Fourier Analysis: Inspect Waveforms in FIGURE 1

[casper12]

Homework Statement

b) state by inspection (i.e. without performing any formal analysis) all you can about each of the periodic waveforms shown in FIGURE 1 in terms of their Fourier series when analysed about t = 0

Homework Equations

3. The Attempt at a Solution

Hi could someone please be able to give me some advice on what the question is asking for.

thank you

 

[RUber]

It sounds like it might be asking about even/odd ... which coefficients will be non-zero in your Fourier expansion.
Maybe even the period, like the argument of your sines and cosines, etc.

 

[rob1985]

Does anybody have any updates regarding this post, I am not even sure where to begin. The lessons from uni do not give any suggestion on what the question is after.

 

[ElecJH]

Does anybody have any updates regarding this post, I am not even sure where to begin. The lessons from uni do not give any suggestion on what the question is after.

Hi Rob 1985, currently doing this question myself and have got as far as basically stating if the waveform is Odd or Even and which coefficients relate to it. Also stating the F.S for the waveforms from the appendix in lesson 4. but yes the lessons don't really give much help.

 

[rude man]

There are simplifications one can make regarding a periodic waveform. You need to distinguish among possible kinds of symmetry:

• odd vs. even functions
• shifting of x and/or y axes
• half-wave symmetry

Each of these imply certain simplifying characteristics of the waveform. As a starter hint, an odd function has only sine terms (assuming you're using sine - cosine expansion. There are parallel simplifications for the exponential version etc.)

BTW don't confuse even vs. odd harmonics with even vs. odd functions. They have nothing to do with each other. Just an unfortunate nomenclature.