24-4

Mapua Institute of Technology

School of Electrical, Electronics, and Computer Engineering
Department of Electrical Engineering

Experiment no. 5
Superposition Theorem and Linearity
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
SALVANERA, Pinky T.
EE101L/B7
2014141532

Engr. Ronaldo Cabuang

Professor Grade
Wiring Diagram

TINApro Simulation
FINAL DATA SHEET

Table 5.1 First Iteration

Vx ON, Iy OFF, Iz OFF

V1’ V2’ V3’ I1’ I2’ I3’

80 1000 0 40 40 0
27 27 27 27

Table 5.2 Second Iteration

Vx OFF, Iy ON, Iz OFF

V1’’ V2’’ V3’’ I1’’ I2’’ I3’’

−100 100 200 −50 4 − 2
27 27 27 27 27

Table 5.3 Third Iteration

Vx OFF, Iy OFF, Iz ON

V1’’’ V2’’’ V3’’’ I1’’’ I2’’’ I3’’’

0 - 18 −36 −100 8 −4
27 27

V1 = V1’ + V1’’ + V1’’’ = -8.143 V I1 = I1’ + V1’’ + I1’’’ = -4.074 A

V2 = V2’ + V2’’ + V2’’’ = 48.148 V I2 = I2’ + I2’’ + I2’’’ = 1.926 A
V3 = V3’ + V3’’ + V3’’’ = -54 V I3 = I3’ + I3’’ + V3’’’ = -6 A

GRAPHS
 CURRENT ACROSS EACH RESISTOR
Mesh and Nodal Analysis
vs.
Superposition Theorem
Superposition Mesh and Nodal

-6
Current 3
-6

1.93
Current 2
1.93

-4.07
Current 1
-4.07

Graph 1. Comparison of the calculated values for the currents, superposition vs. mesh and
nodal.

The currents obtained when using the mesh and nodal analysis compared to the currents when
superposition was used are precisely equal. Since we had already been able to prove in the
previous experiment that the mesh and nodal analysis are accurate, we can say that superposition
makes sense as well.
 VOLTAGE ACROSS EACH RESISTOR
Mesh and Nodal Analysis
vs.
Superposition Theorem
Superposition Mesh and Nodal

-6
Current 3
-6

1.93
Current 2
1.93

-4.07
Current 1
-4.07

Graph 2. Comparison of the calculated values for the voltages, superposition vs. mesh and
nodal.

The same is true for the voltages; when mesh and nodal analysis results are compared to the
voltages yielded using superposition, we can see above that both are precisely equal. This makes
sense because the voltages were only obtained indirectly by Ohm’s law (since I used mesh
analysis) so when the currents were equal, the voltages followed.

QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS

 1. What does a negative response in a superposition imply?

A negative response in a superposition implies that the assumed current direction or the voltage
polarity given is incorrect. To correct this, simply change the current’s direction or the polarity
of the voltage.

2. How many responses are obtained from an N number of independent sources present in
a given circuit?

There are no responses obtained from a number of independent sources present in a given circuit.
Responses are any parameter like resistance, voltage, or current. Thus, the number of responses
can be obtained with the number of constant parameters in the circuit since they are directly
proportional to each other.

3. Is it possible to eliminate dependent sources on superposition?

No, it is not possible to eliminate dependent sources whenever we are using the superposition
theorem. Only independent sources may be eliminated, since the theorem states that “”for a linear
system the response (voltage or current) in any branch of a bilateral linear circuit having more
than one independent source equals the algebraic sum of the responses caused by each
independent source acting alone, where all the other independent sources are replaced by their
internal impedances.”

4. What are the possible limitations of the superposition theorem?

The following are the possible limitations of the superposition theorem: 1.) it can be applied only
to linear circuits, 2.) it can be applied only to voltage and current, and 3.) it cannot be used to
solve for the total power dissipated by an element.

5. Determine the voltage, Vx, using superposition in the figure below.

Solution:
10 V:ON;15 V: OFF;10 A:OFF
V 'x =10(1.6
)
V' =4.44 V
10 V:OFF;15 V: ON;10 A:OFF V x =15
''
(11+8 )
2+1.6 x V''x =1.67 V

10 V:OFF;15 V:OFF;10 A:ON I x =10

''
(55+4 )
''
I ''x =5.56 A I x =5.56 ( 22+2 ) I =2.78 A
''
x
 V x =11.67 V
2.78 ( 2 )
V'''x =5.56 V Answer: Vx is therefore 11.67V.

TOTAL VX
V x = V 'x + V ''x + V '''x
Vx =4.44 V+1.67 V+5.56 V

6. Determine the voltage across 5 ohm resistance using superposition shown in the figure
below.

Solution:
12 V:ON;7 A: OFF
2.5454
V (5) =12 ( 2+2.5454 )
V(5) =6.72V
5
V '(5 ) =6.72( )
5+2
'
V(5 ) =4.8 V

12 V:OFF;7 A:ON

Using Nodal Analysis:

@ Node 1: (0.5+0.2) V (1) + 0.2 V (2) – 0.5 V (3) = -7 @ Node 2:

