Question

What is the condition under which the superposition theorem can be applied?

Answer 1

1. The superposition theorem states that “A circuit with multiple voltage and current sources is equal to the algebraic sum of simplified circuits using one of the sources”. A circuit composed of two voltage sources, for example, will be equal to the sum of two circuits, each one using one of the sources and having the other removed.

The conditions in which the superposition theorem can be applied in electrical circuits are:

1. This theorem extends the use of Ohm's law to complex circuits.
2. All the components must be linear; i.e. current must be directly proportional to voltage.
3. Al the components used in the circuits are bilateral; i.e. current is the same in opposite polarities of the source voltage.
4. The components which do not amplify or rectify the circuits such as resistors, capacitors, and inductors must be used.
5. The active components such as transistors and semiconductor diodes which are non-linear cannot be used.