LAPLACE TRANSFORM

Laplace Transform is a transformation of a function of time f(t) (f ≥ 0) to function of

frequency f(s). The Laplace transform is a useful tool for dealing with linear systems described
by ODEs. The purpose of the Laplace Transform is to transform ordinary differential equations
(ODEs) into algebraic equations, which makes it easier to solve ODEs.
Definition of Laplace Transform :
∞
ℒ {𝑓(𝑡)} = 𝐹(𝑠) = ∫ 𝑒 −𝑠𝑡 𝑓(𝑡) 𝑑𝑡
0

Property of Laplace Transform :

1. Linearity property
ℒ {𝑐1 𝑓(𝑡) + 𝑐2 𝑔(𝑡)} = 𝑐1 ℒ{𝑓(𝑡)} + 𝑐2 ℒ{𝑔(𝑡)}
2. First shift property
ℒ {𝑒 𝑎𝑡 𝑓(𝑡)} = 𝐹(𝑠 − 𝑎)
3. Derivative of tranform property
𝑑 𝑛 𝐹(𝑠)
ℒ {𝑡 𝑛 𝑓(𝑡)} = (−1) 𝑛
𝑑𝑠 𝑛

Table of Laplace Transform

𝑓(𝑡) 𝐹(𝑠)
1
1
𝑠
1
t
𝑠2
𝑛!
tn 𝑛
𝑠 +1
1
eat
𝑠−𝑎
𝑛!
tneat
(𝑠 − 𝑎)𝑛+1
𝑠
cos(wt)
𝑠 + 𝑤2
2
𝑤
sin(wt)
𝑠 + 𝑤2
2
𝑠−𝑎
eatcos(wt)
(𝑠 − 𝑎)2 + 𝑤 2
𝑤
eatsin(wt)
(𝑠 − 𝑎)2 + 𝑤 2
 𝑠2 − 𝑤2
t cos(wt)
(𝑠 2 + 𝑤 2 )2
2𝑤𝑠
t sin(wt)
(𝑠 + 𝑤 2 )2
2

2𝑤 3
sin(wt) – wt cos(wt)
(𝑠 2 + 𝑤 2 )2

Inverse Transform

If ℒ {𝑓(𝑡)} = 𝐹(𝑠) then 𝑓(𝑡) = ℒ −1 {𝐹(𝑠)}

Example :
𝑠
ℒ {cos(𝑤𝑡)} =
𝑠2 + 𝑤2
It follows
𝑠
ℒ −1 { } = cos(𝑤𝑡)
𝑠2 + 𝑤2

Inversion using the first shift theorem, defined as

ℒ −1 {𝐹(𝑠 − 𝑎)} = 𝑒 𝑎𝑡 𝑓(𝑡)

Transform of derivatives

ℒ {𝑓′(𝑡)} = 𝑠ℒ{𝑓(𝑡) − 𝑓(0)

ℒ {𝑓′′(𝑡)} = 𝑠 2 ℒ{𝑓(𝑡)} − 𝑠𝑓(0) − 𝑓′(0)
Transform of integrals
𝑡
1 1
ℒ {∫ 𝑓(𝜏)𝑑𝜏} = ℒ{𝑓(𝑡)} = 𝐹(𝑠)
0 𝑠 𝑠
IMPLEMENTATION OF LAPLACE TRANSFORM
The Laplace Transforms can be applied in analysis of electrical circuits and vibrating
mechanical systems

EXAMPLE
A voltage e(t) is applied to the primary circuit at time t = 0, and mutual induction M
drives the current i2(t) in the secondary circuit of the figure below. If, prior to closing the
switch, the currents in both circuits are zero, determine the induced current i2(t) in the
secondary circuit at time t when R1 = 4Ω, R2 = 10Ω, L1 = 2 H, L2 = 8 H, M = 2 H and
e(t) = 28 sin 2t V.

SOLUTION
Applying Kirchhoff’s second law to the primary and secondary circuits
𝑑𝑖1 𝑑𝑖2
𝑅1 𝑖1 + 𝐿1 +𝑀 = 𝑒(𝑡)
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑖2 𝑑𝑖1
𝑅2 𝑖2 + 𝐿2 +𝑀 =0
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
Substitute the given values
𝑑𝑖1 𝑑𝑖2
2 + 4𝑖1 + 2 = 28𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝑡
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑖1 𝑑𝑖2
2 +8 + 10𝑖2 = 0
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
Taking Laplace transforms and noting that i1(0) = i2(0) = 0 leads to the equations
28
(𝑠 + 2)𝐼1 (𝑠) + 𝑠𝐼2 (𝑠) =
𝑠2 +4
𝑠𝐼1 (𝑠) + (4𝑠 + 5)𝐼2 (𝑠) = 0
Solving for I2(s)
28𝑠
𝐼2 (𝑠) = −
(3𝑠 + 10)(𝑠 + 1)(𝑠 2 + 4)
Resolve into partial fractions
45 4
17 7 𝑠 − 26
𝐼2 (𝑠) = − + 5 +
3𝑠 + ! 0 𝑠 + 1 85 𝑠 2 + 4
Taking inverse Laplace transforms gives the current in the secondary circuit as
4 15 −10𝑡 7 91
𝑖2 (𝑡) = 𝑒 −𝑡 − 𝑒 3 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝑡 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝑡
5 17 85 85

As t→∞, the current will approach the sinusoidal response

7 91
𝑖2 (𝑡) = 𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝑡 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝑡
85 85
 REFERENCES

James, Glyn. 2015. Modern Engineering Mathematics 5th Edition. United Kingdom : Pearson.
https://math.stackexchange.com/questions/181160/what-exactly-is-laplace-transform
https://www.khanacademy.org/math/differential-equations/laplace-transform