0.2 V (1) +(0.2+0.25+0.5) V (2) -(0.5+0.25) V (3) = 0
@ Node 3: (0.5+0.25+0.5) V (3) - 0.5 V (1) – (0.25+0.5) V (2) = 7

V (1) = -8.4 V; V(2) =0

V (3) = 2.24 V
''
V(5 ) = -8.4-0

TOTAL V 5 Answer: The voltage across the 5-ohm resistor is therefore

V(5) = V '(5 ) + V''(5 ) 3.6V with the polarity opposite the assumed one.
V(5) = 4.8 -8.4
V(5) = -3.6 V

7. Determine the voltage across 3 mho using superposition shown in the circuit below.
Solution:6 A :ON
-6+2 ( V (1 ) - V ( 2) ) +5 ( V ( 1) - V ( 2) ) =0

@ Equation 1:
7 V(1) -7 V(2) = 6
-(5+2) V (1) + 13 V (2) = 0

@ Equation 2:
-7 V ( 1) +13 V(2 ) = 0
V'(1) = 1.857 V; V'( 2) = 1 V
12 A :ON @ Node 1:
7 V(1) -7 V(2) =0
@Node 2:
-7 V(1) +3 V (2) =12
V (1) =2 V;V (2) =2 V
10 V:ON
@ Node 1: 7 V(1) -5 V (2) -2 V(3) = 0
@ Node 2:
-7 V (1) +8 V (2) -5 V (3) = 0

@ Node 3:
V (2) - V (3) = 10

V (1) =2.143 V; V (2) =5 V; V (3) =-5 V —

-3A-ON
@ Mesh 1:
0.33 I (1) +0.33 I (1) = 0
Answer: The voltage across the right 3-mho is 8V
I (1) =0 while the left 3-mho is 2V with its polarity opposite the
assumed.
V1 = (0.33)I (1)
(3 Ω )
V1 = 0V
(3 Ω )

Total Voltage @ right

V1 = V '( 2) + V ''(2) + V '''( 2) + V 1

(3 )
Ω ( 3 Ω)
V 1 = 1+2+5+0
(3 Ω)
V1 = 8V
(3 Ω)
Total Voltage @ left

V1 = V '( 2) + V ''(2 ) - V '''(2 ) + V 1

(3 Ω) (3 Ω)
V 1 = 1+2+ ( -5 ) +0
(3 Ω)
V1 = -2V
(3 Ω )
INTERPRETATION OF DATA / DATA ANALYSIS
We were given the same circuit diagram as the last experiment and we used the same data like
our group number, birthdate, age, etc. We solved for the voltages and currents of our own
individual circuits using the superposition theorem wherein we turned off independent sources
one at a time. Afterwards, we compared the results with the values gathered in experiment 4 to
check whether they are equal or not.

Last week, the values I obtained for the currents I1, I2, and I3 are -4.07A, 1.926A, and -6A
respectively. In this experiment, I used mesh analysis to determine the currents, so the currents
were the crucial values. The voltages were obtained indirectly using Ohm’s law. When I added
all the different iterations of I1 , (I1’ + I1’’ + I1’’’ ) I obtained the same value as last week’s, which
is -4.074 A. The same was true for all of the other currents and voltages.

This reaction is not the same for power though. One formula for power is V 2/R. And, V2/R +
V2/R is not equal to (V+V)2/R. Superpostion only works for linear equations and values that are
additive like voltages, currents, etc.

There weren’t much sources of error in this experiment since we mostly solved values on our
own and compared them to the values from last week’s experiment. A possible source of error
though would be a weak grasp of previous lessons since Kirchoff’s laws, mesh analysis, etcetera,
are techniques needed to solve the different circuits in superposition. Another would be errors in
algebra. There are a lot of equations when using the superposition theorem so even though the
equations are simple, solving them can be tedious and committing mistakes is common.

CONCLUSION
The objectives of the experiment are to 1.) investigate the effects of multiple active linear
sources in a network, 2.) verify that the linear response at any point in a linear circuit having
several independent linear sources is equivalent to the algebraic sum of individual responses
produced by each independent source acting alone, and 3.) illustrate the principle of linearity

A linear circuit, as defined in the theoretical discussion part, is a circuit composed entirely of
independent sources and linear elements. Superposition is limited to linear circuits only. We can
still apply it even if there is a dependent source but the dependent source musn’t be omitted.
Moreover, the solutions would be harder since we can’t simplify the circuit that easily because
the controlling variable of the dependent source musn’t be touched as well.

As expounded in the data analysis, the sum of the reactions when independent sources are made
active one at a time is equal to the reaction when all the independent sources are made active.
With this, we have verified that the superposition theorem actually works for circuits with
multiple independent sources.

Linearity is a principle wherein the obtained solutions in a set of linear equations (in this
experiment, obtained using superposition) can be added together so that the sum is also a
solution. We saw the principle of linearity, because, as discussed in the previous paragraph, the
sum of the individual solutions amounted to a whole solution itself. Moreover, since
superposition uses linearity as its main principle, it is limited to linear elements and linear
equations only. Non-linear reactions like power cannot be solved directly; solving for the
individual powers and adding them would not yield an equal result as to when we solve for the
power when all the currents had already been added up.

To sum up, the experiment had been a success; we were able to meet the objectives set. We were
able to see the effects of multiple active linear sources in a circuit, we were able to see that the
sum of the individual reactions whenever only one source is equal to the actual effect of that
source when we look at the complete network. And lastly, the principle of linearity was
demonstrated in every part of the experiment.