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University of Technology
Laser and Optoelectronics Engineering Department
Laser Engineering Branch
Power electronics 2010-2011
Experiment No.12
Superposition Theorem
Aim of experiment: To study Superposition theorem practically.
Apparatus
1. DC circuit training system
2. Set of wires.
3. DC Power supply
4. Digital A.V.O. meter
Theory
The superposition theorem is very useful for finding the voltages and currents
in a circuit with two or more sources of supply, and is usually easier to use than
Kirchoff ’s law equations. One supply is selected and the circuit is redrawn to
show the other supply (or supplies) short-circuited (leaving only the internal
resistance of each supply). The voltage and current caused by the first supply can
then be calculated, using V = RI methods together with the rules for combining
series and parallel resistors. Each supply is treated in turn in the same way, and
finally the voltages and currents caused by each supply are added.
Hence, this theorem may be state as follows:
Example: In the network shown, find the voltage across the 2.2 k resistor.
In a network of linear resistances containing more than one generator (or
source of e.m.f.), the current which flows at any point is the sum of all the
currents which would flow at that point if each generator were considered
separately and all the other generators replaced for the time being by
resistances equal to their internal resistances.
