APPENDIX C-l

LAPLACE TRANSFORMATION

The Laplace transformation is a mathematical operation which helps to solve linear, ordinary
differential equations with constant coefficients. The Laplace transforms F(s) of a function
involving time /(t) is defined as /(s) according to the equation:

ST
F(s) = L[/(t)= jf(t).e dt

"L" is the symbol for Laplace transform and read as "transform of, that is, transform of/(t),
to s domain. Integration of the right hand side of the equation does not involve the variable
function of time t, but transforms to the variable s. For example, the Laplace transform of
function /(t) = 1 can be written as:

F(s) = \{\).e-stdt = 1/s

Hence L[t] = 1/s

That is, variable t is replaced by variable s. Selected transforms normally required is given in
the table below.

LAPLACE TRANSFORMS OF COMMON DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

FROM TIME DOMAIN x TO s DOMAIN

fit) F(s)
u(t) 1/s
Uift) 1
ee"81 1/s+l
sinmt w / s +ro2
coscnt ro/s2+<»2
f/n! 1/S N + 1
at/n!
f e 1/(S-A) N + 1
K/(t) KF(S)
/i ft) ±/2Ct) FI(S)±F 2 (S)
/'(tt) SF(S)-/(S)
/ " (t) S2F(s)-S/(0)-/( (0)
fm SNF(s)-sn-7(0)-. ...-r 1 (0)
H) (0)1/s
rF(s))//si+r/
[F(sysN]+r/(( ') / ( t ) / s B l + . . . + T/f("n)(t)/sl
e"8* sin kt K/[(s+a) 2 +1C2
ST 2
E" coskt [S+Al/(s+a) 2 +k
Source:Automatic Control Engineering, Francic H.Raven, 1968 McGraw-Hill Kogakusha Int.
Students edition