Introduction to the

Laplace Transform

Qi Xuan
Zhejiang University of Technology
Jan 2016

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 Structure
• Definition of the Laplace Transform
• The Step Function
• The Impulse Function
• Functional Transforms
• Operational Transforms
• Applying the Laplace Transform
• Inverse Transforms
• Poles and Zeros of F(s)
• Initial‐ and Final‐Value Theorems
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 Why do we need another analytical technique?
• We wish to consider the transient behavior of circuits whose
describing equations consist of more than a single node‐
voltage or mesh‐current differential equation.
• We wish to determine the transient response of circuits
whose signal sources vary in ways more complicated than the
simple dc level jumps.
• We can use the Laplace transform to introduce the concept of
the transfer function as a tool for analyzing the steady‐state
sinusoidal response of a circuit when the frequency of the
sinusoidal source is varied.
• we wish to relate, in a systematic fashion, the time‐domain
behavior of a circuit to its frequency‐domain behavior.
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 Definition of the Laplace Transform
Laplace Transform:

Frequency domain Time domain

The Laplace transform transforms the problem from the time domain to the frequency
domain. After obtaining the frequency domain expression for the unknown, we inverse‐
transform it back to the time domain.

In circuit analysis, we use the Laplace transform to transform a set of integrodifferential

equations from the time domain to a set of algebraic equations in the frequency domain.

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 General Comments
a. The upper limit of the integral is infinite. Thus, we are confronted
immediately with the question of whether the integral converges. In
other words, does a given f(t) have a Laplace transform? We are just
interested in the functions that have Laplace transforms.
b. Because the lower limit on the integral is zero, the Laplace transform
ignores f(t) for negative values of t, which is referred as one‐sided, or
unilateral, Laplace transform. Moreover, we integrate the function
from 0−.

A functional transform: the Laplace transform of a specific function,

such as sin ωt, t, e−at, and so on.
An operational transform: a general mathematical property of the
Laplace transform, e.g., finding the transform of the derivative of f(t).

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 The Step Function
Step function:

If K is 1, the function is the unit step.

The step function is not defined at t = 0. In

situations where we need to define the
transition between 0− and 0+, we assume that
it is linear and satisfies

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A discontinuity may occur at some time
other than t = 0; for example, in sequential
switching. A step that occurs at t = a is
expressed as Ku(t - a).Thus

If a > 0, the step occurs to the right of the origin, and if a < 0, the step occurs to the
left of the origin.

A step function equal to K for t < a is

written as Ku(a - t). Thus

One example useful in circuit analysis is a finite‐width pulse, which we can create by
adding two step functions.
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 The Impulse Function
An impulse is a signal of infinite amplitude and zero
duration. Such signals don't exist in nature, but some
circuit signals come very close to approximating this
definition, so we find a mathematical model of an
impulse useful. Impulse function enables us to define
the derivative at a discontinuity, and thus to define
the Laplace transform of that derivative.
1. The amplitude approaches infinity.
2. The duration of the function approaches zero.
3. The area under the variable‐parameter function
is constant as the parameter changes.

Between ±ε, f’(t)0, the duration 2ε0, and the area

under f’(t)1, as ε0, thus f’(t) approaches to a unit
impulse function:

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 Sifting Property
Mathematically, the impulse function is defined as

The area under the impulse function

is constant, and this area represents
the strength of the impulse.

The sifting property is expressed as

where the function f(t) is assumed to be continuous at t = a; that is, at the location
of the impulse. (The validation is shown from Eq. 12.12 to Eq. 12.13)

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 Laplace Transform
e−st1, as t0

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 Functional Transforms

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 Operational Transforms
Multiplication by a Constant

Addition (Subtraction)

Differentiation

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Integration

=0
The evaluation at the lower limit obviously is zero, whereas the evaluation at the
upper limit is zero because we are assuming that f(t) has a Laplace transform.

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Translation in the Time Domain

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Translation in the Frequency Domain

(Problem 12.14)

Scaling Changing

(Problem 12.16)

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 Applying the Laplace Transform

Electric Circuits Inverse transform

17
 Inverse Transforms
• A rational function of s: the function that can be expressed in
the form of a ratio of two polynomials in s such that no
nonintegral powers of s appear in the polynomials.

• Proper rational function: m > n

• Improper rational function: m ≤ n

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 Partial Fraction Expansion
A proper rational function is expanded into a sum of partial fractions by writing a term
or a series of terms for each root of D(s). Thus D(s) must be in factored form before we
can make a partial fraction expansion.

multiple root
The denominator D(s) has four roots, two distinct roots at s = 0
and s = −3, and a multiple root s = −1, then we have

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• We used the identity sign to emphasize that expanding a
rational function into a sum of partial fractions establishes an
identical equation. Thus both sides of the equation must be
the same for all values of the variable s. Also, the identity
relationship must hold when both sides are subjected to the
same mathematical operation.
• All that remains is to establish a technique for determining the
coefficients (K 1 , K 2 , K 3 , ...) generated by making a partial
fraction expansion. There are four general forms this problem
can take. Specifically, the roots of D(s) are either (1) real and
distinct; (2) complex and distinct; (3) real and repeated; or (4)
complex and repeated.
• Be sure to verify that the rational function is proper.

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 Distinct Real Roots of D(s)

To find the value of K1 we multiply both sides by s and then evaluate both sides at s
=0

Similarly, we can get K2 = −72, K3 = 48, then

Check!

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 Distinct Complex Roots of D(S)

Can be further simplified

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Whenever D(s) contains distinct complex roots—that is, factors of the form (s + α − jβ
)(s + α + jβ)—a pair of terms have the following form

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 Repeated Real Roots of D(s)

To find K2, we multiply both sides by (s + 5)3 and then evaluate both sides at − 5 :

To find K3, we first must multiply both sides by (s + 5)3. Next we differentiate both
sides once with respect to s and then evaluate at s = −5:

To find K4 we first multiply both sides by (s + 5)3. Next we differentiate both sides
twice with respect to s and then evaluate both sides at s = −5.

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 Repeated Complex Roots of D(s)
We handle repeated complex roots in the same way that we did repeated real roots;
the only difference is that the algebra involves complex numbers. Recall that complex
roots always appear in conjugate pairs and that the coefficients associated with a
conjugate pair are also conjugates, so that only half the Ks need to be evaluated.

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Multiple real roots

Multiple complex roots

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 Improper Rational Functions

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 Summary
• Laplace transform
• Step function (Unit step function)
• Impulse function (Unit impulse function)
• Functional transform
• Operational transform

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