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32 The superposition
theorem

At the end of this chapter you should be able to:

ž solve d.c. and a.c. networks using the superposition theorem

32.1 Introduction The superposition theorem states:

‘In any network made up of linear impedances and containing more than
one source of e.m.f. the resultant current flowing in any branch is the
phasor sum of the currents that would flow in that branch if each source
were considered separately, all other sources being replaced at that time
by their respective internal impedances.’

32.2 Using the The superposition theorem, which was introduced in Chapter 13 for d.c.
superposition theorem circuits, may be applied to both d.c. and a.c. networks. A d.c. network
is shown in Figure 32.1 and will serve to demonstrate the principle of
application of the superposition theorem.
To find the current flowing in each branch of the circuit, the following
six-step procedure can be adopted:

(i) Redraw the original network with one of the sources, say E2 ,
removed and replaced by r2 only, as shown in Figure 32.2.
(ii) Label the current in each branch and its direction as shown
Figure 32.1 in Figure 32.2, and then determine its value. The choice of
current direction for I1 depends on the source polarity which,
by convention, is taken as flowing from the positive terminal as
shown.
R in parallel with r2 gives an equivalent resistance of

5 ð 2/5 C 2 D 10/7 D 1.429

as shown in the equivalent network of Figure 32.3. From

Figure 28.3,
Figure 32.2
E1 8
current I1 D D D 3.294 A
r1 C 1.429 2.429

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From Figure 32.2,



r2 2
current I2 D I1  D 3.294 D 0.941 A
R C r2 5C2


5
and current I3 D 3.294 D 2.353 A
5C2

(iii) Redraw the original network with source E1 removed and replaced
by r1 only, as shown in Figure 32.4.

Figure 32.3 (iv) Label the currents in each branch and their directions as shown in
Figure 32.4, and determine their values.
R and r1 in parallel gives an equivalent resistance of

5 ð 1/5 C 1 D 5/6 or 0.833 ,

as shown in the equivalent network of Figure 32.5. From

Figure 32.5,
E2 3
current I4 D D D 1.059 A
r2 C 0.833 2.833
Figure 32.4
From Figure 32.4,


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current I5 D 1.059 D 0.177 A
1C5


5
and current I6 D 1.059 D 0.8825 A
1C5

(v) Superimpose Figure 32.2 on Figure 32.4, as shown in Figure 32.6.

Figure 32.5

Figure 32.6

(vi) Determine the algebraic sum of the currents flowing in each branch.
(Note that in an a.c. circuit it is the phasor sum of the currents that
is required.)

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From Figure 32.6, the resultant current flowing through the 8 V

source is given by
I1  I6 D
e 33.294  0.8825
V source D 2by
is given 41 A (discharging, i.e., flowing from
the positive terminal of the source).
The resultant current flowing in th
I3  I4 D 2.353  1.059 D 1.29 A (charging, i.e., flowing into the
positive terminal of the source).
The resultant current flowing in the 5 resistance is given by
I2 C I5 D 0.941 C 0.177 D 1.12 A
The values of current are the same as those obtained on page 536
by using Kirchhoff’s laws.

The following problems demonstrate further the use of the superposi-

tion theorem in analysing a.c. as well as d.c. networks. The theorem is
straightforward to apply, but is lengthy. Thévenin’s and Norton’s theo-
rems (described in Chapter 33) produce results more quickly.

Problem 1. A.c. sources of 1006 0° V and internal resistance

25 , and 506 90° V and internal resistance 10 , are connected
in parallel across a 20 load. Determine using the superposition
theorem, the current in the 20 load and the current in each voltage
source.

(This is the same problem as problem 1 on page 536 and problem 6 on

page 553 and a comparison of methods may be made.)
The circuit diagram is shown in Figure 32.7. Following the above
procedure:

(i) The network is redrawn with the 506 90° V source removed as
shown in Figure 32.8
(ii) Currents I1 , I2 and I3 are labelled as shown in Figure 32.8.

Figure 32.7 Figure 32.8

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1006 0° 1006 0°
I1 D D D 3.1586 0° A
25 C 10 ð 20/10 C 20 25 C 6.667


10
I2 D 3.1586 0°  D 1.0536 0° A
10 C 20


20
I3 D 3.1586 0°  D 2.1056 0° A
10 C 20

(iii) The network is redrawn with the 1006 0° V source removed as

shown in Figure 32.9
(iv) Currents I4 , I5 and I6 are labelled as shown in Figure 32.9.

