Why does a pole with increasing phase start at -180°?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the interpretation of Bode plots for transfer functions, particularly focusing on the behavior of phase shifts associated with poles in the right half-plane. Participants explore the implications of having poles in this region and how it affects the phase characteristics in Bode plots, with specific reference to the transfer function G(s) = 1/(2s-1).

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes their approach to drawing Bode plots and expresses confusion about why a pole has an increasing phase starting at -180°, expecting a decrease from 0° to -90°.
  • Another participant asserts that when a pole is in the right half-plane, the phase will increase, indicating that the system is unstable.
  • Some participants argue that there is no valid Bode plot for poles in the right half-plane, while others counter that the Bode plot is still well-defined despite the implications of instability.
  • A participant provides a mathematical evaluation of the transfer function at s = jω, attempting to clarify the phase behavior for different frequency ranges.
  • There is a contention regarding the definition of gain and phase for unstable systems, with some stating that the gain is undefined and others arguing that the Bode plot can still be evaluated for 0 < ω < ∞.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express disagreement regarding the validity and interpretation of Bode plots for systems with poles in the right half-plane. Some maintain that such plots are undefined, while others argue that they are still mathematically valid, leading to an unresolved discussion.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight limitations in understanding the implications of poles in the right half-plane, particularly regarding phase behavior and stability. There is also a noted ambiguity in the definitions of gain and phase for unstable systems.

jegues
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Homework Statement



Understanding the bode plot for,

G(s) = \frac{1}{2s-1}

Homework Equations


The Attempt at a Solution



Usually when I am drawing bode plots for either real poles or zeros, I simply solve for the break frequency knowing that a zero/pole will give me a +/-20dB/decade asymptote after the break frequency on my magnitude plot, and a +/-90° phase shift across two decades, with the center (i.e. the +/-45° point) at my break frequency on my phase plot.

This has always worked when I have,

(s+a) \quad a&gt;0

but it seems to change when,

(s - a) \quad a&gt;0 \quad \text{or, } \quad (-s+a) \quad a&gt;0

I can't wrap my head around why a pole has an increasing phase that starts at -180°. I was expecting a phase decrease from 0° to -90°.

Can someone explain what I am misunderstanding?
 

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You did solve the bode plot correctly.

When a pole is in the right half plane (greater than zero) the phase will increase during the pole.
It is important to note that this means the system is unstable.
 
There is no such thoing as a Bode plot for poles in the right-hand plane.

Zeros, OK.
 
rude man said:
There is no such thoing as a Bode plot for poles in the right-hand plane.
A Bode plot is usually just defined as a magnitude and phase plot of H(s)\rvert_{s = j\omega} versus \omega, where H(s) is the transfer function of the system. So strictly speaking, regardless of the implications of having poles in the right-half plane, the Bode plot for the system is still well-defined.

jegues said:
I can't wrap my head around why a pole has an increasing phase that starts at -180°. I was expecting a phase decrease from 0° to -90°.
I'm not sure why you would expect that. When in doubt, go back to basics:
<br /> \left. H(s) \right|_{s = j\omega} = \left. \frac{1}{2s - 1} \right|_{s = j\omega} = \frac{1}{2j\omega - 1} = \frac{1}{-1 + j2\omega} \Rightarrow\\<br /> \arg(H(j\omega)) = \arg\left(\frac{1}{-1 + j2\omega}\right) = \arg(1) - \arg(-1 + j2\omega) = 0 - (\arctan(-2\omega) + \pi) = -\arctan(-2\omega) - \pi<br />
Try evaluating that for \omega \ll 1 and \omega \gg 1.
 
milesyoung said:
A Bode plot is usually just defined as a magnitude and phase plot of H(s)\rvert_{s = j\omega} versus \omega, where H(s) is the transfer function of the system. So strictly speaking, regardless of the implications of having poles in the right-half plane, the Bode plot for the system is still well-defined.

No. The gain is undefined. The output approaches infinity for any finite input. So a "magnitude" of gain does not exist, neither does a "phase".
.
 
rude man said:
No. The gain is undefined. The output approaches infinity for any finite input. So a "magnitude" of gain does not exist, neither does a "phase".
It's true that the Bode plot for an unstable system does not give you information about its steady-state gain and phase shift (since it has no steady state to speak of), but that doesn't mean the Bode plot itself is undefined, which, if you read my post carefully, was what I was commenting on.

H(s)\rvert_{s = j\omega} evaluates fine for 0 &lt; \omega &lt; \infty, be it for a stable or unstable H(s).
 

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