTION FOR A TWO - SOURCE CIRCIUT
OBJECTIVES:
1. To apply the superposition method of circuit analysis
2. To verify by comparing calculated and measured value.
EQUIPMENT REQUIRED:
1- F.A.C.E.T. Base Unit
1- DC NETWORK THEOREMS Circuit Board
2- 15 Vdc Power Supply
1- Multimeter
THEORY:
Figure 6.1-1 shows a two-source resistive circuit. The problem is to determine
VR3 with respect to circuit common.






Figure 6.1-1. Two-source resistive circuit
To implement a superposition solution, you must determine the effect of each voltage
source on R3. The effect of VS1 on R3 must be determined while VS2 is temporarily
removed from the circuit.
When VR3 (based on VS1) is known, the process is reversed to determine the effect of
VS2 ON R3 without VS1 in the circuit.
Both version of VS3 are then algebraically combined to yield the true circuit voltage
across R3. With this value, Ohms law is applied to determine circuit voltages and
currents.

Figure 6.1-2 shows the circuit configuration fir determining the effect of VS1 on R3, VS2 is
replaced by a short circuit to removeVS2 from the circuit. The circuit is now simple
series-parallel combination. Ohms law is applied to determine VA






Figure 6.1-2 V
S1
-V
S3
circuit configuration.
NOTE: In an actual circuit, a power supply is never shorted but is removed from a circuit
and replaced with an alternative short circuit path.

With V
S2
shorted R
3
and R
2
are in parallel; therefore, R
A
, the equivalent resistance of the
parallel combination, is easily calculated from the product-over-sum method.

R
A
= (R
2
x R
3
) / (R
2
+ R
3
)

The voltage drop of RA can now be determined as follows:

V
A
= (V
S1
x R
A
) / (R
1
x R
A
)

V
A
is the voltage drop across R
3
generated by the effect of V
S1
. Figure 6.1-3








Figure 6.1-3. V
S2
- V
R3
circuit configuration

Now that V
S1
is shorted, R
1
and R
3
are in parallel. Therefore, the resistance of the
parallel combination, R
B
can be calculated from the product-over-sum method:

R
B
= (R
1
x R
3
) / (R
1
+ R
3
)
The voltage drop of RB can now be determined by the following formula:

V
B
= (V
S2
x R
3
) / (R
2
+ R
B
)

V
B
is the voltage drop across R
3
generated by the effect of V
S2

Because the effects of each source (V
A
and V
B
) are known, the true value of V
R3
can be
determined from the following: V
R3
= V
A
+ V
B

Knowing V
R3
allows for the complete circuit solution.

I
R1
= (V
S1
V
R3
) / R
1

I
R2
= (V
R3
V
S2
) / R
2
I
R3
= V
R3
/ R
3



























PROCEDURES:

NOTE: If the following procedures, you will temporarily remove (and short) each
power supply from its circuit by using a two-post connectors.

1. Locate the SUPERPOSITION circuit block on the DC NETWORK THEOREMS
circuit board. Connect the circuit shown in figure 6.1-4, and adjust each power
source to 10 volts.

I
R1
= 24.42 mA
R
1
= 36 x 10
V
R1
= 8.53 V

V
A
= 4.48 V FOR V
S1
V
B
= 3.98 V FOR V
S2

V
R3
= 1.42 V
I
R3
= 23 mA

R
2
= 51 x 10
V
R2
= 11.48 V


Figure 6.1-4. Superposition test circuit

2. Based on the resistor color code, determine the ohmic values of R
1
, R
2
, and R
3
.
Record these values on the figure.

3. Calculate and record the resistance of parallel combination R
3
||R
1
and R
3
||R
2
.
Use the product-over-sum.

R
S
= R
3
||R
1
= 264.71 , R
A
= R
3
||R
2
= 337.75

4. Remove V
S2
from the circuit by inserting a two-post connectors. Calculate V
A
the
effect of V
S1
on R
3
[ V
A
= (V
S1
x R
A
) / (R
1
+ R
A
). Record this value on the figure.

5. Return V
S2
to the circuit and remove V
S1.
Calculate V
B,
the effect of V
S2
on R
3
[V
B

= (V
S2
x R
B
) / (R
2
+ R
B
). Record this value on the figure.

6. On the figure, these are two voltage drops for R
3
, how do you combine VA and
V
B
to produce the true voltage drop of R
3
(V
R3
)? Give an equation V
R3
= V

7. Based on the answer to question 6, calculate V
R3
. Record this value on figure
6.1-4.

NOTE: Remember to observe proper polarity.

8. Calculate each resistive voltage drop and add this information to the figure.

NOTE: Observe proper polarity for each resistor.

9. Based on the information in figure 6.1-4, calculate the current through each
resistor. Record this information and draw the direction of each current on the
figure.
10. Without measuring, how can you determine if your results are correct?

11. With your multimeter, measure the voltage drops around the circuit. Maintain
proper meter connection polarity. Do your measured results agree with the
information recorded on the figure? Yes.

CONCLUSION:

We therefore conclude that using superposition method of circuit analysis
simplifies the complex circuit into a simple series/parallel circuit and the voltage
across the load resistance can be determine by adding the two voltages obtained
from the two parts of the superposition.

We conclude that the data gathered are almost the same as the true values
when we compare it to the calculated values.

Using superposition can be helpful calculating for the voltage and current in a
load resistor, also for a circuit that has many elements that can be simplified into
a simple/parallel circuit.