Fundamentals of Electrical Circuits

1st Stage

LECTURE 5
Methods Analysis
Dr. Aws Zuhair

❖ Content
• Superposition Analysis
• Source Transformation
Electrical Circuits Lecture -5- Dr. Aws Zuhair

1. Superposition Analysis
If a circuit has two or more sources, one way to determine the value of a specific
variable (voltage or current) is to use Kirchhoff’s current and voltage laws.
Another way is to determine the contribution of each source to the variable and
then add them up. The latter approach is known as the superposition.
The superposition principle states that the voltage across (or current through) an
element in a linear circuit is the algebraic sum of the voltages across (or currents
through) that element due to each source acting alone.
The principle of superposition helps us to analyze a linear circuit with more than
one source by calculating the contribution of each independent source separately.
However, to apply the superposition principle, we must keep in mind:
We consider one independent source at a time while all other independent sources
are turned off. This implies that we replace every voltage source by 0V (short
circuit), and every current source by 0A (open circuit). This way we obtain a
simpler and more manageable circuit.
Analyzing a circuit using superposition has one major disadvantage: it may very
likely involve more work. If the circuit has three independent sources, we may
have to analyze three simpler circuits each providing the contribution due to the
respective individual source.
However, superposition does help reduce a complex circuit to simpler circuits
through replacement of voltage sources by short circuits and of current sources
by open circuits.
Example 1: Use the superposition theorem to find v in the circuit of Figure 1.

Figure 1

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Electrical Circuits Lecture -5- Dr. Aws Zuhair

Solution:
Since there are two sources, let:
𝑣 = 𝑣1 + 𝑣2

where v1 and v2 are the contributions due to the 6V voltage source and the 3A
current source, respectively. To obtain v1 we set the current source to zero, as
shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2
Applying KVL to the loop in Figure 2 gives:
6 − 12𝑖1 = 0

12𝑖1 = 6

𝑖1 = 𝟎. 𝟓𝑨

Using Ohm’s law

𝑣1 = 𝑖1 𝑅 = 0.5 × 4 = 𝟐𝒗

We may also use voltage division to get v1 by writing:

4 24
𝑣1 = ×6= = 𝟐𝒗
4+8 12

To get v2 we set the voltage source to zero, as in Figure 3.

Figure 3

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Electrical Circuits Lecture -5- Dr. Aws Zuhair

Using current division,

8 24
𝑖3 = ×3= = 𝟐𝑨
4+8 12

Using Ohm’s law:

𝑣2 = 𝑖3 𝑅 = 2 × 4 = 𝟖𝒗
And we find:
𝑣 = 𝑣1 + 𝑣2 = 2 + 8 = 𝟏𝟎𝒗

Homework 1: Using the superposition theorem, find vo in the circuit of Figure 4.

Figure 4

Example 2: For the circuit in Figure 5, use the superposition theorem to find i.

Figure 5

Solution:
In this case, we have three sources. Let:
𝑖 = 𝑖1 + 𝑖2 + 𝑖3

where i1, i2 and i3 are due to the 12V, 24V and 3A sources respectively.
To get , consider the circuit in Figure 6.

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Electrical Circuits Lecture -5- Dr. Aws Zuhair

Figure 6

Combining 4Ω (on the right-hand side) in series with 8Ω gives 12Ω. The 12Ω in
parallel with 4Ω gives 3Ω. Thus,
12
𝑖1 = = 𝟐𝑨
6

To get i2, consider the circuit in Figure 7.

Figure 7
Applying Kirchhoff’s analysis gives:
16𝑖𝑎 − 4𝑖𝑏 + 24 = 0

4𝑖𝑎 − 𝑖𝑏 = −6 (1)

7𝑖𝑏 − 4𝑖𝑎 = 0
7 (2)
𝑖𝑎 = 𝑖𝑏
4
Substituting Equation (2) into Equation (1) gives:
7
4 × 𝑖𝑏 − 4𝑖𝑏 = −6
4
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Electrical Circuits Lecture -5- Dr. Aws Zuhair

7𝑖𝑏 − 1𝑖𝑏 = −6

6𝑖𝑏 = −6

𝑖2 = 𝑖𝑏 = −𝟏𝑨

To get i3, consider the circuit in Figure 8.

