Sketch both signals and note where each one is nonzero.
Flip h and slide it: for each output time, find the range where both signals overlap.
Multiply and add (discrete) or multiply and integrate (continuous) over that overlap only.
Check the result: the output starts at the sum of the start times, ends at the sum of the end times, and its area or sum is the product of the input areas or sums.
2Practice problems
1.Convolution & LTI systemsMedium
The signal x(t) is nonzero only between t = −1 s and t = 2 s, and h(t) only between t = 0 s and t = 1 s. Find the time tstart at which y(t) = x(t) ∗ h(t) starts.
x: −1 … 2 sh: 0 … 1 s
tstart = s
2.Convolution & LTI systemsHard
A system obeys y′(t) + 10·y(t) = 10·x(t). Find its impulse response at t = 0.1 s, h(0.1).
y′ + 10y = 10xt = 0.1 s
h(0.1) =
3.Laplace transformsMedium
Find f(t) for F(s) = (s + 37)/(s² + 2s + 1) and evaluate f(0.4).
F(s) = (s + 37)/(s² + 2s + 1)t = 0.4 s
f(0.4) =
4.Laplace transformsHard
A system is described by the differential equation y″ + 6y′ + 8y = u′ + 11u, with input u(t) and output y(t). Find its transfer function G(s) = Y(s)/U(s) (zero initial conditions) and evaluate the impulse response g(t) at t = 0.3 s. Find g(0.3).
y″ + 6y′ + 8y = u′ + 11ut = 0.3 s
g(0.3) =
5.Step responseMedium
A system has the transfer function G(s) = 74/(s² + 5s + 37) and receives a unit step input. Find the natural frequency ωn in rad/s.
G(s) = 74/(s² + 5s + 37)
ωn = rad/s
6.Step responseHard
A mass m = 10 kg hangs on a spring k = 500 N/m with a viscous damper c = 71 N·s/m (m·x″ + c·x′ + k·x = F). At rest in equilibrium, a constant force F = 5 N is suddenly applied. Find the damping ratio ζ.
m = 10 kgk = 500 N/mc = 71 N·s/mF = 5 N
ζ =
7.Bode plots & marginsMedium
Find the exact magnitude |G(jω)| of G(s) = 1530/((s + 6)(s + 17)) at ω = 1 rad/s, in dB.
G(s) = 1530/((s + 6)(s + 17))ω = 1 rad/s
|G(jω)| = dB
8.Bode plots & marginsHard
A unity-feedback loop has the open-loop transfer function L(s) = 78/(s(s + 2)(s + 9)). Find the phase crossover frequency ω180, where ∠L(jω) = −180°.
L(s) = 78/(s(s + 2)(s + 9))
ω180 = rad/s
3Solutions
1.Convolution & LTI systems
Answer: tstart = −1 s
Continuous convolution: y(t) = ∫ x(τ)·h(t − τ) dτ. Flip h, slide it to position t and integrate the product of the overlapping parts. For causal signals the integral runs from 0 to t. Useful results: the area of y is the area of x times the area of h; if x lasts from t₁ to t₂ and h from t₃ to t₄, y lasts from t₁ + t₃ to t₂ + t₄. For h(t) = e−atu(t) and a step of height A, y(t) = (A/a)(1 − e−at).
Start and end
tstart = −1 + 0 = −1 s
tend = 2 + 1 = 3 s
Answer
tstart = −1 s
Answer
tstart = −1 s
2.Convolution & LTI systems
Answer: h(0.1) = 3.679
Impulse response and Fourier series: the impulse response h(t) describes an LTI system completely: for y′ + a·y = b·x it is h(t) = b·e−atu(t), and for y[n] = a·y[n − 1] + b·x[n] it is h[n] = b·aⁿu[n]. A sinusoid cos ωt passes through with gain |H(jω)| and phase ∠H(jω), where H is the Fourier transform of h. A periodic signal is a sum of harmonics at k/T: a square wave of ±A has only odd harmonics with amplitudes 4A/(kπ), a triangle wave of peak A has 8A/(π²k²), and a pulse train of height A and duty cycle D has the mean A·D and the harmonics (2A/(kπ))·|sin(kπD)|.
Transfer function
H(s) = Y(s)/X(s) = 10/(s + 10)
Impulse response
h(t) = 10·e−10tu(t)
h(0.1) = 10·e−1 = 3.679
Answer
h(0.1) = 3.679
3.Laplace transforms
Answer: f(0.4) = 10.32
Laplace transform: F(s) = ∫₀∞ f(t)·e−st dt turns derivatives into multiplications by s: ℒ{f′} = sF(s) − f(0), ℒ{f″} = s²F(s) − s·f(0) − f′(0). Standard pairs: 1 ↔ 1/s, e−at ↔ 1/(s + a), t·e−at ↔ 1/(s + a)², sin ωt ↔ ω/(s² + ω²), cos ωt ↔ s/(s² + ω²), and a shift s → s + σ multiplies the time function by e−σt. To invert a rational F(s), split it into partial fractions: the residue of a simple pole p is A = [(s − p)·F(s)] at s = p. Final value theorem: f(∞) = lims→0 s·F(s), valid only when all poles of s·F(s) lie in the left half-plane. Initial value theorem: f(0⁺) = lims→∞ s·F(s).
