This document is a compilation of all of the Bode plot pages in one document for

convenient printing.
Contents
Introduction
The Frequency Domain : What do Bode plots represent?
The Bode Plot : Why do we use the magnitude and phase plots?
The Asymptotic Plot : Defining the rules for making sketches.
The Method : Applying the rules to make sketches.
Examples : A series of Examples.
Rules Redux : A compact representation of the rules (including a pdf).
BodePlotGui : A MatLab GUI that helps to explain the method.
BodePaper : A MatLab function that will create the plots necessary for making
sketches by hand.
Bode Plots Overview
Bode plots are a very useful way to represent the gain and phase of a
system as a function of frequency. This is referred to as the frequency domain
behavior of a system. This web page attempts to demystify the process. The
various parts are more-or-less stand alone, so if you want to skip one or more,
that should not be a problem. If you are only interested in a quick lesson on how
to make Bode diagrams, go to part 4, "Making Plots." A MatLab program to
make piecewise linear Bode plots is described in part 6.
The documents are:
1. What is the frequency domain response? In other words, "What does a Bode
Plot represent?"
2. Why is the Bode representation used? There are many ways to represent
frequency response. Why are magnitude and phase plots used? This includes
some animations.
3. How are the piecewise linear asymptotic approximations derived?
4. Rules for making Bode plots. This is a quick "How to" lesson for drawing Bode
plots.
5. Some examples (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) - (combined into one file).
6. BodePlotGui: A software tool for generating asymptotic Bode plots.
7. A MatLab program for making semi-logarithmic paper for drawing your own Bode
plots.
8. A table summarizing Bode rules
9. The MATLAB files discussed in these documents.
Also available is a compilation of items 1 through 8, for easy printing.
What Bode Plots Represent: The
Frequency Domain
Why Sine Waves?
One of the most commonly used test functions for a circuit or system is the sine
wave. This is not because sine waves are a particularly common signal. They are in
fact quite rare - the transmission of electricity (a 60 Hz sine wave in the U.S., 50 Hz in
much of the rest of the world) is one example. The reason sine waves are important
is complex and involve a branch of Mathematics called Fourier Theory. Briefly put:
any signal going into a circuit can be represented by a sum of sine waves of varying
frequency and amplitude (often an infinite sum). As a simple example, consider the
graphs shown below. The top graph shows a triangle wave. The middle graph
shows a number of sine waves of varying frequency and amplitude. The bottom
graph shows the sum of the sine waves (red) and the original triangle wave (dotted
black).

Clearly even just a few sine waves are sufficient in this case to closely
approximate the original function. Fourier states that any function (with some
very minor restrictions that won't concern us), can be represented in this way.
This is why sine waves are important. Not because they are common, but
because we can represent arbitrarily complex functions using only these very
simple function.

