EC - 304 Electrical Network Theory

Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering

North-Eastern Hill University
September 23 - , 2016 Superposition Principle Dr. L. Joyprakash Singh

ix
1. Practice Problem#: 5.1/pp105/ECA6e::/pp127/ECA8e.
For the circuit of Fig. 2, use superposition to find the
current ix . 15
7

2A 5 + 3.5 V

Fig. 1: Circuit for Q.1

Solution: We now set the current source equal to zero and redraw the circuit as shown in Fig.1(a).
Using voltage division method, i0x

0 15
v15 = 3.5 = 2.1V. 7
15
7 + 3 + 15
0
v15 5 + 3.5 V
i0x = = 0.14A.
15 3

Next, we set the voltage source equal to zero and

redraw the circuit as shown in Fig. 1(b). Fig. 1(a): After setting the current source
to zero in the given circuit of Fig. 1
Using current division method i00x

15
7+3 7
i0015 = i00x = 2 = 0.8 A.
7 + 3 + 15 2A 5

Therefore, the total current ix is obtained by adding
the two individual components:
ix = i0x + i00x = 0.14 + 0.8 = 0.66A = 660mA.
3
Fig. 1(b): After setting the voltage source
to zero in the given circuit of Fig. 1

ALTERNATIVE METHOD: Superposition Theorem and Nodal Analysis

i0x
We suppress the current source and make the vx0
voltage source active as shown in Fig. 1(c). Now,
applying KCL at node x, we have 15
7

vx0 v 0 3.5 5 + 3.5 V
+ x =0
10 15 3

3vx0 + 2vx0 7 = 0
Reference node
vx0 = 1.4 V
Fig. 1(c)
v 0 3.5 1.4 3.5
i0x
Thus, = x = = 0.14 A.
15 15 i00x
We now suppress the voltage source and make vx00
the current source active as shown in Fig. 1(d).
Applying KCL at node x, we have 15
7

vx00 v 00 0 2A 5
2+ + x =0
10 15 3

3vx00 + 2vx00 = 60
Reference node
vx00 = 12 V
Fig. 1(d)
v 00 0 12
Thus, i00x = x = = 0.8 A. Hence, ix = i0x + i00x = 0.14 + 0.8 = 0.66 = 660 mA.
15 15

Note:Remaining quiz marks(7 marks) will be compensated with a surprise quiz as discussed in the class!
EC - 304 ENT Superposition Principle Dr. L. Joyprakash Singh

ALTERNATIVE METHOD: Superposition Theorem and Mesh Analysis

i0x
We suppress the current source and make the
voltage source active as shown in Fig. 1(e).
Now, applying KVL in mesh 1, we have 15
7

5 3.5 V
3i01 + 7i01 + 15i01 + 3.5 = 0 v5 = 3.5 V i02
+
i01
3
i01 = i0x = 1.4 A

Fig. 1(e)
Since we get the value of i0x from mesh 1, we dont need to apply KVL at mesh 2 in the circuit
of Fig. 1(e). We next suppress the voltage source
i00x
and make the current source active as shown in
Fig. 1(f). Applying KVL in mesh 2, we have
15
7
10(i002 i001 ) + 15i002 = 0 v5 = 0 V
2A 5
i001 i002
10(i002 2) + 15i002 = 0 i001 = 2 A
3
i002 = i00x = 0.8 A

Fig. 1(f)
Hence, ix = i0x + i00x = 0.14 + 0.8 = 0.66 = 660 mA.

2. Practice Problem: 5.2/pp107/ECA6e::/pp129/ECA8e v1

15
v2
For the circuit of Fig. 2, use superposition to obtain
voltage across each current source. 7
i

2A 5 4i
We will mix nodal and mesh analyses and also select
+ 3V
mesh directions as per our convenience!

