Superposition theorem

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the superposition theorem in electrical circuits. For other uses, see
Superposition (disambiguation).

The superposition theorem for electrical circuits states that 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, while all other independent sources are replaced by their internal
impedances.

To ascertain the contribution of each individual source, all of the other sources first must
be "turned off" (set to zero) by:

1. Replacing all other independent voltage sources with a short circuit (thereby
eliminating difference of potential. i.e. V=0, internal impedance of ideal voltage
source is ZERO (short circuit)).
2. Replacing all other independent current sources with an open circuit (thereby
eliminating current. i.e. I=0, internal impedance of ideal current source is infinite
(open circuit).

This procedure is followed for each source in turn, then the resultant responses are added
to determine the true operation of the circuit. The resultant circuit operation is the
superposition of the various voltage and current sources.

The superposition theorem is very important in circuit analysis. It is used in converting

any circuit into its Norton equivalent or Thevenin equivalent.

Applicable to linear networks (time varying or time invariant) consisting of independent

sources, linear dependent sources, linear passive elements Resistors, Inductors,
Capacitors and linear transformers.

Mesh analysis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Figure 1: Essential Meshes of the planar circuit labeled 1, 2, and 3. R1, R2, R3, 1/sc, and
Ls represent the impedance of the resistors, capacitor, and inductor values in the s-
domain. Vs and Is are the values of the voltage source and current source respectively.

Mesh analysis (or the mesh current method) is a method that is used to solve planar
circuits for the currents (and indirectly the voltages) at any place in the circuit. Planar
circuits are circuits that can be drawn on a plane surface with no wires crossing each
other. A more general technique, called loop analysis can be applied to any circuit, planar
or not. Mesh analysis and loop analysis both make use of Kirchhoffs voltage law to
arrive at a set of equations guaranteed to be solvable if the circuit has a solution.[1] Mesh
analysis is usually easier to use when the circuit is planar, compared to loop analysis. [2]

Contents
[hide]
1 Mesh currents and essential meshes
2 Setting up the equations
3 Special cases
o 3.1 Supermesh
o 3.2 Dependent sources
4 See also
5 External links

6 References

[edit] Mesh currents and essential meshes

Figure 2: Circuit with Mesh Currents Labeled as i1, i2, and i3. The arrows show the
direction of the mesh current.

Mesh analysis works by arbitrarily assigning mesh currents in the essential meshes. An
essential mesh is a loop in the circuit that does not contain any other loop. When looking
at a circuit schematic, the essential meshes look like a window pane. Figure 1 labels the
essential meshes with one, two, and three. Once the essential meshes are found, the mesh
currents need to be labeled.[3]

A mesh current is a current that loops around the essential mesh. The mesh current might
not have a physical meaning but it is used to set up the mesh analysis equations.[2] When
assigning the mesh currents it is important to have all the mesh currents loop in the same
direction. This will help prevent errors when writing out the equations. The convention is
to have all the mesh currents looping in a clockwise direction.[3] Figure 2 shows the same
circuit shown before but with the mesh currents labeled.

The reason to use mesh currents instead of just using KCL and KVL to solve a problem is
that the mesh currents can account for any unnecessary currents that may be drawn in
when using KCL and KVL. Mesh analysis ensures that the least possible number of
equations regarding currents is used, greatly simplifying the problem.

[edit] Setting up the equations

Figure 3: Simple Circuit using Mesh Analysis

After labeling the mesh currents, one only needs to write one equation per mesh in order
to solve for all the currents in the circuit. These equations are the sum of the voltage
drops in a complete loop of the mesh current.[3] For other than current and voltage
sources, the voltage drops will be the impedance of the electronic component multiplied
by the mesh current in that loop. It is important to note that if a component exists between
two essential meshes, the component's voltage drop will be the impedance of the
component times the present mesh current minus the neighboring mesh current
(computing the subtraction first).[4]

If a voltage source is present within the mesh loop, the voltage at the source is either
added or subtracted depending on if it is a voltage drop or a voltage rise in the direction
of the mesh current. For a current source that is not contained between two meshes, the
 mesh current will take the positive or negative
value of the current source depending on if the
mesh current is in the same or opposite
direction of the current source.[3] The
following is the same circuit from above with
the equations needed to solve for all the
currents in the circuit.

Once the equations are found, the system of linear equations can be solved by using any
technique to solve linear equations.

[edit] Special cases

There are two special cases in mesh current: supermesh and dependent sources.

[edit] Supermesh

Figure 4: Circuit with a supermesh. Supermesh occurs because the current source is in
between the essential meshes.

A supermesh occurs when a current source is contained between two essential meshes. To
handle the supermesh, first treat the circuit as if the current source is not there. This leads
to one equation that incorporates two mesh currents. Once this equation is formed, an
equation is needed that relates the two mesh currents with the current source. This will be
an equation where the current source is equal to one of the mesh currents minus the other.
The following is a simple example of dealing with a supermesh.[2]

[edit] Dependent sources

Figure 5: Circuit with dependent source. ix is the current that the dependent voltage
source depends on.

A dependent source is a current source or voltage source that depends on the voltage or
current on another element in the circuit. When a dependent source is contained within an
essential mesh, the dependent source should be treated like a normal source. After the
mesh equation is formed, a dependent source equation is needed. This equation is
generally called a constraint equation. This is an equation that relates the dependent
sources variable to the voltage or current that the source depends on in the circuit. The
following is a simple example of a dependent source.[2]