Determining system output given input and transfer function
Given that sine waves are important, how can we analyze the response of a
circuit or system to sinusoidal inputs? There are many ways to do this,
depending on your mathematical sophistication. Let's use a fairly basic
explanation that uses phasors. If you are unfamiliar with phasors, you can find a
description in almost any circuits or systems textbook.
Using complex impedances it is possible to find the transfer function of a
circuit. For example, the circuit below is described by the transfer function, H(s),
where s=j.
Circuit Transfer Function
Consider the case where R=1 and C=0.1. In that case:
Generally we know the input V
i
and want to find the output Vo. We can do this by
simple multiplication
If we have a phasor representation for the input and the transfer function, the
multiplication is simple (multiply magnitudes and add phases). Finding the output
becomes easy. Let's look at some examples:
Example 1
and the transfer function evaluates to
The output is just the product of the input and the transfer function (evaluated as
phasors)
Note that Vo has an amplitude of 0.95 and lags Vi by 72. It is a phase "lag"
because the output lags, or follows, the input (the input goes up before the output so
the output is following the input).
Example 2
Change input phase
Both input and output have shifted 40from those in Example 1.
Example 3
Change input frequency
Frequency has changed, magnitude of output has increased, but phase lag has
decreased (to 45).
Example 4
Cosine Input
Note: all angles are given in degrees. They should be changed to radians before evaluation by
calculator or computer.
Key Concept: Sine waves can be used to represent other functions
This document explained briefly why sine waves are
important and how to find the output of a system given a
sinusoidal input (i.e., represent input and transfer function as
phasors and multiply to determine output as a phasor).
Why Use Magnitude and Phase Plots?
The previous document made the case that the study of sinusoidal inputs is
important, and showed how phasor representations of the input and the system
transfer function can be used to easily determine system output. This document will
explain why the standard way of representing the transfer function is with two plots:
magnitude vs. frequency and phase vs. frequency. At the bottom of this page there is
an animation to help develop an intuitive understanding of the concepts describe in
this page.
The difficulty in representing the transfer function comes about because we need to
plot a complex number, H(s) or H(j), as a function of frequency. Consider the
transfer function
To graph this, the most straightforward way (with a computer) might be to plot the
value of H(s) as the frequency changes. This yields the blue line in the three-
dimensional plot shown below.
It would obviously be hard to get accurate information about the real and
imaginary parts of H(s) from such a plot. It is easier if we plot the real and
imaginary parts as a function of frequency (the red and green projections of the
blue line). Clearly, in this case, two 2-dimensional graphs (one for real and one
for imaginary) are superior to a single 3-dimensional graph.
However, in the last document we showed that to easily determine the
output given the input, we would like to have the transfer function in phasor
notation. This means that we should make a plot of magnitude and phase.
Again, we could make a single 3-dimensional plot (the blue line), but it would be
easier to interpret the results if we make two 2-dimensional plots (the magenta
and cyan lines).
To clarify further, lets make separate plots of the magnitude and phase.
Note: Standard Bode plots are logarithmic on the frequency axis, and plot the magnitude in dB's
(deciBels). We'll explore that in the next installment.
Consider the examples from the previous document.
Example 1
and the transfer function evaluates to
The output is just the product of the input and the transfer function (evaluated as
phasors)
Note that Vo has an amplitude of 0.95 and lags Vi by 72.
Example 2
Change input phase
Both input and output have shifted 40from those in Example 1.
Example 3
Change input frequency
Frequency has changed, magnitude of output has increased, but phase lag has
decreased (to 45).
Example 4
Cosine input (i.e, a change of phase).
The magnitude and phase plots determine the phasor representation of the
transfer function at any frequency. On the graphs below we can see that at 10
rad/sec the phasor representation of the transfer function has a magnitude of
0.707 and a phase of -45. This means that at 10 rad/sec the magnitude of the
output will be 0.707 times the magnitude of the input and the output will lag the
input by 45.
Key Concept: The frequency response is shown with two plots, one for
magnitude and one for phase.
The frequency response of a system is presented as two
graphs: one showing magnitude and one showing phase. The
phasor representation of the transfer function can then be
easily determined at any frequency. The magnitude of the
output is the magnitude of the phasor representation of the
transfer function (at a given frequency) multiplied by the
magnitude of the input. The phase of the output is the phase
of the transfer function added to the phase of the input.
An animation
To get a more intuitive idea of what the frequency response represents,
consider the system below. (Hit start button to show animation)
For an animation of an analogous electrical system, go here.
Animation by Ames Bielenberg
The transfer function of the system is given by (with m=1, b=0.5, k=1.6, u=input
to system, y=output (the position of the mass):
You can see by the animation that at low frequencies the input and output are
equal, and in phase. At intermediate frequencies the system is somewhat
resonant, and the output actually gets larger than the input (but there is a
growing phase lag). As frequency increases further, the output decreases. The
outline of the peaks of the output plot is similar to the magnitude plots above (the
phase plot is not obvious, but it obviously starts at 0and then decreases - if you
type "ctrl +" you can zoom in to see the phase shift). In this case, the magnitude
plot would start at one (output=input) at low frequencies, it would then increase,
followed by a decrease.
Bode plots (introduced next) formalize a particular method for drawing
magnitude and phase plots (as a function of frequency) associated with a given
transfer function.
The Asymptotic Bode Diagram: Derivation
of Approximations
Contents: Asymptotic approximation for...
A Constant
Real Pole
Real Zero
Pole at Origin
Zero at Origin
Complex Pole
Complex Zero
Introduction
Given a transfer function, such as
the question naturally arises: "How can we display this function?" In
the previous document the argument was made that the most useful way to
display this function is with two plots, the first showing the magnitude of the
transfer function and the second showing its phase. One way to do this is by
simply entering many values for the frequency, calculating the magnitude and
phase at each frequency and displaying them. This is what a computer would
naturally do. For example if you use MATLAB and enter the commands
>> MySys=tf(100*[1 1],[1 110
1000])
Transfer function:
100 s + 100

-----------------------------
-
s^2 + 110 s + 1000
>> o!e(MySys)
you get a plot like the one shown below. The asymptotic solution is given
elsewhere.
However, there are reasons to develop a method for drawing Bode diagrams
manually. By drawing the plots by hand you develop an understanding about
how the locations of poles and zeros effect the shape of the plots. With this
knowledge you can predict how a system behaves in the frequency domain by
simply examining its transfer function. On the other hand, if you know the shape
of transfer function that you want, you can use your knowledge of Bode diagrams
to generate the transfer function.
The first task when drawing a Bode diagram by hand is to rewrite the
transfer function so that all the poles and zeros are written in the form (1+s/
0
).
The reasons for this will become apparent when deriving the rules for a real
pole. A derivation will be done using the transfer function from above, but it is
also possible to do a more generic derivation. Let's rewrite the transfer function
from above.
Now lets examine how we can easily draw the magnitude and phase of this
function when s=j.

