[python-control-discuss] pedagogical controls question

Not sure if this list is still active or if there is a good answer to
my question.  I teach a junior level intro to dynamic systems course for
manufacturing engineers who don't take dynamics.  There are some unique
challenges based on whether or not skipping dynamics indicates a lack of
conceptual understanding about more theoretical things.

Every year I get questions like "what is s?" or "what is the frequency
domain?".  They seem to want some kind of an analogy that is very concrete
(not abstract).  I have tried various things.  I think I can do a decent
job explaining the frequency domain from a fourier standpoint, but how do
you talk about the frequency domain when s has a real component (i.e. is
not purely imaginary like in Fourier analysis)?

Any suggestions are welcome.

Thanks,
Ryan

--
Dr. Ryan Krauss
Associate Professor
Product Design and Manufacturing Engineering
Grand Valley State University