A.

La Rosa Lecture Notes

PSU-Physics
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COMPLEX NUMBERS
1. Definition of complex numbers
Complex conjugate, magnitude
Operations: Addition, multiplication, reciprocal
number
2. Representation of complex numbers in polar form
The Euler’s representation z = a + ib = Aeiθ
3. Expressing the equation for the “forced harmonic
oscillator” in complex variable
1. Definition of complex numbers
2. Representation of complex numbers in polar
form
In short,
j
 Anytime we write Ae
we actually mean Acos() + j A Sin()
j
 Ae is simply easier to manipulate
3. Expressing differential equations in complex
variable
 Consider the following equation, where all the quantities are
real numbers,
d 2x dx
m b  kx  FoCos(t ) (1)
dt 2 d
This is the Eq. that governs the dynamic response of an
oscillator under the influence of a harmonic external force
FoCos(t ) .
We are looking for a solution x = x(t)
 We can always consider a parallel Eq.
d2y dy
m b  ky  Fo Sin(t )
dt 2 d
Notice the force is now Fo Sin(t )
(Different force, different solution; hence the use of y instead
of x.)
Judiciously, and since the Eq. is linear, we multiply the Eq. by
the complex number j; thus
d 2 jy djy
m b  kjy  Fo jSin(t ) (2)
dt 2 d
 Adding (1) and (2)
d 2 [ x  jy] d [ x  jy]
m 2
 b  k[ x  jy]  Fo [Cos(t )  jSin(t )]
dt d

By defining
 z  x  jy (3)
The above Eq. takes the form

d 2z
Foe jt
dz
m 2 b  kz  (4)
dt d

Compare Eq. (4) with Eq. (1)

 Thus, if we managed to find the complex function z(t) that

satisfies (4), then the solution of Eq (1) can be obtained using,
x= Real (z) (5)