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INTRODUCTION
a0
f (t ) an cos nt bn sin nt
2 n1
- Fourier methods give us a set of powerful tools for representing any periodic function
as a sum of sines and cosines.
- Many problems in physics or engineering involve vibrations and oscillations. Often the
oscillatory motion is simple (e.g. weights on springs, pendulums, harmonic waves etc.)
and can be represented as single sine or cosine functions. However, in many cases
(electromagnetism, heat conduction, quantum theory, etc.) the waveforms are not
simple and unlike sines and cosines, can be difficult to treat analytically.
- In other words, any periodic function can be resolved as a summation of constant
value and cosine and sine functions:
a0
f (t ) an cos nt bn sin nt
2 n 1
a0
= a1 cos t b1 sin t a2 cos 2t b2 sin 2t a3 cos3t b3 sin 3t ...
2
- The computation and study of Fourier series is known as harmonic analysis and is
extremely useful as a way to break up an arbitrary periodic function into a set of
simple terms that can be plugged in, solved individually and then recombined to
obtain the solution to the original problem or an approximation to it to whatever
accuracy is desired or practical.
57 Fourier Series
- Figure below shows Fourier series and its individual plot (break up):
a0
f (t )
an cos nt bn sin nt
2 n1
2
where Fundamental frequency
T
T
f (t )dt
2
a0
T
0
T T
f (t ) cos nt dt f (t )sin nt dt
2 2
an bn
T T
0 0
T /2
Example 1
Determine the Fourier series representation of the following waveform:
59 Fourier Series
[Additional notes]
- The sum of the Fourier series terms can evolve (progress) into the original waveform
- From Example 1, we obtain this equation after expansion of the first three terms:
1 2 2 2
f (t ) sin t sin 3 t sin 5 t
2 3 5
- It can be demonstrated that the sum will lead to the square wave:
60 Fourier Series
61 Fourier Series
Example 2
Given f (t ) t , 1 t 1
f (t 2) f (t )
Example 3
2 t , 0 t 2
Given v(t )
0 , 2t 4
v(t 4) v(t )
Symmetry Considerations
- Symmetry functions:
(i) Even symmetry
(ii) Odd symmetry
- How to know if the function is even or odd?
(i) By plotting the function:
Any function f (t) is even if its plot is symmetrical about the vertical axis
(mirror to y-axis/f(x) axis), i.e.
Any function f (t) is odd if its plot is antisymmetrical about the vertical axis (
rotate 180 degree about the origin), i.e.
64 Fourier Series
If
f (t ) f (t ) , then the function is even
If
f (t ) f (t ) , then the function is odd.
Example 4
Determine whether the following function is odd, even or neither odd nor even:
Odd symmetry
The integral of an odd function from A to +A is zero
From the properties of even and odd functions, we can show that:
(i) for even periodic function;
T /2
4
an
T f (t ) cos ntdt
0
bn 0
(ii) for odd periodic function;
T /2
a0 an 0 bn
4
f (t ) sin ntdt
T 0
66 Fourier Series
Example 5
1 , 2 t 1
Given f (t ) t , 1 t 1
1 , 1 t 2
f (t 4) f (t )
Example 6
Compute the Fourier series expansion of f (t).
69 Fourier Series
a0
f (t )
2 n1
an cos nt
f (t ) b sin nt
n 1
n
Example 7
Compute the half-range Fourier sine series expansion of f (t), where
f (t ) 1 , 0 t
73 Fourier Series
Example 8
Determine the half-range cosine series expansion of the function:
f (t ) 2t 1 , 0 t 1
Sketch the graphs of both f (t) and the periodic function represented by the series
expansion for 3 < t < 3.
74 Fourier Series
1, x 0
f ( x)
0, 0 x
a) Sketch a graph of () in the interval 2 < < 2
b) Show that the Fourier series for () in the interval < < is
1 2 1 1
sin x sin 3x sin 5 x ...
2 3 5
c) By giving an appropriate value to x, show that
1 1 1
1 ...
4 3 5 7
5. Let () be a function of period 2 such that
0, x 0
f ( x)
x, 0 x
a) Sketch a graph of () in the interval 3 < < 3
b) Show that the Fourier series for () in the interval < < is
2 1 1
cos x cos3x cos5x ...
4 9 25
75 Fourier Series
1 1 1 2 1 1 1
(i) 1 ... and (ii) 1 ...
4 3 5 7 8 9 25 49
6. Let () be a function of period 2 such that
x, 0 x
f ( x)
, x 2
a) Sketch a graph of () in the interval 2 < < 2
b) Show that the Fourier series for () in the interval 0 < < 2 is
3 2 1 1 1 1
cos x cos3x cos5 x ... sin x sin 2 x sin 3 x ...
4 9 25 2 3
c) By giving an appropriate value to x, show that:
1 1 1 2 1 1 1
(i) 1 ... and (ii) 1 ...
4 3 5 7 8 9 25 49
7. Let () be a function of period 2 such that
x
f ( x) over the interval 0 x 2
2
a) Sketch a graph of () in the interval 0 < < 4
b) Show that the Fourier series for () in the interval 0 < < 2 is
1 1
sin x sin 2 x sin 3x ...
2 2 3
c) By giving an appropriate value to x, show that:
1 1 1
1 ...
4 3 5 7
8. Let () be a function of period 2 such that
x, 0 x
f ( x)
0, x 2
a) Sketch a graph of () in the interval 2 < < 2
b) Show that the Fourier series for () in the interval 0 < < 2 is
76 Fourier Series
2 1 1 1 1 1
cos x cos3x cos5 x ... sin x sin 2 x sin 3 x sin 4 x ...
4 9 25 2 3 4
c) By giving an appropriate value to x, show that:
2 1 1 1
1 ...
8 9 25 49
9. Let () be a function of period 2 such that
f ( x) x in the range - x
a) Sketch a graph of () in the interval -3 < < 3
b) Show that the Fourier series for () in the interval < < is
1 1
2 sin x sin 2 x sin 3x ...
2 3
c) By giving an appropriate value to x, show that:
1 1 1
1 ...
4 3 5 7
10. Let () be a function of period 2 such that
2 1 1
4 cos x 2 cos 2 x 2 cos3x ...
3 2 3
c) By giving an appropriate value to x, show that:
2 1 1 1
1 ...
6 22 32 42