506 90° 506 90°

I4 D D
10 C 25 ð 20/25 C 20 10 C 11.111

D 2.3686 90° A or j2.368 A


25
I5 D j2.368 D j1.316 A
20 C 25


20
I6 D j2.368 D j1.052 A
20 C 25

(v) Figure 32.10 shows Figure 32.9 superimposed on Figure 32.8,

giving the currents shown.

Figure 32.9 Figure 32.10

(vi) Current in the 20 load, I2 C I5 D 1.053 C j1.316 A or

1.69 6 51.33° A
Current in the 1006 0° V source, I1  I6 D 3.158  j1.052 A or
3.33 6 −18.42° A
Current in the 506 90° V source, I4  I3 D j2.368  2.105 or
3.17 6 131.64° A

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Problem 2. Use the superposition theorem to determine the

current in the 4 resistor of the network shown in Figure 32.11.

(i) Removing the 20 V source gives the network shown in

Figure 32.12.

Figure 32.11 Figure 32.12

(ii) Currents I1 and I2 are shown labelled in Figure 32.12. It is unnec-

essary to determine the currents in all the branches since only the
current in the 4 resistance is required.
From Figure 32.12, 6 in parallel with 2 gives
6 ð 2/6 C 2 D 1.5 , as shown in Figure 32.13. 2.5 in series
with 1.5 gives 4 , 4 in parallel with 4 gives 2 , and 2
in series with 5 gives 7 .

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Thus current I1 D D 1.714 A and
7
Figure 32.13

4
current I2 D 1.714 D 0.857 A
4C4

(iii) Removing the 12 V source from the original network gives the
network shown in Figure 32.14.
(iv) Currents I3 , I4 and I5 are shown labelled in Figure 32.14.
From Figure 32.14, 5 in parallel with 4 gives
5 ð 4/5 C 4 D 20/9 D 2.222 , as shown in Figure 32.15,
2.222 in series with 2.5 gives 4.722 , 4.722 in parallel
Figure 32.14 with 6 gives 4.722 ð 6/4.722 C 6 D 2.642 , 2.642 in
series with 2 gives 4.642 .

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Hence I3 D D 4.308 A
4642


6
I4 D 4.308 D 2.411 A, from Figure 32.15
6 C 4.722


5
I5 D 2.411 D 1.339 A, from Figure 32.14
Figure 32.15 4C5

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(v) Superimposing Figure 32.14 on Figure 32.12 shows that the current
flowing in the 4 resistor is given by I5  I2
(vi) I5  I2 D 1.339  0.857 D 0.48 A, flowing from B toward A (see
Figure 32.11)

Problem 3. Use the superposition theorem to obtain the current

flowing in the 4 C j3 impedance of Figure 32.16.

(i) The network is redrawn with V2 removed, as shown in

Figure 32.17.

Figure 32.16 Figure 32.17

(ii) Current I1 and I2 are shown in Figure 32.17. From Figure 32.17,
4 C j3 in parallel with j10 gives an equivalent impe-
dance of
4 C j3j10 30  j40 506 53.13°
D D
4 C j3  j10 4  j7 8.0626 60.26°

D 6.2026 7.13° or 6.154 C j0.770

Total impedance of Figure 32.17 is

6.154 C j0.770 C 4 D 10.154 C j0.770 or 10.1836 4.34°

306 45°
Hence current I1 D D 2.9466 40.66° A
10.1836 4.34°


j10
and current I2 D 2.9466 40.66° 
4  j7
106 90° 2.9466 40.66° 
D
8.0626 60.26°
D 3.6546 10.92° A or 3.588 C j0.692A

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(iii) The original network is redrawn with V1 removed, as shown in

Figure 32.18.
(iv) Currents I3 and I4 are shown in Figure 32.18. From Figure 32.18,
4 in parallel with 4 C j3 gives an equivalent impedance of

44 C j3 16 C j12 206 36.87°

D D
4 C 4 C j3 8 C j3 8.5446 20.56°
Figure 32.18 D 2.3416 16.31° or 2.247 C j0.657

