(New page: Energy and Power Classifications The total energy of a continuous-time signal x(t), where x(t) is defined for −∞ < t < ∞, is 2( ) lim 2( ) T T T E x t dt x t dt ∞ ∞ <math>−∞ ...)
 
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Energy and Power Classifications
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The total energy of a continuous-time signal x(t), where x(t) is defined for −∞ < t < ∞,
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is
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2( ) lim 2( )
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T
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T T
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E x t dt x t dt
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<math>−∞ →∞ −
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=� = �</math>In many situations, this quantity is proportional to a physical notion of energy, for
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example, if x(t) is the current through, or voltage across, a resistor. If a signal has finite
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energy, then the signal values must approach zero as t approaches positive and negative
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infinity.
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The time-average power of a signal is
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<math>lim 1 2( )
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2
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T
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T T
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P x t dt
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∞ T
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→∞ −
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= �</math>For example the constant signal x(t) =1 (for all t) has time-average power of unity.
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With these definitions, we can place most, but not all, continuous-time signals into one of
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two classes:
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• An energy signal is a signal with finite E∞ . For example, x(t) =e−|t| , and, trivially,
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x(t) = 0, for all t are energy signals. For an energy signal, P∞ = 0 .
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• A power signal is a signal with finite, nonzero P∞ . An example is x(t) =1, for all t,
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though more interesting examples are not obvious and require analysis. For a power
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signal, E∞ = ∞.
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Example Most would suspect that x(t) = sin(t) is not an energy signal, but in any case we<math>Insert formula here</math>
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Latest revision as of 18:07, 5 September 2008

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