ABSTRACT
In this chapter the authors develop a better understanding of how these and more complex circuits behave by treating them as systems rather than networks of individual components. There are two types of system that shall be concerned with: first-order and second-order systems: A first-order system is one that can be modelled using a first-order differential equation and A second-order system is one that can be modelled using a second-order differential equation. The voltage impressed on a first- or second-order circuit is often referred to as the forcing function whilst the current is known as the forced response. The Laplace transform provides us with a means of transforming differential equations into straightforward algebraic equations, thus making the solution of expressions involving several differential or integral terms relatively simple. SCILAB is used to obtain a graph of current plotted against time for the second-order system.
