Laplace Transform

Laplace Transform
Book: Advanced Engineering Mathematics
(10th Edition) by Ervin Kreyszig

• Chapter: 6
• Sections: 6.4, 6.5
Book: Differential Equations and Boundary value problems
(7th Edition) by Dennis G. Zill & Michael R. Cullen

• Chapter: 7
• Sections: 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5
 Control systems

Applications of Laplace
transforms
Nuclear Physics Electrical circuit
analysis
Digital Signal Processing

Deflection in
beams
Solving ODE’s using Laplace Transform
Laplace Transform is applicable to Linear first and higher order ODE’s with
constant coefficients subject to the initial conditions given at 𝒕 = 𝟎.

Method:
1. Apply Laplace transform on both sides of ODE.
2. Solve the resultant algebraic equation.
3. Take inverse Laplace transform to find solution of the given ODE.

Note: This method is applicable to both homogeneous and non-

homogeneous ODE’s. However, for non-homogeneous ODE’s the function
𝑓 𝑡 on the right hand side of the equation in standard form must possess
Laplace transform.
Examples & Exercise
𝑑𝑦
1. + 𝑦 = sin 3𝑡 ; 𝑦 0 = 2
𝑑𝑡

𝑑2 𝑦 𝑑𝑦
2. + 5 + 6𝑦 = 1 + 𝑒 −𝑡 ; 𝑦 0 = 0, 𝑦 ′ 0 = 0
𝑑𝑡 2 𝑑𝑡

𝑑3 𝑦 𝑑2 𝑦 𝑑𝑦
3. 2 3 + 3 2 −3 − 2𝑦 = 𝑒 −𝑡 ; 𝑦 0 = 0, 𝑦 ′ 0 = 0, 𝑦 ′′ 0 = 1
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
Practice Questions
Book: Differential Equations and Boundary value problems (7th Edition)
by Dennis G. Zill & Michael R. Cullen
Chapter: 7
Exercise: 7.2
Q # 31 to Q # 42.
Example: Use of Dirac delta function in ODE’s
Solve:
𝑦 ′′ + 𝑦 = 4𝛿 𝑡 − 2𝜋 ,
subject to the initial conditions: (a) 𝑦 0 = 1, 𝑦 ′ 0 = 0 (b) 𝑦 0 = 0, 𝑦 ′ 0 = 0.
The two initial-value problems could serve as models for describing the motion of a
mass on a spring moving in a medium in which damping is negligible. At 𝑡 = 2𝜋 the
mass is given a sharp blow. In (a) the mass is released from rest 1 unit below the
equilibrium position. In (b) the mass is at rest in the equilibrium position.
Solution: (a) The Laplace transform of the differential equation is:
−2𝜋𝑠
𝑠 4𝑒
𝑠 2 𝑌 𝑠 − 𝑠 + 𝑌 𝑠 = 4𝑒 −2𝜋𝑠 or 𝑌 𝑠 = 2 + 2 .
𝑠 +1 𝑠 +1
Using the inverse form of the second translation theorem, we find
𝑦 𝑡 = cos 𝑡 + 4 sin 𝑡 − 2𝜋 𝑢 𝑡 − 2𝜋 .
Since sin 𝑡 − 2𝜋 = sin 𝑡, the foregoing solution can be written as:
cos 𝑡 , 0 ≤ 𝑡 < 2𝜋
𝑦 𝑡 = (∗)
cos 𝑡 + 4 sin 𝑡 , 𝑡 ≥ 2𝜋.
It is clear from the graph of (∗) that the mass is exhibiting simple harmonic motion until
it is struck at 𝑡 = 2𝜋. The influence of the unit impulse is to increase the amplitude of
vibration to 17 for 𝑡 > 2𝜋.
Solution: (b) In this case the transform of the equation is simply:
4𝑒 −2𝜋𝑠
𝑌 𝑠 = 2 .
𝑠 +1
By taking Laplace inverse of above equation we get:
𝑦 𝑡 = 4 sin 𝑡 − 2𝜋 𝑢 𝑡 − 2𝜋 ,
which can be rewritten as:
0, 0 ≤ 𝑡 < 2𝜋
𝑦 𝑡 = (∗∗)
4 sin 𝑡 , 𝑡 ≥ 2𝜋.

The graph of (∗∗) shows, as we would expect

from the initial conditions that the mass exhibits
no motion until it is struck at 𝑡 = 2𝜋.
Practice Questions
Book: Differential Equations and Boundary value problems (7th Edition)
by Dennis G. Zill & Michael R. Cullen
Chapter: 7
Exercise: 7.5
Q # 1 to Q # 14.