LAPLACE TRANSFORMS OF THE UNIT STEP FUNCTION

Objectives

By the end of this handout, you must be able to:

 Sketch the graph of the unit step function; (u(t))

 Determine the Laplace transform of the unit step function, u(t)
 Sketch the graph of the shifted unit step function; u(t − a)
 Determine the Laplace transform of the shifted unit step function, u(t − a)

Introduction

So far in the study of Laplace transforms, we have only considered functions

which are continuous from t = 0 to t = ∞. But in practical applications, there are
some useful discontinuous functions as well, i.e, functions that switch on for an
interval of time and then switch off. A good example of such a function is the unit
step function, also known as the Heaviside function.

The unit step function, u(t)

This is a function which is equal to zero for all values of time in the range (t < 0),
and equal to 1 for all values of t in range (𝑡 ≥ 0). It is graphically represented as
follows:

Functional representation of the unit step function

0; t<0
u(t) = { }
1; t≥0

1
Laplace transform of the unit step function, 𝐮(𝐭)

Using the definition of the Laplace transform;

∞

ʆ u(t) = ∫ e−st u(t) dt

t=0

In this case, we only consider the value of the function in the range, 𝒕 ≥ 𝟎, where
f(t) = 1.
∞
∴ ʆ u(t) = ∫ e−st 1 dt
t=0

= ∫ e−st dt
t=0

1
ʆ u(t) =
s

The shifted unit step function u(t − a)

Sometimes, the unit step function does not start at the origin, i.e. it is shifted by ‘a’
units in the time axis and is represented by u(t − a). Graphically, it is shown as:

Functional representation of a shifted unit step function

0; t < a
u(t − a) = { }
1; t ≥ a

Laplace transform of a shifted unit step function

From the definition of the Laplace transform;

2
 ∞

ʆ u(t − a) = ∫ e−st . u(t − a) dt

t=0

Notice that from 𝐭 = 𝟎 to 𝒕 = 𝒂, the unit step function has value 0 and from

𝐭 = 𝐚 to 𝐭 = ∞, the unit step function is 1. So we will split this integral as follows:

∞
a
=∫ e−st 0 dt + ∫ e−st 1 dt
t=0
t=a

𝑎
The first part gives zero and ∫𝑡=0 0 𝑑𝑡 = 0

∞
∴ ʆ u(t − a) = ∫ e−st dt
t=a

∞
e−st
=[ ]
−s t=a

We now substitute the limits;

e−s∞ e−as
=[ − ]
−s −s

0 e−as
=[ + ]
−s s

e−as
∴ ʆ u(t − a) =
s

If the unit step function is shifted by ‘a’ units to the left, the function is u(t − −a) =
u(t + a).

eas
∴ ʆ u(t + a) = s

Example

1. Determine the functional representation and Laplace transforms of the

following function:

3
Solution

Step 1: Find the mathematical function representing this graph

Since this is a unit step function shifted by 3;

𝑓(𝑡) = 𝑢(𝑡 − 3)

Step 2: Find the Laplace transform

e−as
From the standard Laplace transform; ʆ u(t − a) = s

e−3s
∴ ʆ u(t − 3) =
s

Exercise

Determine the Laplace transforms of the following:

1. u(t − 6)
2. 3u(t − 2)
3. 5u(t + 3)

Inverse Laplace transform of the shifted unit step input

e−as
If: ʆ u(t − a) = s

e−as
Then: ʆ−1 ( ) = ʆ u(t − a)
s

Examples

Determine the inverse Laplace transforms of:

4
 e−2s
1. s
5e−s
2. s
e4s
3. 3s

Solutions

𝑒 −2𝑠
1. Given: 𝑠
e−as
From the standard: ʆ−1 ( ) = ʆ u(t − a)
s

−1
e−2s
ʆ ( ) = u(t − 2)
s
5𝑒 −𝑠
2. Given: 𝑠
e−as
From the standard: ʆ−1 ( ) = ʆ u(t − a)
s

−1
e−1s
5ʆ ( ) = 5u(t − 1)
s

e4s
4. Given: 3s

e−as
From the standard: ʆ−1 ( ) = ʆ u(t − a)
s

1 −1 e4s 1
ʆ ( ) = u(t + 4)
3 s 3

Exercise

Determine the inverse Laplace transforms of:

1
− s
10e 2
1. s
4e2s
2. 7s