First note that this expression is made up of four terms, a constant (0.1), a
zero (at s=-1), and two poles (at s=-10 and s=-100). We can rewrite the function
(with s=j) as four individual phasors.
We will show (below) that drawing the magnitude and phase of each individual
phasor is fairly straightforward. The difficulty lies in trying to draw the magnitude
and phase of H(j). We can write H(j) as a single phasor:
Drawing the phase is fairly simple. We can draw each phase term separately,
and then simply add them. The magnitude term is not so straightforward
because of the fact that the magnitude terms are multiplied, it would be much
easier if they were added - then we could draw each term on a graph and
just add them. A method for doing this is outlined below.
The Magnitude Plot
One way to transform multiplication into addition is by using the logarithm.
Instead of using a simple logarithm, we will use a deciBel (named for Alexander
Graham Bell). (Note: Why the deciBel?) The relationship between a quantity, Q, and
its deciBel representation, X, is given by:
So if Q=100 then X=40; Q=0.01 gives X=-40; X=3 gives Q=1.41; and so on.
If we represent the magnitude of H(s) in deciBels we get


The advantage of using deciBels (and of writing poles and zeros in the form
(1+s/
0
)) are now revealed. The fact that the deciBel is a logarithmic term
transforms the multiplication of the individual terms to additions. Another benefit
is apparent in the last line that reveals just two types of terms, a constant term
and terms of the form 20log10(|1+j /
0
|). Plotting the constant term is trivial,
however the other terms are not so straightforward. These plots will be
discussed below. However, once these plots are drawn for the individual terms,
they can simply be added together to get a plot for H(s).

The Phase Plot
If we look at the phase of the transfer function, we see much the same thing:
The phase plot is easy to draw if we take our lead from the magnitude plot. First
note that the transfer function is made up of four terms. If we want
Again there are just two types of terms, a constant term and terms of the form
(1+j /
0
). Plotting the constant term is trivial; the other terms are
discussed below.

A more generic derivation
The discussion above dealt with only a single transfer function. Another
derivation that is more general, but a little more complicated mathematically
is here.


Making a Bode Diagram
Following the discussion above, the way to make a Bode Diagram is to split
the function up into its constituent parts, plot the magnitude and phase of each
part, and then add them up. The following gives a derivation of the plots for each
type of constituent part. Examples, including rules for making the plots follow
in the next document, which is more of a "How to" description of Bode diagrams.
A Constant Term
Consider a constant term,
Magnitude
Clearly the magnitude is constant
Phase
The phase is also constant. If K is positive, the phase is 0(or any even
multiple of 180). If K is negative the phase is -180, or any odd multiple of
180. We will use -180because that is what MATLAB uses. Expressed in
radians we can say that if K is positive the phase is 0 radians, if K is negative the
phase is - radians.
Example: Bode Plot of Gain Term
Key Concept: Bode Plot of Gain Term
For a constant term, the magnitude plot is a straight line.
The phase plot is also a straight line, either at 0(for a positive
constant) or 180(for a negative constant).
A Real Pole
Consider a simple real pole
The frequency
0
is called the break frequency, the corner frequency or the 3 dB
frequency (more on this last name later).
Magnitude
The magnitude is given by
Let's consider three cases for the value of the frequency:
Case 1) <<
0
. This is the low frequency case. We can write an
approximation for the magnitude of the transfer function
The low frequency approximation is shown in blue on the diagram below.
Case 2) >>
0
. This is the high frequency case. We can write an
approximation for the magnitude of the transfer function
The high frequency approximation is at shown in green on the diagram below. It
is a straight line with a slope of -20 dB/decade going through the break frequency
at 0 dB. That is, for every factor of 10 increase in frequency, the magnitude
drops by 20 dB.
Case 3) =
0
. The break frequency. At this frequency
This point is shown as a red circle on the diagram.
To draw a piecewise linear approximation, use the low frequency asymptote
up to the break frequency, and the high frequency asymptote thereafter.
The resulting asymptotic approximation is shown highlighted in pink. The
maximum error between the asymptotic approximation and the exact magnitude
function occurs at the break frequency and is approximately 3 dB.
The rule for drawing the piecewise linear approximation for a real pole can
be stated thus:
For a simple real pole the piecewise linear asymptotic
Bode plot for magnitude is at 0 dB until the break frequency
and then drops at 20 dB per decade (i.e., the slope is -20
dB/decade).
Phase
The phase of a single real pole is given by is given by
Let us again consider three cases for the value of the frequency:
Case 1) <<
0
. This is the low frequency case. At these frequencies We
can write an approximation for the phase of the transfer function
The low frequency approximation is shown in blue on the diagram below.
Case 2) >>
0
. This is the high frequency case. We can write an
approximation for the phase of the transfer function
The high frequency approximation is at shown in green on the diagram below. It
is a straight line with a slope at -90.
Case 3) =
0
. The break frequency. At this frequency
This point is shown as a red circle on the diagram.
A piecewise linear approximation is not as easy in this case because the
high and low frequency asymptotes don't intersect. Instead we use a rule that
follows the exact function fairly closely, but is also arbitrary. Its main advantage
is that it is easy to remember. The rule can be stated as
Follow the low frequency asymptote until one tenth the
break frequency (0.1
0
) then decrease linearly to meet the
high frequency asymptote at ten times the break frequency (10

