Mathematics for Engineers and Technologists

6

Laplace transform

Summary

In order to consider the response of engineering systenns, e.g. electrical or control systems, to inputs such as step, or perhaps an impulse, we need to be able to solve the differential equation for that system with that particular form of input. As the previous chapter indicates, this can be rather laborious. A simpler method of tackling the solution is to transform a differential equation into a simple algebraic equation which we can easily solve. This is achieved by the use of the Laplace transform, the subject of this chapter.

Objectives

By the end of this chapter, the reader should be able to:

• understand what using the Laplace transform involves;

• use Laplace transform tables to convert first- and second-order ...