Total impedance of Figure 32.18 is

2.247 C j0.657  j10 D 2.247  j9.343 or
9.6096 76.48°

306 45°
Hence current I3 D D 3.1226 31.48° A
9.6096 76.48°


4
and current I4 D 3.1226 31.48° 
8 C j3
46 0° 3.1226 31.48° 
D
8.5446 20.56°
D 1.4626 10.92° A or 1.436 C j0.277A
(v) If the network of Figure 32.18 is superimposed on the network
of Figure 32.17, it can be seen that the current in the 4 C j3
impedance is given by I2  I4

(vi) I2  I4 D 3.588 C j0.692  1.436 C j0.277

D .2.152 Y j 0.415/A or 2.192 6 10.92° A,
flowing from A to B in Figure 32.16.

Problem 4. For the a.c. network shown in Figure 32.19 determine,

using the superposition theorem, (a) the current in each branch,
(b) the magnitude of the voltage across the 6 C j8 impedance,
and (c) the total active power delivered to the network.

(a) (i) The original network is redrawn with E2 removed, as shown in

Figure 32.20.

(ii) Currents I1 , I2 and I3 are labelled as shown in Figure 32.20.

From Figure 32.20, 6 C j8 in parallel with 2  j5 gives
an equivalent impedance of

6 C j82  j5
D 5.123  j3.671
6 C j8 C 2  j5
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Figure 32.19 Figure 32.20

From the equivalent network of Figure 32.21,

5 C j0
current I1 D
3 C j4 C 5.123  j3.671
D 0.614  j0.025A
 
2  j5
current I2 D 0.614  j0.025
6 C j8 C 2  j5
Figure 32.21
D 0.00731  j0.388A
 
6 C j8
and current I3 D 0.614  j0.025
6 C j8 C 2  j5
D 0.622 C j0.363A

(iii) The original network is redrawn with E1 removed, as shown in

Figure 32.22.
(iv) Currents I4 , I5 and I6 are shown labelled in Figure 32.22 with I4
Figure 32.22 flowing away from the positive terminal of the 2 C j4V source.
From Figure 32.22, 3 C j4 in parallel with 6 C j8 gives
an equivalent impedance of

3 C j46 C j8
D 2.00 C j2.667
3 C j4 C 6 C j8

From the equivalent network of Figure 32.23,

2 C j4
current I4 D
2.00 C j2.667 C 2  j5
Figure 32.23 D 0.062 C j0.964A

From Figure 32.22,

 
3 C j4
current I5 D 0.062 C j0.964
3 C j4 C 6 C j8
D 0.0207 C j0.321A

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P D 50.843 cos47.16°  0° 
  
C  22 C 42 1.440 cos 67.12°  arctan 42
D 2.866 C 6.427 D 9.293 W
D 9.3 W, correct to one dec. place.

(This value may be checked since total active power dissipated is

given by:

P D I1 C I6 2 3 C I2  I5 2 6 C I3 C I4 2 2

D 0.8432 3 C 0.7092 6 C 1.4402 2
D 2.132 C 3.016 C 4.147 D 9.295 W
D 9.3 W, correct to one dec. place.

Problem 5. Use the superposition theorem to determine, for the

network shown in Figure 32.25, (a) the magnitude of the current
flowing in the capacitor, (b) the p.d. across the 5 resistance,
(c) the active power dissipated in the 20 resistance and (d) the
total active power taken from the supply.

Figure 32.25

(i) The network is redrawn with the 306 90° V source removed, as
shown in Figure 32.26.
(ii) Currents I1 to I5 are shown labelled in Figure 32.26. From
Figure 32.26, two 8 resistors in parallel give an equivalent
resistance of 4 .
506 0°
Hence I1 D D 2.2206 2.12° A
20 C 54  j3/5 C 4  j3
4  j3
I2 D I1 D 1.1706 16.32° A
5 C 4  j3


5
I3 D I1 D 1.1706 20.55° A
5 C 4  j3


8
I4 D I3 D 0.5856 20.55° A D I5
8C8
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Figure 32.26 Figure 32.27

(iii) The original network is redrawn with the 506 0° V source removed,
as shown in Figure 32.27.
(iv) Currents I6 to I10 are shown labelled in Figure 32.27. From
Figure 32.27, 20 in parallel with 5 gives an equivalent
resistance of 20 ð 5/20 C 5 D 4 .
306 90°
Hence I6 D D 2.7156 96.52° A
8 C 84  j3/8 C 4  j3
4  j3
I7 D I6 D 1.0976 73.69° A
8 C 4  j3