Figure 8

Using Kirchoff’s current analysis gives

𝑖 = 𝑖𝑎 + 𝑖𝑏
𝑣2 𝑣2 − 𝑣1
3= +
8 4
24 𝑣2 2(𝑣2 − 𝑣1 )
= +
8 8 8
24 = 3𝑣2 − 2𝑣1 (3)

𝑖𝑏 = 𝑖𝑐 + 𝑖3
𝑣2 − 𝑣1 𝑣1 𝑣1
= +
4 4 3
3𝑣2 − 3𝑣1 = 3𝑣1 + 4𝑣1

10𝑣1 = 3𝑣2
10 (4)
𝑣2 = 𝑣
3 1
Substituting Equation (4) into Equation (3)

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Electrical Circuits Lecture -5- Dr. Aws Zuhair

10
24 = 3 × 𝑣 − 2𝑣1
3 1

24 = 10𝑣1 − 2𝑣1

8𝑣1 = 24

𝑣1 = 𝟑𝒗

Using Ohm’s law:

𝑣3 3
𝑖3 = = = 𝟏𝑨
3 3
Now:
𝑖 = 𝑖1 + 𝑖2 + 𝑖3 = 2 − 1 + 1 = 𝟐𝑨

Homework 2: Find I in the circuit of Figure 9 using the superposition principle.

Figure 9

2. Source Transformation
We have noticed that series-parallel combination and wye-delta transformation
help simplify circuits. Source transformation is another tool for simplifying
circuits. Basic to these tools is the concept of equivalence.
We recall that an equivalent circuit is one whose v – i characteristics are identical
with the original circuit.
It is therefore expedient in circuit analysis to be able to substitute a voltage source
in series with a resistor for a current source in parallel with a resistor, or vice
versa, as shown in Figure 10. Either substitution is known as a source
transformation.

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Electrical Circuits Lecture -5- Dr. Aws Zuhair

Figure 10: Source Transformation

A source transformation is the process of replacing a voltage source vs in series

with a resistor R by a current source is in parallel with a resistor R, or vice versa.
The two circuits in Figure 10 are equivalent, provided they have the same voltage
– current relation at terminals a – b. It is easy to show that they are indeed
equivalent. If the sources are turned off, the equivalent resistance at terminals a
– b in both circuits is R. Also, when terminals a – b is short-circuited, the short-
circuit current flowing from a to b isc = vs / R is in the circuit on the left-hand side
and isc = is for the circuit on the right-hand side. Thus, vs / R = is in order for the
two circuits to be equivalent. Hence, source transformation requires that:
𝑣𝑠 (5)
𝑣𝑠 = 𝑖𝑠 𝑅 𝑜𝑟 𝑖𝑠 =
𝑅
A source transformation does not affect the remaining part of the circuit. When
applicable, source transformation is a powerful tool that allows circuit
manipulations to ease circuit analysis. However, we should keep the following
points in mind when dealing with source transformation.
Note 1: From Figure 10 that the arrow of the current source is directed toward the
positive terminal of the voltage source.
Note 2: from Equation (5) that source transformation is not possible when R = 0,
which is the case with an ideal voltage source. However, for a practical, nonideal
voltage source, R ≠ 0. Similarly, an ideal current source with R = ∞ cannot be
replaced by a finite voltage source.

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Electrical Circuits Lecture -5- Dr. Aws Zuhair

Example 3: Use source transformation to find vo in the circuit of Figure 11.

Figure 11

Solution:
We first transform the current and voltage sources to obtain the circuit in Figure
12.

Figure 12

Combining the 4Ω and 2Ω resistors in series and transforming the 12V voltage
source gives us Figure 13.

Figure13

We now combine the and resistors 3Ω and 6Ω in parallel to get 2Ω. We also
combine the 2A and 4A current sources to get a 2A source. Thus, by repeatedly
applying source transformations, we obtain the circuit in Figure 14.

Figure 14
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Electrical Circuits Lecture -5- Dr. Aws Zuhair

We use current division in Figure 14 to get:

2
𝑖= × 2 = 0.4𝐴
2+8

Using Ohm’s law:

𝑣𝑜 = 0.4 × 8 = 𝟑. 𝟐𝑽

Homework 3: Find io in the circuit of Figure 15 using source transformation.

Figure 15

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