Maple For Circuits And Systems

There are three popular software programs used to solve circuits problems: Maple , ATLAB , and Spice. Each one has a different approach to the manner in which the problem is implemented and solved. Spice will solve a circuit given its schematic diagram without the user having any knowledge of circuit analysis or circuit equations. MATLAB is useful in solving systems when the system is described in a strict and often unnatural format. This has the disadvantage of requiring the program input be written in a form that is removed from the mathematical representation of the real system. Maple solves equations in their basic form. That is the user must be able to write the appropriate equations for the system in order for Maple to solve. Maple provides an extremely powerful “math-solving” computer package. Developed by mathematicians, it is not always user friendly in solving engineering problems. Maple is not designed to solve circuits or systems; however, it can solve most circuits and systems equations. In addition to being able to solve these equations quickly, it has substantial graphic capabilities. These two properties, speed and graphics, make it a valuable learning tool for electrical and systems engineers. This paper will describe methods and procedures for using Maple to analyze and solve: signal analysis; first order and second order circuits; linear circuits; system transfer functions (Bode); and Laplace transform methods. P ge 398.