Signals and Systems coursework help

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a homework problem related to determining the power and RMS value of specific signals, particularly focusing on a voltage waveform represented by a cosine function. Participants explore the mathematical approach to solving the problem, including integration techniques and considerations regarding units.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • The original poster (OP) presents an attempt at calculating the power and RMS value for a given signal, using integrals to derive the results.
  • One participant questions the nature of the function presented by the OP, asking if it is a voltage waveform and noting the need for current or load impedance to calculate power.
  • Another participant comments on the absence of units in typical signal processing problems, emphasizing the importance of checking units in practical applications.
  • A later reply suggests that the OP's approach is correct and provides a formula for power in terms of the amplitude of the cosine function, indicating that the result depends solely on the amplitude.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the importance of checking units and the correctness of the OP's approach, but there is no consensus on the necessity of units in the context of the problem. The discussion includes multiple viewpoints on the relevance of units and the interpretation of the signal.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved assumptions regarding the nature of the signal and the context in which it is applied, particularly concerning the load impedance and whether the signal is indeed a voltage waveform.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for students and practitioners in electrical engineering or signal processing who are dealing with power and RMS calculations for waveforms.

Kbob08
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Homework Statement


Detmerine the Power and rms value for each of the following signals:

a)5 + 10cos(100t+pi/3)

... more signals

The Attempt at a Solution



It's hard to right out integral signs or I don't know the way to do so I'll use I(lower bound, upper bound) to denote an integral


a)P= lim t->inf. (1/T) [I(-T/2,T/2) [5 + 10cos(100t+pi/3)^2dt]

=lim t->inf. (1/T) [25T + I(-T/2,T/2) 100 cos^2(100t+pi/3)dt + I(-T/2,T/2)50cos(100t + pi/3)dt->0

= lim t->inf. (1/T) [25T + 50T {I(-T/2,T/2)cos(200t+2pi/3)dt}->0

= 25 +50 = 75, Rms 75^ (-1/2)

does it look like I'm following the right idea?
 
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Welcome to the PF, Kbob08. To learn how to insert math symbols in your posts, check out the LaTex tutorial here:

https://www.physicsforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=151

And on your question, what is the function you've written? Is is a voltage waveform? You can certainly calculate the RMS value if it is a voltage, but you need to know something about the current or load impedance to get a power out of it...
 
Usually in signal books they don't denote any units for these types of problems. Otherwise you would have to do an additional step to make sure the units are matched.
 
Corneo said:
Usually in signal books they don't denote any units for these types of problems. Otherwise you would have to do an additional step to make sure the units are matched.

Well, IMO checking units is important. It sure is important in the real world. So you just assume that the function shows is a voltage waveform into 50 Ohms?
 
berkeman said:
Well, IMO checking units is important. It sure is important in the real world. So you just assume that the function shows is a voltage waveform into 50 Ohms?

Yes I agree your right that checking units is important. I was just commenting that most textbook problems leave out units of the function in question. The meat of the problem for this specific exercise is just performing the integration.

To the OP: You have the right idea and your work is correct. It may help to remember for signals in the form

[tex]C \cos (\omega_0 t + \theta)[/tex], the power is [tex]P_g = C^2/2[/tex]. You can prove this yourself pretty straight forward by performing the same integration you have done and using some trig substitution. Notice that the result depends solely on the amplitude and nothing else.
 

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