Factor the denominator
s² + 2s + 1 = (s + 1)²
Partial fractions
s + 37 = 1(s + 1) + 36
F(s) = 1/(s + 1) + 36/(s + 1)²
Inverse transform
f(t) = e−t + 36·t·e−t
f(0.4) = (1 + 36·0.4)·e−0.4 = 10.32
Answer
f(0.4) = 10.32
4.Laplace transforms
Answer: g(0.3) = 1.415
Laplace transform: F(s) = ∫₀∞ f(t)·e−st dt turns derivatives into multiplications by s: ℒ{f′} = sF(s) − f(0), ℒ{f″} = s²F(s) − s·f(0) − f′(0). Standard pairs: 1 ↔ 1/s, e−at ↔ 1/(s + a), t·e−at ↔ 1/(s + a)², sin ωt ↔ ω/(s² + ω²), cos ωt ↔ s/(s² + ω²), and a shift s → s + σ multiplies the time function by e−σt. To invert a rational F(s), split it into partial fractions: the residue of a simple pole p is A = [(s − p)·F(s)] at s = p. Final value theorem: f(∞) = lims→0 s·F(s), valid only when all poles of s·F(s) lie in the left half-plane. Initial value theorem: f(0⁺) = lims→∞ s·F(s).
Transfer function
G(s) = Y(s)/U(s) = (s + 11)/(s² + 6s + 8)
Partial fractions
s² + 6s + 8 = (s + 2)(s + 4)
A = 4.5, B = −3.5
Impulse response
g(t) = 4.5·e−2t − 3.5·e−4t
g(0.3) = 1.415
Answer
g(0.3) = 1.415
5.Step response
Answer: ωn = 6.083 rad/s
Step response: a first-order system G(s) = K/(τs + 1) answers a step of size U with y(t) = K·U·(1 − e−t/τ): it reaches 63.2 % of the final value K·U after one time constant τ and 98 % after 4τ. A second-order system G(s) = K·ωₙ²/(s² + 2ζωₙs + ωₙ²) has the poles s = −ζωₙ ± jωd with ωd = ωₙ√(1 − ζ²). For 0 < ζ < 1 the step response overshoots: percent overshoot %OS = 100·e−ζπ/√(1−ζ²), peak time tp = π/ωd, and the 2 % settling time ts ≈ 4/(ζωₙ). Compare the denominator with s² + 2ζωₙs + ωₙ² to read off ωₙ and ζ. For a mass–spring–damper ωₙ = √(k/m) and ζ = c/(2√(km)); for a series RLC circuit ωₙ = 1/√(LC) and ζ = (R/2)·√(C/L).
Compare with the standard form
The denominator must match s² + 2ζωₙs + ωₙ².
ωₙ² = 37 → ωₙ = 6.083 rad/s
2ζωₙ = 5 → ζ = 5/(2·6.083) = 0.411
Result
ωₙ = 6.083 rad/s
Answer
ωn = 6.083 rad/s
6.Step response
Answer: ζ = 0.502
Step response: a first-order system G(s) = K/(τs + 1) answers a step of size U with y(t) = K·U·(1 − e−t/τ): it reaches 63.2 % of the final value K·U after one time constant τ and 98 % after 4τ. A second-order system G(s) = K·ωₙ²/(s² + 2ζωₙs + ωₙ²) has the poles s = −ζωₙ ± jωd with ωd = ωₙ√(1 − ζ²). For 0 < ζ < 1 the step response overshoots: percent overshoot %OS = 100·e−ζπ/√(1−ζ²), peak time tp = π/ωd, and the 2 % settling time ts ≈ 4/(ζωₙ). Compare the denominator with s² + 2ζωₙs + ωₙ² to read off ωₙ and ζ. For a mass–spring–damper ωₙ = √(k/m) and ζ = c/(2√(km)); for a series RLC circuit ωₙ = 1/√(LC) and ζ = (R/2)·√(C/L).
Natural frequency and damping ratio
ωₙ = √(k/m) = √(500/10) = 7.071 rad/s
ζ = c/(2√(km)) = 71/(2·√(500·10)) = 0.502
Result
ζ = 0.502
Answer
ζ = 0.502
7.Bode plots & margins
Answer: |G(jω)| = 23.39 dB
Frequency response: substitute s = jω in the transfer function. The magnitude in decibels is 20·log₁₀|H(jω)| and the phase is the sum of the angles of the numerator factors minus those of the denominator factors. A first-order RC or RL filter has its corner (−3 dB) frequency at ωc = 1/(RC) or R/L, and fc = ωc/(2π); a low-pass filter gives |H| = 1/√(1 + (ω/ωc)²) and φ = −atan(ω/ωc). In the asymptotic (straight-line) Bode plot each pole bends the magnitude down by 20 dB/decade at its corner frequency, each zero bends it up by 20 dB/decade, and an integrator 1/s gives −20 dB/decade at all frequencies. Gain crossover ωc: |L(jω)| = 1 (0 dB); phase margin PM = 180° + ∠L(jωc). Phase crossover ω180: ∠L(jω) = −180°; gain margin GM = −20·log₁₀|L(jω180)| dB. The closed loop is stable when both margins are positive.
Frequency response: substitute s = jω in the transfer function. The magnitude in decibels is 20·log₁₀|H(jω)| and the phase is the sum of the angles of the numerator factors minus those of the denominator factors. A first-order RC or RL filter has its corner (−3 dB) frequency at ωc = 1/(RC) or R/L, and fc = ωc/(2π); a low-pass filter gives |H| = 1/√(1 + (ω/ωc)²) and φ = −atan(ω/ωc). In the asymptotic (straight-line) Bode plot each pole bends the magnitude down by 20 dB/decade at its corner frequency, each zero bends it up by 20 dB/decade, and an integrator 1/s gives −20 dB/decade at all frequencies. Gain crossover ωc: |L(jω)| = 1 (0 dB); phase margin PM = 180° + ∠L(jωc). Phase crossover ω180: ∠L(jω) = −180°; gain margin GM = −20·log₁₀|L(jω180)| dB. The closed loop is stable when both margins are positive.