0
). This line is shown above. Note that there is no error at
the break frequency and about 5.7of error at one tenth and
ten times the break frequency.
Example 1: Real Pole
The first example is a simple pole at 10 radians per second. The low frequency asymptote is
the dashed blue line, the exact function is the solid black line, the cyan line represents 0.
Example 2: Repeated Real Pole
The second example shows a double pole at 30 radians per second. Note that
the slope of the asymptote is -40 dB/decade and the phase goes from 0 to -180.
Key Concept: Bode Plot for Real Pole
For a simple real pole the piecewise linear asymptotic Bode plot for
magnitude is at 0 dB until the break frequency and then drops at 20 dB
per decade (i.e., the slope is -20 dB/decade). An n
th
order pole has a
slope of -20n dB/decade.
The phase plot is at 0until one tenth the break frequency and then
drops linearly to -90at ten times the break frequency. An n
th
order
pole drops to -90n.
A Real Zero
The piecewise linear approximation for a zero is much like that for a pole
Consider a simple zero:
Magnitude
The development of the magnitude plot for a zero follows that for a pole.
Refer to the previous section for details. The magnitude of the zero is given by
Again there are three cases:
1. At low frequencies, <<
0
, the gain is approximately zero.
2. At high frequencies, >>
0
, the gain increases at 20 dB/decade and goes
through the break frequency at 0 dB.
3. At the break frequency, =
0
, the gain is about 3 dB.
The rule for drawing the piecewise linear approximation for a real zero can
be stated thus:
For a simple real zero the piecewise linear asymptotic
Bode plot for magnitude is at 0 dB until the break frequency
and then increases at 20 dB per decade (i.e., the slope is +20
dB/decade).
Phase
The phase of a simple zero is given by:
The phase of a single real zero also has three cases:
1. At low frequencies, <<
0
, the phase is approximately zero.
2. At high frequencies, >>
0
, the phase is 90.
3. At the break frequency, =
0
, the phase is 45.
The rule for drawing the phase plot can be stated thus:
Follow the low frequency asymptote until one tenth the
break frequency (0.1
0
) then increase linearly to meet the
high frequency asymptote at ten times the break frequency (10

0
).
Examples
This example shows a simple zero at 30 radians per second. The low
frequency asymptote is the dashed blue line, the exact function is the solid black
line, the cyan line represents 0.
Key Concept: Bode Plot of Real Zero:
For a simple real zero the piecewise linear asymptotic Bode plot for
magnitude is at 0 dB until the break frequency and then rises at +20
dB per decade (i.e., the slope is +20 dB/decade). An
n
th
order zero has a slope of +20n dB/decade.
The phase plot is at 0until one tenth the break frequency and
then rises linearly to +90at ten times the break frequency. An
n
th
order zero rises to +90n.
A Pole at the Origin
A pole at the origin is easily drawn exactly. Consider
Magnitude
The magnitude is given by
This function is represented by a straight line on a Bode plot with a slope of -20
dB per decade and going through 0 dB at 1 rad/ sec. It also goes through 20 dB
at 0.1 rad/sec, -20 dB at 10 rad/sec...

The rule for drawing the magnitude for a pole at the origin can be thus:
For a pole at the origin draw a line with a slope of -20
dB/decade that goes through 0 dB at 1 rad/sec.
Phase
The phase of a simple zero is given by:
The rule for drawing the phase plot for a pole at the origin an be stated thus:
The phase for a pole at the origin is -90.
Example: Real Pole at Origin
This example shows a simple pole at the origin. The black line is the Bode plot,
the cyan line indicates a zero reference (dB or ).
Key Concept: Bode Plot for Pole at Origin
For a simple pole at the origin draw a straight line with a slope of -20
dB per decade and going through 0 dB at 1 rad/ sec. An n
th
order pole
has a slope of -20n dB/decade.
The phase plot is at -90. An n
th
order pole is at -90n.
A Zero at the Origin
A zero at the origin is just like a pole at the origin but the magnitude
increases, and the phase is positive.
Key Concept: Bode Plot for Zero at Origin
For a simple zero at the origin draw a straight line with a slope of +20
dB per decade and going through 0 dB at 1 rad/ sec. An
n
th
order zero has a slope of +20n dB/decade.
The phase plot is at +90. An n
th
order zero is at +90n.
A Complex Conjugate Pair of Poles
The magnitude and phase plots of a complex conjugate (underdamped) pair
of poles is more complicated than those for a simple pole. Consider the transfer
function:
Magnitude
The magnitude is given by
Let's consider three cases for the value of the frequency:
Case 1) <<
0
. This is the low frequency case. We can write an
approximation for the magnitude of the transfer function
The low frequency approximation is shown in red on the diagram below.

Case 2) >>
0
. This is the high frequency case. We can write an
approximation for the magnitude of the transfer function
The high frequency approximation is at shown in green on the diagram below. It
is a straight line with a slope of -40 dB/decade going through the break frequency
at 0 dB. That is, for every factor of 10 increase in frequency, the magnitude
drops by 40 dB.

