Understanding of Laplace & Fourier Trasnform

Based on Analogies
Abstract:-
In this research, some analogies were drawn form
our daily lives in order to better understand the
concept of Laplace and Fourier transform..
The Laplace transform is a powerful tool for solving
LTI (Linear-time-invariant) Systems by converting
(transforming) the differential equations form the
Time domain into the Frequency domain.
The Fourier transform decomposes a function of
time into its constituent frequencies. This is similar
to the way a musical chord can be expressed in
terms of the volumes and frequencies of its
constituent notes.
An analogy Based study of the Laplace and
Fourier transform was done in order to further
simplify the concept-of-These-transform.
After a poll that was taken in the premises of
Military-College-of Signals (NUST) The results
proved that analogy-based teaching was more
effective on the increase of students achievement
score than conventional Cramming. The majority of
students claimed that using analogies in lessons was
useful. Because using analogies helped the students
to understand that invisible concept. The students
stated in their feedback that using analogy technique
in science lessons was useful and it provides
permanent learning. They said that some abstract
concepts and invisible objects were often the most
difficult to explain-and-learn.Some of the students
stated that using analogies in the lessons was
enjoyable and
interesting.
Keywords: Laplace, Fourier, signal processing,
Analogies, LTI, Differential Equations.
I. Introduction:-
The purpose of the Laplace Transform is to
transform ordinary differential equations (ODEs)
into algebraic equations, which makes it easier to
solve ODEs... The Laplace Transform is a
generalized Fourier Transform, since it allows one
to obtain transforms of functions that have no
Fourier Transforms. Laplace transform has several
applications in almost all Engineering disciplines.
Laplace transform is used to simplify calculations in
system modeling, where large differential equations
are used. In electrical circuits, a Laplace transform
is used for the analysis of linear time-invariant
systems.
The Laplace transform is an
integral transform perhaps second only to the
Fourier transform in its utility in solving physical
problems. The Laplace transform is particularly
useful in solving linear ordinary differential
equations such as those arising in the analysis of
electronic circuits.
One uses the Laplace transform to study the
transient response of a circuit. Like, when you turn
it on, what happens as current flows to charge the
capacitors in the circuit to their normal operating
voltage. With the proper use of the transform one
can see the transient voltage drop in each resistor
caused by the charging current.
For the steady state response one uses the Fourier
transform, which has many similarities with the
Laplace transform.
The Fourier Transform is an important image
processing tool which is used to decompose an
image into its sine and cosine components. The
output of the transformation represents the image in
the Fourier or frequency domain, while the input
image is the spatial domain equivalent.
The Importance in signal processing: First and
foremost, a Fourier transform of a signal tells you
what frequencies are present in your signal and in
what proportions. ... Instantly tells us how much
power the signal has at a particular frequency .
II. Purpose of study:
The aim of this study is to Develop some
analogy-based examples of a relatively
hard to understand concept to the
students, and to help them understand
Laplace transform through analogies. The
research questions are:
 Is there any easier way to describe the
working and the concept of “The
Laplace Transform”?
 Can we find the Examples of Laplace
Transform in our Daily lives?
 Can Students learn the Laplace
transform with analogy?
 Is there any easier way to describe the
working and the concept of “The
Fourier Transform”?
 Can we find the Examples of Fourier
Transform in our Daily lives?
 Can Students learn the Fourier
transform with analogies?
III. Overview:-
The Fourier Transform is a tool that breaks a
waveform (a function or signal) into an alternate
representation, characterized by sine and cosines.
The Fourier Transform shows that any waveform
can be re-written as the sum of sinusoidal functions.
AndLaplace Transform. The Laplace transform is an
integral transform perhaps second only to the
Fourier transform in its utility in solving physical
problems. The Laplace transform is particularly
useful in solving linear ordinary differential
equations such as those arising in the analysis of
electronic circuits.
IV. Concept:-
In our daily lives there are numerous concepts that
concern us and thus we develop an understanding of
the things that are around us..
Whilst some concepts are concrete and are easy to
understand there are some concepts in which we
require a keen knowledge of the subject and
understanding.
For understanding of the concept of transforms we
must learn about the abstract concepts related to
them.
V. Conclusions and Discussion:-
 Some Analogies for Laplace
Transform :-
1-Suppose that you come across a Verse written
in Arabic of whose meaning you don't
understand properly. However suppose that you
know a Urdu-speaking gentleman who is a
master of interpreting Verses. So you translate the Verse
into Urdu and send it to the Urdu-speaking gentleman.
The Urdu-speaking gentleman writes a perfectly good
interpretation of the Verse in Urdu and sends this back to
you where you translate it back into Arabic and
you have the meaning of the Verse.
Verse in Arabic = Differential Equation.
Interpretation in Arabic = Solution of
Differential Equation. Translate to Urdu = Take
Laplace Transform. Verse in Urdu (better
interpreter) = Algebraic Equation (easier to
solve). Interpretation in Urdu = Laplace
Transform of Solution of Differential Equation.
Translate back into English = Inverse Laplace
Transform.
2- Suppose you are on your way home and suddenly
the tire goes flat…
Now you use a jack to lift the car up in order to
change the tire and after changing the tire your
dismount the car form the jack…
Here you used a method similar to the concept of
Laplace transform..
The problem was a flat tire (Complicated Problem)
in order to fix it you applied a jack thus Laplace
transform.. Now the problem becomes easier you
change the tier (easy solution) and hence dismount
it (inverse Laplace transform).
3-Suppose a Scientist Wants to conduct a nuclear
experiment which is hard to do on earth as it
requires, zero gravity, free space and vacuum etc..
now the scientist sent the nuclear
resources in to space in a space
shuttle where all the conditions
were met and the experiment
became much more simpler and
after the completion it came
back to earth..
S-DOMIAN SPACE
EARTH
T-DOMIAN
Now when we say space shuttle we can relate it to
Laplace transform and the Earth as the t-
domain and the space as the s-domian.in the s-
domain the problem was much simpler to
handle and them after completion of task the
shuttle return to earth i.e. t-domain as in the
inverse Laplace transform .
4.
Another
analogy for
Laplace
transform can
be the
example of a
capacitor. A
capacitor
stores the energy in its electric field(s-domain) and
when current is required to flow in a circuit, it
transmits the stored energy and the current starts to
flow in that circuit(t-domain). In this way, the
storing of charges can be considered as Laplace
transform and the flow of current can be considered
as its Inverse Laplace.