Fig. 2: Circuit of Q.2

Solution: Given circuit of Fig. 2 is redrawn as

v10 15 v20 v100 15 v200

i0 i00
7 7

5 4i0 2A 5 4i00

+ 3V ix

Fig. 2(a) Fig. 2(b)

We now open circuit the 2-A source as shown in Fig. 2(a). Writing the mesh equation for the leftmost
mesh with the current i0x , we get
3 + 7i0x + 15i0x + 5(i0x + 4i0 ) = 0
27i0x + 20i0 = 3 (2.1)
Also, from 5 branch, i0 = i0x + 4i0
i0x = 3i0 (2.2)

ECE, NEHU, Shillong Page 2 of 4 September 23 - , 2016

EC - 304 ENT Superposition Principle Dr. L. Joyprakash Singh

Using above two Eqs. (2.1) and (2.2),

27 (3i0 ) + 20i0 = 3
i0 = 0.0492 A .
Thus, i0x = 3 (0.0492) = 0.1476A. Therefore,
v1|3V = v10 = 7(i0x ) + 3 = 7(0.1476) + 3 = 1.967 V
v2|3V = v20 = 5i0 = 0.246 V.
Next, we short circuit the 3-V source as shown in Fig. 2(b). Applying KCL at node 1,
v100 v 00 v200
+ 1 =2
7 15
22v100 7v200 = 210 (2.3)
Also at node 2,
v200 v100 v 00 v 00 v 00
+ 2 = 4i00 = 4 2 i00 = 2
15 5 5 5
v200 v100
+ v200 = 4v200
3
v100 + 8v200 = 0 (2.4)
Solving above two Eqs. (2.3) and (2.4),
v100 = v1|2A = 9.180 V and v200 = v2|2A = 1.148 V

v200 1.148
Thus, i00 = = = 0.2296 A . Therefore,
5 5
i = i0 + i00 = i3V + i2A = 0.0492 0.2296 = 0.2788 A
v1 = v10 + v100 = v1|3V + v1|2A = 11.147 V and
v2 = v20 + v200 = v2|3V + v2|2A = 1.394 V

Verification of the result using Nodal Analysis

15
Given circuit of Fig. 2 is redrawn by identifying 1 2
the nodes in the circuits as shown in Fig. 2(c). i
7
We now apply KCL at nodes 1 and 2 as :
2A 3 5 4i
v1 3 v1 v2
Node 1: 2+ + =0 + 3V
7 15
22v1 7v2 = 255 (2.5) 0

and Fig. 2(c)

v2 v1 v2
Node 2: + 4i = 0
15 5
v1 v2 v2 v2 v2
+ + 4 =0 i=
15 15 5 5 5
v1 + 8v2 = 0 (2.6)

Solving above two Eqs. (2.5) and (2.6), we get

   
 255 7   22 255 
   
 0 8  2040  1 0  255
v1 =   = 183 = 11.1475 V and v2 =  22 7  = 183 = 1.3934 V
   
 22 7   
 1 8   1 8 

ECE, NEHU, Shillong Page 3 of 4 September 23 - , 2016

EC - 304 ENT Superposition Principle Dr. L. Joyprakash Singh

Verification of the result using Graph Theory

15
1 2 1 + vy 2
+
i i0
7

2A 3 5 4i 3 + vz

+ 3V vx

0 0

Fig. 2(d) Fig. 2(e)

Given circuit of Fig. 2 is redrawn by identifying the nodes in the circuits as shown in Fig. 2(d)
and its graph is shown in Fig. 2(e). We now apply KCL at nodes 1 and 2 as :

(vy + vz ) vx vy
Node 1: 2+ + =0
7 15
15vy + 15vz 15vx + 7vy = 2 7 15
22vy + 15vz = 210 + 15 3 vx = 3 V
22vy + 15vz = 255 (2.7)

and
vy vz
Node 2: + 4i = 0
15 5
vy vz vz vz
+ 4 =0 i=
15 5 5 5
vy + 9vz = 0 (2.8)

Solving above two Eqs. (2.7) and (2.8), we get

vy = 12.5410 V and vz = 1.3934 V

Hence,

v1 = vy + vz = v7 [i.e. vy + vz vx ] + vx = 12.5410 1.3934 = 11.1476 V and

v2 = v5 = 1.394 V

ECE, NEHU, Shillong Page 4 of 4 September 23 - , 2016