Case 3)
0
. It can be shown that a peak occurs in the magnitude plot
near the break frequency. The derivation of the approximate amplitude and
location of the peak are given here. We make the approximation that a peak
exists only when
0< <0.5
and that the peak occurs at 0 with height 1/(2 ).
To draw a piecewise linear approximation, use the low frequency asymptote
up to the break frequency, and the high frequency asymptote thereafter. If <0.5,
then draw a peak of amplitude 1/(2 ) Draw a smooth curve between the low and
high frequency asymptote that goes through the peak value.
As an example For the curve shown below,
The peak will have an amplitude of 5.00 or 14 dB.
The resulting asymptotic approximation is shown as a black dotted line, the exact
response is a black solid line.
The rule for drawing the piecewise linear approximation for a complex
conjugate pair of poles can be stated thus:
For the magnitude plot of complex conjugate poles draw a
0 dB at low frequencies, go through a peak of height,
.
at the break frequency and then drop at 40 dB per decade
(i.e., the slope is -40 dB/decade). The high frequency
asymptote goes through the break frequency.
Phase
The phase of a complex conjugate pole is given by is given by
Let us again consider three cases for the value of the frequency:
Case 1) <<
0
. This is the low frequency case. At these frequencies We
can write an approximation for the phase of the transfer function
The low frequency approximation is shown in red on the diagram below.

Case 2) >>
0
. This is the high frequency case. We can write an
approximation for the phase of the transfer function
The high frequency approximation is at shown in green on the diagram below. It
is a straight line at -180.

Case 3) =
0
. The break frequency. At this frequency
The asymptotic approximation is shown below, followed by an explanation
A piecewise linear approximation is not easy in this case, and there are no
hard and fast rules for drawing it. The most common way is to look up a graph in
a textbook with a chart that shows phase plots for many values of . Three
asymptotic approximations are given here. We will use the approximation that
connects the the low frequency asymptote to the high frequency asymptote
starting at
and ending at
If <0.02, the approximation can be simply a vertical line at the break frequency.
The rule for drawing phase of an underdamped pair of poles can be stated
as
Follow the low frequency asymptote at 0until
then decrease linearly to meet the high frequency asymptote
at -180at
Key Concept: Bode Plot for Complex Conjugate Poles
For the magnitude plot of complex conjugate poles draw a 0 dB at low
frequencies, go through a peak of height,
.
at the break frequency and then drop at 40 dB per decade (i.e., the slope
s -40 dB/decade). The high frequency asymptote goes through the
break frequency. Note that the peak only exists for
0 < < 0.5
To draw the phase plot simply follow low frequency asymptote at 0
until
then decrease linearly to meet the high frequency asymptote at -180at
If <0.02, the approximation can be simply a vertical line at the break
frequency.
A Complex Conjugate Pair of Zeros
Not surprisingly a complex pair of zeros yields results similar to that for a
complex pair of poles. The differences are that the magnitude has a dip instead
of a peak, the magnitude increases above the break frequency and the phase
increases rather than decreasing.
Example: Complex Conjugate Zero
The graph below corresponds to a complex conjugate zero with
The dip in the magnitude plot will have a magnitude of 0.2 or -14 dB.
Key Concept: Bode Plot of Complex Conjugate Zeros
For the magnitude plot of complex conjugate zeros draw a 0 dB at low
frequencies, go through a dip of magnitude:
.
at the break frequency and then rise at +40 dB per decade (i.e., the slope
is +40 dB/decade). The high frequency asymptote goes through the
break frequency. Note that the peak only exists for
0 < < 0.5
To draw the phase plot simply follow low frequency asymptote at 0
until
then increase linearly to meet the high frequency asymptote at 180at
Brief review of page: This document derived piecewise linear approximations
that can be used to draw different elements of a Bode diagram. A synopsis of
these rules can be found in a separate document.
Rules for Constructing Bode Diagrams
This document will discuss how to actually draw Bode diagrams. It consists mostly of
examples.
Key Concept -
To draw Bode diagram there are four steps:
1. Rewrite the transfer function in proper form.
2. Separate the transfer function into its constituent parts.
3. Draw the Bode diagram for each part.
4. Draw the overall Bode diagram by adding up the results from part 3.
1. Rewrite the transfer function in proper form.
A transfer function is normally of the form:
As discussed in the previous document, we would like to rewrite this so the
lowest order term in the numerator and denominator are both unity.
Some examples will clarify:
Example 1
Note that the final result has the lowest (zero) order power of numerator and
denominator polynomial equal to unity.
Example 2
Note that in this example, the lowest power in the numerator was 1.
Example 3
In this example the denominator was already factored. In cases like this, each
factored term needs to have unity as the lowest order power of s (zero in this case).
2. Separate the transfer function into its constituent parts.
The next step is to split up the function into its constituent parts. There are
seven types of parts:
1. A constant
2. Poles at the origin
3. Zeros at the origin
4. Real Poles
5. Real Zeros
6. Complex conjugate poles
7. Complex conjugate zeros
We can use the examples above to demonstrate again.
Example 1
This function has
a constant of 6,
a zero at s=-10,
and complex conjugate poles at the roots of s
2
+3s+50.
The complex conjugate poles are at s=-1.5 j6.9 (where j=sqrt(-1)). A more
common (and useful for our purposes) way to express this is to use the standard
notation for a second order polynomial
In this case
Example 2
This function has
a constant of 3,
a zero at the origin,
and complex conjugate poles at the roots of s
2
+3s+50, in other words

