Abstract:
In order to understand better the physical world, scientists use mathematical models to predict the reaction of various physical systems, such as the response of a mass attached to a spring and to external stimuli. Such systems are reduced to appropriate differential equations. However, showing graphical representation of the solutions to these models becomes computationally complex. An analogue computer consisting of summers, integrators and coefficient potentiometer was constructed to solve this problem. Using different types of differential equations and assuming different initial conditions the system's response to sine, triangular and square waves at frequencies between 2Hz and 10kHz were determined. Applying the computer to a control transfer function, the response was obtained for different values of gain K from 0.3 to 0.9, it was shown that the overshoot, the delay time, the rise time, settling time and frequency response all varied significantly with K.
