Fourier Series for a Square-wave Function

Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
2 replies · 3K views
K.QMUL
Messages
54
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



Consider the square wave function defined by y(t) = h (constant) when 0 ≤ (t + nT) ≤1,
y(t) = 0 elsewhere, where T = 2 is the period of the function. Determine the Fourier series
expansion for y(t).

Homework Equations



Fourier Analysis Coefficients

The Attempt at a Solution



Please look at the attachment, I am not convinced I have done it right so far... please help.
 

Attachments

  • 20131210_200639.jpg
    20131210_200639.jpg
    29.1 KB · Views: 530
Physics news on Phys.org
Your answer for ##A_n## can be simplified. Since ##T=2##, it becomes
$$A_n = \frac{h}{\pi n} \sin(\pi n)$$
Now what is ##\sin(\pi n)##?
 
By the way, you can save yourself some work as follows. Note that if we define ##x(t) = y(t) - h/2##, then ##x## is an odd function. What can you say about the Fourier series of an odd function? And how does the Fourier series of ##x## relate to the Fourier series of ##y##?