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Unit Step Function

This document provides an overview of unit step functions and their Laplace transforms. It defines the unit step function and discusses its key properties, including how it can be used to model switching processes. Examples are given of using unit step functions to describe rectangular pulses and the combination of unit step functions with other functions. The core content then explains how to take the Laplace transform of a unit step function and find the inverse Laplace transform of the result.

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457 views16 pages

Unit Step Function

This document provides an overview of unit step functions and their Laplace transforms. It defines the unit step function and discusses its key properties, including how it can be used to model switching processes. Examples are given of using unit step functions to describe rectangular pulses and the combination of unit step functions with other functions. The core content then explains how to take the Laplace transform of a unit step function and find the inverse Laplace transform of the result.

Uploaded by

Hatsuiee
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Module in

ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATHEMATICS


(Midterm Period)

SESSION TOPIC 5: UNIT STEP FUNCTION (LAPLACE TRANSFORM OF UNIT STEP)

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

At the end of the session you will:


1. Learn and understand unit step function and second shifting property of Laplace
Transform.
2. Learn how to determine the Laplace and inverse transform of unit step functions.

KEY TERMS
Unit Step Function Second Shifting Inverse Transform of Heaviside function
property of Laplace Unit Step function

CORE CONTENT

The Unit Step Function (Heaviside Function)


In engineering applications, we frequently encounter functions whose values change abruptly at
specified values of time t. One common example is when a voltage is switched on or off in an
electrical circuit at a specified value of time t.
The value of t = 0 is usually taken as a convenient time to switch on or off the given voltage.
The switching process can be described mathematically by the function called the Unit Step
Function (otherwise known as the Heaviside function after Oliver Heaviside).

AEMN04E Engr. F. Castanaday


AEMN04E Engr. F. Castanaday
Rectangular Pulse

A common situation in a circuit is for a voltage to be applied at a particular time (say t = a) and removed
later, at t = b (say).
Such a situation is written using unit step functions as:
V(t) = u(t − a) − u(t − b)
This voltage has strength 1, duration (b − a).

AEMN04E Engr. F. Castanaday


AEMN04E Engr. F. Castanaday
(c) One cycle of a square wave, f(0) = 4, amplitude = 4, period = 2 seconds.

ANSWER:
f(0) = 4 means we start at value 4.
If the whole wave has period 2, and it is a square wave, then it means for half of the time, the value is
(positive) 4 and the other half it is negative 4.
So for the first second, it has value 4, for the 2nd second, the function value is -4.
We write this, using the "rectangular pulse" formula from before:

AEMN04E Engr. F. Castanaday


AEMN04E Engr. F. Castanaday
Products Involving Unit Step Functions
When combined with other functions defined for t > 0, the unit step function "turns off" a portion of their
graph.
The concept is related to having a switch in an electronic circuit open for a period of time (so there is no
current flow), then the switch is closed (so the current begins to flow).

AEMN04E Engr. F. Castanaday


Product of u(t) vs. Shifting the Function Along the t-axis
Note the differences between the following:
f(t) • u(t)
The f(t) part begins at t = 0.
f(t) • u(t − a)
The f(t) part begins at t = a.
f(t − a) • u(t)
The f(t) part has been shifted to the right by a units and begins at t = 0.
f(t − a) • u(t − a)
The f(t) part has been shifted to the right by a units and begins at t = a.

Example 5
Let f(t) = 4t + 2 and a = 1.
g1(t) = f(t) • u(t) = (4t + 2) • u(t)

AEMN04E Engr. F. Castanaday


Example 6
Let f(t) = 4t + 2 and a = 1.
g2(t) = f(t) • u(t − a)
= (4t + 2) • u(t − 1)
ANSWER:
Let f(t) = 4t + 2 and a = 1.
g2(t) = f(t) • u(t − a) = (4t + 2) • u(t − 1)

In this example, the 4t + 2 part starts at t = 1.


EXAMPLE 7
Let f(t) = 4t + 2 and a = 1.
g3(t) = f(t − a) • u(t)
= (4(t − 1) + 2) • u(t)
= (4t − 2) • u(t)

ANSWER:
Let f(t) = 4t + 2 and a = 1.
g3(t) = f(t − a) • u(t) = (4(t − 1) + 2) • u(t) = (4t − 2) • u(t)

AEMN04E Engr. F. Castanaday


In this example, the 4t + 2 part has been shifted 1 unit to the right and starts at t = 0.
EXAMPLE 8
Let f(t) = 4t + 2 and a = 1.
g4(t) = f(t − a) • u(t − a)
= (4t − 2) • u(t − 1)
ANSWER:
Let f(t) = 4t + 2 and a = 1.
g4(t) = f(t − a) • u(t − a)
= (4t − 2) • u(t − 1)

In this example, the 4t + 2 part has been shifted 1 unit to the right and starts at t = 1.

AEMN04E Engr. F. Castanaday


LAPLACE of UNIT STEP FUNCTION

AEMN04E Engr. F. Castanaday


AEMN04E Engr. F. Castanaday
INVERSE TRANSFORM OF UNIT STEP FUNCTION

AEMN04E Engr. F. Castanaday


AEMN04E Engr. F. Castanaday
IN-TEXT ACTIVITY

• Additional Lecture (pdf)


(link available in lpu.mrooms.net)

AEMN04E Engr. F. Castanaday


SELF ASSESSMENT

Problem Set 6
“UNIT STEP FUNCTION”

Name: ________________ SCORE: ______________


Major: ________________ Date: ________________

REFERENCES

Kreyszig, E., “ Advanced Engineering Mathematics”, John Wiley and Sons,10th edition

AEMN04E Engr. F. Castanaday

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