Superposition is a general principle that allows us to determine the effect of several energy sources (voltage and current sources) acting simultaneously in a circuit by considering the effect of each source acting alone, and then combining (superposing) these effects. This theorem as applied to d.c. circuits may be stated as under :
In a linear, bilateral d.c. network containing more than one energy source, the resultant potential difference across or current through any element is equal to the algebraic sum of potential differences or currents for that element produced by each source acting alone with all other independent ideal voltage sources replaced by short circuits and all other independent ideal current sources replaced by open circuits (non-ideal sources are replaced by their internal resistances).
Procedure
The procedure for using this theorem to solve d.c. networks is as under :
(i) Select one source in the circuit and replace all other ideal voltage sources by short circuits
and ideal current sources by open circuits.
(ii) Determine the voltage across or current through the desired element branch due to single source selected in step (i).
(iii) Repeat the above two steps for each of the remaining sources.
(iv) Algebraically add all the voltages across or currents through the element /branch under consideration. The sum is the actual voltage across or current through that element/branch when all the sources are acting simultaneously.
Note
This theorem is called superposition because we superpose or algebraically add the components (currents or voltages) due to each independent source acting alone to obtain the total current in or voltage across a circuit element.
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