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Chapter 9: Laplace Transform

Mathematical Physics, Part 2. Theory, numbered worked examples and 4 previous years’ questions (CSIR NET-JRF, GATE, IIT-JAM and JEST, 2020–2026) with full solutions. Click Show solution under any question.

Theory
  • The Laplace transform is an integral transform.

  • It solves ordinary and partial differential equations (initial- and boundary-value problems).

It handles unit-step (Heaviside) and Dirac-delta inputs simply. The strategy for an initial-value problem is

(IVP: initial-value problem; L.T., I.L.T.: Laplace and inverse Laplace transform).

Applications

  • Electrical networks;

  • springs (mechanical oscillators);

  • mixing problems;

  • signal processing;

  • many other areas of engineering and physics.

Definition of the Laplace Transform

The Laplace transform of \(f(t)\) is

\[ F(s)=\int_0^\infty\ee^{-st}f(t)\,\dd t. \]

  • \(F(s)\Leftrightarrow f(t)\): the two functions form a Laplace transform pair.

  • \(f(t)=L^{-1}F(s)\) and \(F(s)=Lf(t)\).

Example 9.1

Find the Laplace transforms of the following functions.

Solution.

(a) \(f(t)=1\): \[ F(s)=\int_0^\infty\ee^{-st}(1)\,\dd t=\Bigl[\frac{\ee^{-st}}{-s}\Bigr]_0^\infty=\frac{-1}{s}\bigl[\ee^{-\infty}-\ee^0\bigr]=\frac1s, \qquad L\{1\}=\frac1s. \]

(b) \(f(t)=\ee^{at}\): \[ F(s)=\int_0^\infty\ee^{at}\cdot\ee^{-st}\,\dd t=\Bigl[\frac{\ee^{(a-s)t}}{a-s}\Bigr]_0^\infty=\frac1{a-s}\bigl[\ee^{(a-s)\infty}-\ee^0\bigr]. \] If \(s>a\), \[ F(s)=\frac1{a-s}[0-1]=\frac1{s-a}. \] The Laplace transform is linear: \[ L\bigl[af(t)+bg(t)\bigr]=aLf(t)+bLg(t). \]

(c) \(f(t)=\sinh at\): \[ L(\sinh at)=L\Bigl\{\frac{\ee^{at}-\ee^{-at}}2\Bigr\}=\frac12\Bigl[\frac1{s-a}-\frac1{s+a}\Bigr] =\frac12\Bigl[\frac{s+a-s+a}{s^2-a^2}\Bigr]=\frac{a}{s^2-a^2}. \]

(d) \(f(t)=\cosh at\): \[ L\{\cosh at\}=L\Bigl\{\frac{\ee^{at}+\ee^{-at}}2\Bigr\}=\frac12\Bigl[\frac1{s-a}+\frac1{s+a}\Bigr] =\frac12\Bigl[\frac{s+a+s-a}{s^2-a^2}\Bigr]=\frac{s}{s^2-a^2}. \]

(e) \(f(t)=\sin\omega t\): \begin{align*} L\{\sin\omega t\}&=L\Bigl\{\frac{\ee^{\ii\omega t}-\ee^{-\ii\omega t}}{2\ii}\Bigr\} =\frac1{2\ii}\bigl[L(\ee^{\ii\omega t})-L(\ee^{-\ii\omega t})\bigr]=\frac1{2\ii}\Bigl(\frac1{s-\ii\omega}-\frac1{s+\ii\omega}\Bigr)\\ &=\frac1{2\ii}\Bigl(\frac{s+\ii\omega-s+\ii\omega}{s^2+\omega^2}\Bigr)=\frac{2\ii\omega}{2\ii(s^2+\omega^2)}, \qquad L\{\sin\omega t\}=\frac{\omega}{s^2+\omega^2}. \end{align*}

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