Example 3
This function has
a constant of 2,
a zero at s=-10, and
poles at s=-3 and s=-50.
3. Draw the Bode diagram for each part.
The rules for drawing the Bode diagram for each part are summarized on a
separate page. Examples of each are given later.
4. Draw the overall Bode diagram by adding up the results
from step 3.
After the individual terms are drawn, it is a simple matter to add them
together. See examples, below.
Examples: Draw Bode Diagrams for the following transfer
functions
These examples are compiled on the next page .
Example 1
A simple pole

Full Solution
Example 2
Multiple poles and zeros
Full Solution
Example 3
A pole at the origin and poles and zeros
Full Solution
Example 4
Repeated poles, a zero at the origin, and a negative constant
Full Solution
Example 5
Complex conjugate poles
Full Solution
Example 6
A complicated function
Full Solution
Bode Plot Examples
Several examples of the construction of Bode Plots are included in this file. Click on
the transfer function in the table below to jump to that example.
Examples (Click on Transfer Function)
1
(a real
pole)
2
(real poles and
zeros)
3
(pole at
origin)
4
(repeated real poles,
negative constant)
5
(complex
conj.
poles)
6
(multiple
poles at
origin,
complex
conj zeros)
7
(time
delay)

Bode Plot: Example 1
Draw the Bode Diagram for the transfer function:
Step 1: Rewrite the transfer function in proper form.
Make both the lowest order term in the numerator and denominator unity.
The numerator is an order 0 polynomial, the denominator is order 1.

Step 2: Separate the transfer function into its constituent
parts.
The transfer function has 2 components:
A constant of 3.3
A pole at s=-30
Step 3: Draw the Bode diagram for each part.
This is done in the diagram below.
The constant is the cyan line (A quantity of 3.3 is equal to 10.4 dB). The phase is
constant at 0 degrees.
The pole at 30 rad/sec is the blue line. It is 0 dB up to the break frequency, then
drops off with a slope of -20 dB/dec. The phase is 0 degrees up to 1/10 the
break frequency (3 rad/sec) then drops linearly down to -90 degrees at 10 times
the break frequency (300 rad/sec).
Step 4: Draw the overall Bode diagram by adding up the
results from step 3.
The overall asymptotic plot is the translucent pink line, the exact response is
the black line.
Bode Plot: Example 2
Draw the Bode Diagram for the transfer function:
Step 1: Rewrite the transfer function in proper form.
Make both the lowest order term in the numerator and denominator unity.
The numerator is an order 1 polynomial, the denominator is order 2.
Step 2: Separate the transfer function into its constituent
parts.
The transfer function has 4 components:
A constant of 0.1
A pole at s=-10
A pole at s=-100
A zero at s=-1
Step 3: Draw the Bode diagram for each part.
This is done in the diagram below.
The constant is the cyan line (A quantity of 0.1 is equal to -20 dB). The phase is
constant at 0 degrees.
The pole at 10 rad/sec is the green line. It is 0 dB up to the break frequency,
then drops off with a slope of -20 dB/dec. The phase is 0 degrees up to 1/10 the
break frequency (1 rad/sec) then drops linearly down to -90 degrees at 10 times
the break frequency (100 rad/sec).
The pole at 100 rad/sec is the blue line. It is 0 dB up to the break frequency,
then drops off with a slope of -20 dB/dec. The phase is 0 degrees up to 1/10 the
break frequency (10 rad/sec) then drops linearly down to -90 degrees at 10 times
the break frequency (1000 rad/sec).
The zero at 1 rad/sec is the red line. It is 0 dB up to the break frequency, then
rises at 20 dB/dec. The phase is 0 degrees up to 1/10 the break frequency (0.1
rad/sec) then rises linearly to 90 degrees at 10 times the break frequency (10
rad/sec).
Step 4: Draw the overall Bode diagram by adding up the
results from step 3.
The overall asymptotic plot is the translucent pink line, the exact response is
the black line.
Bode Plot: Example 3
Draw the Bode Diagram for the transfer function:
Step 1: Rewrite the transfer function in proper form.
Make both the lowest order term in the numerator and denominator unity.
The numerator is an order 1 polynomial, the denominator is order 2.

