Minimalist Tutorial of Superposition Theorem for AC Circuits

Since ac circuits are linear, the superposition theorem applies to ac circuits the same way it applies to superposition theorem dc circuits.

Make sure to read what is ac circuit first.

Learning Kichhoff’s laws for AC circuit will lead us to:

  1. Node and supernode for ac circuit
  2. Mesh and supermesh for ac circuit
  3. Superposition for ac circuit
  4. Source transformation for ac circuit
  5. Thevenin and Norton for ac circuit

Superposition Theorem for AC Circuits

The theorem becomes important if the circuit has sources operating at different frequencies.

In this case, since the impedances depend on frequency, we must have a different frequency domain circuit for each frequency.

The total response must be obtained by adding the individual responses in the time domain.

It is incorrect to try to add the responses in the phasor or frequency domain.

It is because the exponential factor ejωt is implicit in sinusoidal analysis, and that factor would change for every angular frequency ω.

It would therefore not make sense to add responses at different frequencies in the phasor domain.

Hence, when a circuit has sources operating at different frequencies, one must add the responses due to the individual frequencies in the time domain.

Read also : source transformation dc circuit

Superposition Theorem for AC Circuits Examples

For better understanding, let us review the examples below :

1. Use the superposition theorem to find Io in the circuit in Figure.(1).

Superposition Theorem for AC Circuits
Figure 1

Solution :

Let

superposition theorem ac circuit
(1.1)

where Io and Io are due to the voltage and current sources, respectively. To find Io , consider the circuit in Figure.(2a).

superposition theorem ac circuit
Figure 2

If we let Z be the parallel combination of –j2 and 8 + j10, then

superposition theorem ac circuit

and current Io is

superposition theorem ac circuit

or

superposition theorem ac circuit
(1.2)

To get Io, consider the circuit in Figure.(2b). For mesh 1,

superposition theorem ac circuit
(1.3)

For mesh 2,

superposition theorem ac circuit
(1.4)

For mesh 3,

superposition theorem ac circuit
(1.5)

From Equations.(1.4) and (1.5),

superposition theorem ac circuit

Expressing I1 in terms of I2 gives

superposition theorem ac circuit
(1.6)

Substituting Equations.(1.5) and (1.6) into Equation.(1.3), we get

superposition theorem ac circuit

or

superposition theorem ac circuit

Current Io is obtained as

superposition theorem ac circuit
(1.7)

From Equations.(1.2) and (1.7), we write

superposition theorem ac circuit
 

2. Find vo in the circuit of Figure.(3) using the superposition theorem.

superposition theorem ac circuit
Figure 3

Solution :

Since the circuit operates at three different frequencies (ω = 0 for the dc voltage source), one way to obtain a solution is to use superposition, which breaks the problem into single-frequency problems. So we let

superposition theorem ac circuit
(2.1)

where v1 is due to the 5 V dc voltage source, v2 is due to the 10 cos 2t V voltage source, and v3 is due to the 2 sin 5t A current source.

To find v1, we set to zero all sources except the 5 V dc source.

We recall that at steady state, a capacitor is an open circuit to dc while an inductor is a short circuit to dc.

There is an alternative way of looking at this. Since ω = 0, jωL = 0, 1/jωC = ∞.

Either way, the equivalent circuit is as shown in Figure.(4a). By voltage division,

superposition theorem ac circuit
(2.2)

To find v2, we set to zero both the 5 V source and the 2 sin 5t current source and transform the circuit to the frequency domain.

superposition theorem ac circuit

The equivalent circuit is now as shown in Figure.(4b).Let

superposition theorem ac circuit
superposition theorem ac circuit
Figure 4. The solution of Figure.(3) : (a) setting all sources to zero except the 5 V dc source, (b) setting all sources to zero except the ac voltage source, (c) setting all sources to zero except the ac current source.

By voltage division,

superposition theorem ac circuit

In the time domain,

superposition theorem ac circuit
(2.3)

To obtain v3, we set the voltage sources to zero and transform what is left to the frequency domain.

superposition theorem ac circuit

The equivalent circuit is in Figure.(4c). Let

superposition theorem ac circuit

By current division,

superposition theorem ac circuit

In the time domain,

superposition theorem ac circuit
(2.4)

Substituting Equations.(2.2) to (2.4) into Equation.(2.1), we have

superposition theorem ac circuit
 

Leave a Comment

x