411 REFERENCE · Wikibooks
Circuit Theory/Superposition
Reference material by Wikibooks contributors. This retains its source identity and is not 411 news reporting.
Goal
Split multisource circuit into smaller, simpler circuits, compute current or voltage and add.
Procedure
Pick one source, turn off all or set to zero all others:
Set Voltage Sources to V=0, doesn't care about current so is a short
Set Current Sources to I=0, doesn't care about the voltage so turns into an open
Example 1
Find the current through the 3 ohm resistor assuming moving left to right is positive:
The total current in the direction shown on the original diagram is going to be:
Example 2
Find the current through the 4 ohm resistor assuming moving left to right is positive:
Simulation at circuit lab confirms the answer:
DC Simulation at Circuit Lab