Step 2: Separate the transfer function into its constituent
parts.
The transfer function has 4 components:
A constant of 33.3
A pole at s=-3
A pole at s=0
A zero at s=-10
Step 3: Draw the Bode diagram for each part.
This is done in the diagram below.
The constant is the cyan line (A quantity of 33.3 is equal to 30 dB). The phase is
constant at 0 degrees.
The pole at 3 rad/sec is the green line. It is 0 dB up to the break frequency, then
drops off with a slope of -20 dB/dec. The phase is 0 degrees up to 1/10 the
break frequency (0.3 rad/sec) then drops linearly down to -90 degrees at 10
times the break frequency (30 rad/sec).
The pole at the origin. It is a straight line with a slope of -20 dB/dec. It goes
through 0 dB at 1 rad/sec. The phase is -90 degrees.
The zero at 10 rad/sec is the red line. It is 0 dB up to the break frequency, then
rises at 20 dB/dec. The phase is 0 degrees up to 1/10 the break frequency (1
rad/sec) then rises linearly to 90 degrees at 10 times the break frequency (100
rad/sec).
Step 4: Draw the overall Bode diagram by adding up the
results from step 3.
The overall asymptotic plot is the translucent pink line, the exact response is
the black line.
Bode Plot: Example 4
Draw the Bode Diagram for the transfer function:
Step 1: Rewrite the transfer function in proper form.
Make both the lowest order term in the numerator and denominator unity.
The numerator is an order 1 polynomial, the denominator is order 3.

Step 2: Separate the transfer function into its constituent
parts.
The transfer function has 4 components:
A constant of -10
A pole at s=-10
A doubly repeated pole at s=-1
A zero at the origin
Step 3: Draw the Bode diagram for each part.
This is done in the diagram below.
The constant is the cyan line (A quantity of 10 is equal to 20 dB). The phase is
constant at -180 degrees (constant is negative).
The pole at 10 rad/sec is the blue line. It is 0 dB up to the break frequency, then
drops off with a slope of -20 dB/dec. The phase is 0 degrees up to 1/10 the
break frequency then drops linearly down to -90 degrees at 10 times the break
frequency.
The repeated pole at 1 rad/sec is the green line. It is 0 dB up to the break
frequency, then drops off with a slope of -40 dB/dec. The phase is 0 degrees up
to 1/10 the break frequency then drops linearly down to -180 degrees at 10 times
the break frequency. The magnitude and phase drop twice as steeply as those
for a single pole.
The zero at the origin is the red line. It has a slope of +20 dB/dec and goes
through 0 dB at 1 rad/sec. The phase is 90 degrees.
Step 4: Draw the overall Bode diagram by adding up the
results from step 3.
The overall asymptotic plot is the translucent pink line, the exact response is
the black line.
Bode Plot: Example 5
Draw the Bode Diagram for the transfer function:
Step 1: Rewrite the transfer function in proper form.
Make both the lowest order term in the numerator and denominator unity.
The numerator is an order 1 polynomial, the denominator is order 2.

Step 2: Separate the transfer function into its constituent
parts.
The transfer function has 4 components:
A constant of 6
A zero at s=-10
Complex conjugate poles at the roots of s
2
+3s+50,
with
Step 3: Draw the Bode diagram for each part.
This is done in the diagram below.
The constant is the cyan line (A quantity of 6 is equal to 15.5 dB). The phase is
constant at 0 degrees.
The zero at 10 rad/sec is the green line. It is 0 dB up to the break frequency,
then rises with a slope of +20 dB/dec. The phase is 0 degrees up to 1/10 the
break frequency then rises linearly to +90 degrees at 10 times the break
frequency.
The plots for the complex conjugate poles are shown in blue. They cause a peak
of:

at a frequency of

This is shown by the blue circle. The phase goes from the low frequency
asymptote (0 degrees) at

to the high frequency asymptote at

Step 4: Draw the overall Bode diagram by adding up the
results from step 3.
The exact response is the black line.
Bode Plot: Example 6
Draw the Bode Diagram for the transfer function:
Step 1: Rewrite the transfer function in proper form.
Make both the lowest order term in the numerator and denominator unity.
The numerator is an order 2 polynomial, the denominator is order 3.

Step 2: Separate the transfer function into its constituent
parts.
The transfer function has 4 components:
A constant of 1
A pole at s=-100
A repeated pole at the origin (s=0)
Complex conjugate zeros at the roots of s
2
+s+25,
with
Step 3: Draw the Bode diagram for each part.
This is done in the diagram below.
The constant is the cyan line (A quantity of 1 is equal to 0 dB). The phase is
constant at 0 degrees.
The pole at 100 rad/sec is the green line. It is 0 dB up to the break frequency,
then falls with a slope of -20 dB/dec. The phase is 0 degrees up to 1/10 the
break frequency then falls linearly to -90 degrees at 10 times the break
frequency.
The repeated poles at the origin are shown with the blue line. The slope is -40
dB/decade (because pole is repeated), and goes through 0 dB at 1 rad/sec. The
slope is -180 degrees (again because of double pole).
The complex zero is shown by the red line. The zeros give a dip in the
magnitude plot of

at a frequency of 5 rad/sec (because is small,
r

0
). This is shown by the red
circle. The phase goes from the low frequency asymptote (0 degrees) at

