MHB Using definition of Laplace transform in determining Laplace of a step function

Click For Summary
The discussion focuses on calculating the Laplace transform of a step function using its definition rather than relying on tables. The integral can be separated into two parts due to the piecewise nature of the function, simplifying the computation. The key step involves applying integration by parts to the integral from 2 to infinity. Participants are encouraged to continue from the integration by parts formula provided, as it leads to a manageable expression. The conversation emphasizes understanding the process rather than just obtaining the result.
shorty1
Messages
16
Reaction score
0
I have a question that has stumped me a bit, i am not sure how to use the definition to calculate it, i can use the tables, but i don't think that's what is needed.

Using the definition of the Laplace transform, View attachment 153 determine the Laplace transform of

View attachment 154

I can do it with the table but i am not sure how to to this using the definition.

Help please?

:confused:
 

Attachments

  • CodeCogsEqn (1).gif
    CodeCogsEqn (1).gif
    1 KB · Views: 117
  • CodeCogsEqn (2).gif
    CodeCogsEqn (2).gif
    909 bytes · Views: 103
Physics news on Phys.org
shorty said:
I have a question that has stumped me a bit, i am not sure how to use the definition to calculate it, i can use the tables, but i don't think that's what is needed.

Using the definition of the Laplace transform, https://www.physicsforums.com/attachments/153 determine the Laplace transform of

https://www.physicsforums.com/attachments/154

I can do it with the table but i am not sure how to to this using the definition.

Help please?

:confused:

We can break up the integral into two parts since $f(t)$ is a piecewise function:

\[\mathcal{L}[f(t)] = \int_0^{\infty}e^{-st}f(t)\,dt=\int_0^2 e^{-st}0\,dt + \int_2^{\infty}e^{-st}t\,dt = \int_2^{\infty}te^{-st}\,dt.\]

This should now be a relatively simple improper integral to compute.

Can you take it from here?
 
Thank you, but I got that far into the separation, but I wasn't sure how to proceed from there, my integrals kept repeating when I tried it by parts, and I wasn't getting anything to substitute to use that wasn't still leaving me with multiple variables to integrate. ...
 
shorty said:
Thank you, but I got that far into the separation, but I wasn't sure how to proceed from there, my integrals kept repeating when I tried it by parts, and I wasn't getting anything to substitute to use that wasn't still leaving me with multiple variables to integrate. ...

In this case, you only need to apply integration by parts once. Let $u=t$, $dv=e^{-st}dt$; thus $du=dt$ and $v=-\dfrac{e^{-st}}{s}$. Plugging this into the integration by parts formula, we have

\[\int_2^{\infty}te^{-st}\,dt = \lim\limits_{b\to\infty}\left.\left[-\frac{te^{-st}}{s}\right]\right|_2^b + \frac{1}{s}\int_2^{\infty}e^{-st}\,dt=\ldots\]

Can you take it from here?
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
4K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
5K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Replies
10
Views
3K
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K