# Superposition:

Discussion in 'Homework Help' started by ELECTRONERD, Feb 13, 2010.

1. ### ELECTRONERD Thread Starter Senior Member

May 26, 2009
1,146
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Hey Everyone,

You might call this a homework assignment, so I put it here.

I'm having trouble solving Part B of this quiz, I hope someone can help me. I have three equations, do they look correct?

Equation 1: $6I_1 = 100I_1^2 + 300I_2^2 + 0.02^2R$

Equation 2: $I_2 = I_1 - 0.02$

Equation 3: $I_1 = 0.015 + \frac{1.5 + 0.02R}{75}$

Note that with equation 3, I "superimposed" $I_1$ with sub-circuit 1 (voltage source) and sub-circuit 2 (current source).

I'd appreciate any help!

Austin

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2. ### hgmjr Moderator

Jan 28, 2005
9,030
215
HINT 1: You need to find the voltage at the junction of R1, R2, and R3.
HINT 2: You do not need to know the value of R to find the voltage at the junction of R1, R2, and R.

hgmjr

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3. ### nubelube New Member

Jan 3, 2010
16
1
The second term of the RHS of Equation 3 looks suspicious. You know the total current through the parallel resistors, so I_1 (of sub-circuit 2) should be given by current division of known resistors.

I solved the problem differently. Using KCL, you can solve directly for the voltage at the resistor-junction. From there, you can write down the power absorbed by each element. This sums to zero by physics; but the sum of all terms except the current source is also zero, by the problem's constraint that voltage-source power equals sum of resistor powers. In other words, the voltage drop across the current source is zero (you can also conclude this by inspection and just replace the current source with the constraint that i_R=0.02A). Now you know the current through R and the voltage across it.

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4. ### ELECTRONERD Thread Starter Senior Member

May 26, 2009
1,146
16
Thanks for the help! I do have one question though: In the second sub-circuit (current souce), I can apply the current divider rule. However, That is only if I do 100Ω||300Ω. So technically, the input current won't equal I1 or I2 since currents in parallel will vary (the 20mA would be the output of the current divider).

I am thinking of solving for the voltage across R1 and R2 in both sub-circuits, then superimposing my result. Then, I can apply KVL to obtain the power through each resistor and calculate the resistance necessary for R.

Thanks,

Austin

5. ### ELECTRONERD Thread Starter Senior Member

May 26, 2009
1,146
16
Nevermind! I figured it out

I'll post my work tomorrow.

Till then,

Austin

6. ### ELECTRONERD Thread Starter Senior Member

May 26, 2009
1,146
16
As I promised, you'll find my work in the two attachements.

I appreciate everyones support, and especially those hints!

Thanks,

Austin

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7. ### hgmjr Moderator

Jan 28, 2005
9,030
215
Your work looks very good. You arrived at the same answer that I did. 150 ohms is correct.

hgmjr

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