Now if you think about it these different frequencies

all add are sine’s and cosines that combine up to
form the signal.
3-
 Some Analogies for Fourier Now lets consider the example of chemical analysis
Transform :- In which we perform the analysis and find out the
different binary components in the chemical like,
1- Carbon,oxygen,Hydrogen etc..
Suppose that you want to know the Blood
composition of a certain person now you take the
blood sample of that person and find the different
parameters like BloodSugar,Insulin,Red blood
cells,platlets,plasma etc… through a blood test.

Now when we perform the blood test we are
actually applying a Fourier transform that then
shows us the different conponents present in the
blood.. This is the basic concept of the Fourier
transform.
2-Another way to Understand the Fourier
transform is by looking at it like a Venn diagram as
the signal is like a universal set and the subsets of
this universal set are the different frequency
components found in that signal.
Same is in the case of Fourier analysis in which the
binary sines and cosines of the signal are examined.
4.
We know that a “Prism” reflects a single white light
and splits it into seven colors (of different
frequencies), which is also similar to Fourier
Transform. In this case the prism acts as a fourier
transform and we see that all colors are indeed made
up

of a single white light.

REFERENCES

[1] https://math.stackexchange.com/questions/6661/laplace-
transformations-for-dummies
[2] https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/mathematics/18-03-differential- [3] https://electricalbaba.com/laplace-transform-how-time-domain-
equations-spring-2010/video-lectures/lecture-19-introduction-to- converted-to-frequency-domain/
the-laplace-transform/ [4] https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Venn-diagram-showing-the-classes-
of-quantum-codes-obtainable-by-Fourier-inversion_fig1_2307327