8
I8 D I6 D 1.7566 110.56° A
8 C 4  j3


20
I9 D I8 D 1.4056 110.56° A
20 C 5


5
and I10 D I8 D 0.3516 110.56° A
20 C 5
(a) The current flowing in the capacitor is given by
I3  I8  D 1.1706 20.55°  1.7566 110.56°
D 1.712  j1.233A or 2.116 35.76° A
i.e., the magnitude of the current in the capacitor is 2.11 A
(b) The p.d. across the 5 resistance is given by (I2 C I9 ) (5).
I2 C I9  D 1.1706 16.32° C 1.4056 110.56°
D 0.629 C j0.987A or 1.176 57.49° A
Hence the magnitude of the pd. across the 5 Z resistance is
1.175 D 5.85 V
(c) Active power dissipated in the 20 resistance is given by
I1  I10 2 20.
I1  I10  D 2.2206 2.12°  0.3516 110.56°
D 2.342  j0.247A or 2.3556 6.02° A

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Hence the active power dissipated in the 20 Z resistance is

2.3552 20 D 111 W
(d) Active power developed by the 506 0° V source

P1 D VI1  I10  cos 1 D 502.355 cos6.02°  0° 

D 117.1 W

Active power developed by 306 90 V source,

P2 D 30I6  I5  cos 2
I6  I5  D 2.7156 96.52°  0.5856 20.55°
D 0.856 C j2.492A or 2.6356 108.96° A

Hence P2 D 302.635 cos108.96°  90°  D 74.8 W.

Total power developed, P D P1 C P2 D 117.1 C 74.8 D 191.9 W
(This value may be checked by summing the I2 R powers dissipated
in the four resistors.)

Further problems on the superposition theorem may be found in

Section 32.3 following, problems 1 to 8.

32.3 Further problems 1 Repeat problems 1, 5, 8 and 9 on page 542, of Chapter 30, and prob-
on the superposition lems 3, 5 and 13 on page 559, of Chapter 31, using the superposition
theorem theorem.
2 Two batteries each of e.m.f. 15 V are connected in parallel to supply
a load of resistance 2.0 . The internal resistances of the batteries
are 0.5 and 0.3 . Determine, using the superposition theorem, the
current in the load and the current supplied by each battery.
[6.86 A; 2.57 A; 4.29 A]
3 Use the superposition theorem to determine the magnitude of the
current flowing in the capacitive branch of the network shown in
Figure 32.28. [2.584 A]
4 A.c. sources of 206 90° V and internal resistance 10 and 306 0° V
and internal resistance 12 are connected in parallel across an 8
load. Use the superposition theorem to determine (a) the current in
the 8 load, and (b) the current in each voltage source.
[(a) 1.30 A (b) 206 90° V source discharges at
1.586 120.98° A, 306 0° V source
discharges at 1.906 16.49° A]
5 Use the superposition theorem to determine current Ix flowing in the
5 resistance of the network shown in Figure 32.29.
[0.5296 5.71° A]

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Figure 32.28 Figure 32.29

6 For the network shown in Figure 32.30, determine, using the superpo-
sition theorem, (a) the current flowing in the capacitor, (b) the current
flowing in the 2 resistance, (c) the p.d. across the 5 resistance,
and (d) the total active circuit power.
[(a) 1.28 A (b) 0.74 A (c) 3.01 V (d) 2.91 W]
7 (a) Use the superposition theorem to determine the current in the
12 resistance of the network shown in Figure 32.31. Deter-
mine also the p.d. across the 8 resistance and the power
dissipated in the 20 resistance.
(b) If the 37.5 V source in Figure 32.31 is reversed in direction,
determine the current in the 12 resistance.
[(a) 0.375 A, 8.0 V, 57.8 W (b) 0.625 A]

Figure 32.30 Figure 32.31

8 For the network shown in Figure 32.32, use the superposition theorem
to determine (a) the current in the capacitor, (b) the pd. across the
10 resistance, (c) the active power dissipated in the 20 resistance,
and (d) the total active circuit power.
[(a) 3.97 A (b) 28.7 V (c) 36.4 W (d) 371.6 W]

Figure 32.32

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