Unit Step Function

Unit step function is defined as

{
u ( t )= 0 ,∧t<0
1 ,∧t ≥ 0

The delayed or displaced unit step function u ( t−a ) represents the

function u ( t ) which is displaced by a distance a to the right

{
u ( t−a )= 0 ,∧t <a
1 ,∧t ≥ a

Laplace Transform of Unit Step Function

1. Laplace Transform of unit step function u ( t )

{
u ( t )= 0 ,∧t<0
1 ,∧t ≥ 0
∞
L { u(t) } =∫ e
−st
u ( t ) dt
0

But u ( t )=1 for t ≥ 0

∞ ∞ n

Therefore L { u(t) } =∫ e ( 1 ) dt =∫ e−st dt=lim ∫ e−st dt

−st

0 0 n→∞ 0

( ) ( )
−sn − st
e e
L { u(t) } =lim −¿ lim ¿
n →∞ −s t → 0 −s

L { u(t) } =
−1
s
lim
(
n →∞ e
1
) 1
+ lim
ssn ( e )
1
t→0
st

s (e ) s (e )
−1 1 +1 1
L { u(t) } = ∞ 0

L { u(t) } = ( ) ()
−1 1 +1 1
s ∞ s 1
−1 +1
L { u(t) } = ( 0) (1 )
s s
1
L { u(t) } =
s

2. Laplace Transform of displaced unit step function u ( t−a )

 {
u ( t−a )= 0 ,∧t <a
1 ,∧t ≥ a
∞
L { u(t−a) } =∫ e
−st
u ( t−a ) dt
0

But u ( t−a )=0 for t <a and u ( t−a )=1 for t ≥ a

a ∞

Therefore L { u(t−a) } =∫ e ( 0 ) dt +∫ e−st ( 1 ) dt

−st

0 a

n
L { u(t−a) } =0+ lim ∫ e
−st
dt
n→∞ a

( ) ( )
−sn − st
e e
L { u(t−a) } =lim −¿ lim ¿
n →∞ −s t → a −s

L { u(t−a) } =
−1
s
lim
(e ) s (e )
1 1
+ lim
n→ ∞
1
sn
t→a
st

s (e ) s (e )
−1 1 +1 1
L { u(t−a) } = ∞ as

s (∞) s (e )
−1 1 +1 1
L { u(t−a) } = as

−1 +1 −as
L { u(t−a) } = ( 0) ( e )
s s
−as
e
L { u(t−a) } =
s
3. The function f (t)u ( t−a ) is defined as
f (t)u ( t−a )=
{f (t),∧t
0 ,∧t <a
≥a

Then Laplace Transformed of L {f (t)u ( t−a ) }=e−as L { f (t+a)}

4. The function f (t−a)u (t−a ) is defined as

f (t−a)u (t−a )=
{f (t−a),∧t
0 ,∧t <a
≥a

Then Laplace Transform of L {f (t−a)u ( t−a ) }=e−as L { f (t )}

or
L { f (t−a)u ( t−a ) }=e
−as
F (s)