How Do You Apply Superposition in Circuit Analysis?

[Quincy]

Homework Statement

1) Given the following circuit:

http://img841.imageshack.us/i/electriccircuit1.jpg/

Using the concept of superposition, calculate the partial contribution from each source.2) Given the following circuit:

http://img713.imageshack.us/i/electriccircuit2.jpg/

Using the concept of superposition, calculate the partial contribution from each source.

The Attempt at a Solution

I'm not really sure where to start; I read about superposition in the book, but I'm not really getting it, please help!

 

[tedbradly]

Calculate the partial contributions in terms of what? Voltage? Current? Both? Note, power analysis cannot work using superposition of power delivered since P is nonlinear.

To apply superposition to the first circuit, redraw the circuit with the first voltage source shorted out and find whatever values you aim to find. This will be the partial contribution of the unshorted voltage source. Then, redraw the circuit with the other voltage source shorted (and the first one present this time), and find whatever values you aim to find. Again, these are the values labeled as a 'partial contribution.'

For the second circuit, you do the same except dependent sources remain, i.e. short the first 12V, analyze the circuit, short the second 12V (with the first one not shorted anymore), analyze the circuit, and you're done.

 

[Quincy]

For the second circuit, you do the same except dependent sources remain, i.e. short the first 12V, analyze the circuit, short the second 12V (with the first one not shorted anymore), analyze the circuit, and you're done.

How do you account for the dependent sources?

 

[tedbradly]

How do you account for the dependent sources?

As you would during any circuit analysis (if you have solved problems with them in there before.) You can go any route you want with mesh or nodal analysis. One problem, though, is that it says "I" but I don't know which current the source is dependent on.

Or are you asking how do you account for it during the superposition? You just leave it in there after shorting out one of the voltage sources, and solve the circuit. Then you short out the other (unshorting the previous one) and leave it in there again.

 

[DeeNos]

Superposition is a concept in circuit analysis that allows us to break down a complex circuit into simpler parts and analyze them separately. In this case, we are given two circuits and we need to calculate the partial contributions from each source using superposition.

To do this, we first need to understand the concept of superposition. Superposition states that the total response of a linear circuit is equal to the sum of the responses of each individual source acting alone. In other words, we can consider each source separately and calculate its contribution to the overall response of the circuit.

For the first circuit, we can consider each source separately and calculate the partial contribution from each one. We can start by considering the voltage source alone and calculating the current through the resistors. Then, we can turn off the voltage source and consider the current source alone and calculate the voltage across the resistors. Finally, we can add these two responses to get the total response of the circuit.

Similarly, for the second circuit, we can consider the voltage source and calculate the current through the resistors, and then consider the current source and calculate the voltage across the resistors. Again, we can add these two responses to get the total response of the circuit.

In both cases, we can use Kirchhoff's laws and Ohm's law to calculate the individual responses and then add them together to get the total response of the circuit. This approach allows us to simplify the analysis of complex circuits and make it easier to understand and solve.