to the high frequency asymptote at

Again, because is so small, this line is close to vertical.
Step 4: Draw the overall Bode diagram by adding up the
results from step 3.
The exact response is the black line.
Bode Plot: Example 7
Draw the Bode Diagram for the transfer function:
This is the same as "Example 1," but has a 0.01 second time delay. We have
not seen a time delay before this, but we can easily handle it as we would any
other constituent part of the transfer function. The magnitude and phase of a time
delay are described here.
Step 1: Rewrite the transfer function in proper form.
Make both the lowest order term in the numerator and denominator unity.
The numerator is an order 0 polynomial, the denominator is order 1.
Step 2: Separate the transfer function into its constituent
parts.
The transfer function has 3 components:
A constant of 3.3
A pole at s=-30
A time delay of 0.01 seconds (magnitude and phase of time delay
described here).
Step 3: Draw the Bode diagram for each part.
This is done in the diagram below.
The constant is the cyan line (A quantity of 3.3 is equal to 10.4 dB). The phase is
constant at 0 degrees.
The pole at 30 rad/sec is the blue line. It is 0 dB up to the break frequency, then
drops off with a slope of -20 dB/dec. The phase is 0 degrees up to 1/10 the
break frequency (3 rad/sec) then drops linearly down to -90 degrees at 10 times
the break frequency (300 rad/sec).
The time delay is the red line. It is 0 dB at all frequencies. The phase of the
time delayis given by -0.01 rad, or -0.01 180/ (at =100 rad/sec, the
phase is -0.01100180/ -30). There is no asymptotic approximation for the
phase of a time delay. Though the equation for the phase is linear with
frequency, it looks exponential on the graph because the horizontal axis is
logarithmic.
Step 4: Draw the overall Bode diagram by adding up the
results from step 3.
The exact response is the black line.

References
Rules for Drawing Bode Diagrams
The table below summarizes what to do for each type of term in a Bode Plot.

Term Manitu!e "#ase
Constant: K 20log
10
(K) K!0: 0"
K#0: $1%0"
"ole at $riin
(&ntegrator)
'20 d()decade passing t*roug* 0
d( at +,1
'-0"
%ero at $riin
(.i//erentiator)
020 d()decade passing t*roug*
0 d( at +,1
(Mirror image of Integrator
about 0 dB)
0-0"
(Mirror image of Integrator
about 0)
&eal "ole
1. .ra1 lo1 /re2uency
asymptote at 0 d(
2. .ra1 *ig* /re2uency
asymptote at '20
d()decade
3. Connect lines at +
0
.
1. .ra1 lo1 /re2uency
asymptote at 0"
2. .ra1 *ig* /re2uency
asymptote at '-0"
3. Connect 1it* a straig*t
line /rom 0.14+
0
to 104+
0
&eal %ero
1. .ra1 lo1 /re2uency
asymptote at 0 d(
2. .ra1 *ig* /re2uency
asymptote at 020
d()decade
3. Connect lines at +
0
.
(Mirror image of Real Pole
about 0 dB)
1. .ra1 lo1 /re2uency
asymptote at 0"
2. .ra1 *ig* /re2uency
asymptote at 0-0"
3. Connect 1it* a straig*t
line /rom 0.14+
0
to 104+
0
(Mirror image of Real Pole
about 0)
'n!er!ampe! "oles
(Complex
conjugate poles)
1. .ra1 lo1 /re2uency
asymptote at 0 d(
2. .ra1 *ig* /re2uency
asymptote at '50
d()decade
3. &/ 6#0.7, t*en dra1 pea8
at +
0
1it* amplitude
9(j+
0
),'204log
10
(26)
5. Connect lines
1. .ra1 lo1 /re2uency
asymptote at 0"
2. .ra1 *ig* /re2uency
asymptote at '1%0"
3. Connect 1it* a straig*t
line /rom
You can also look in a
textbook for examples
'n!er!ampe! %eros
(Complex
conjugate zeros)
1. .ra1 lo1 /re2uency
asymptote at 0 d(
2. .ra1 *ig* /re2uency
asymptote at 050
1. .ra1 lo1 /re2uency
asymptote at 0"
2. .ra1 *ig* /re2uency
d()decade
3. &/ 6#0.7, t*en dra1 pea8
at +
0
1it* amplitude
9(j+
0
),0204log
10
(26)
5. Connect lines
(Mirror image of Underdamped
Pole about 0 dB)
asymptote at 01%0"
3. Connect 1it* a straig*t
line
/rom
You can also look in a
textbook for examples
(Mirror image of Underdamped
Pole about 0)
For multiple order poles and zeros, simply multiply the slope of the
magnitude plot by the order of the pole (or zero) and multiply the high and low
frequency asymptotes of the phase by the order of the system.
For example:
(econ! $r!er &eal
"ole
1. .ra1 lo1 /re2uency
asymptote at 0 d(
2. .ra1 *ig* /re2uency
asymptote at !"0 d()decade
3. Connect lines at :rea8
/re2uency.
!"0 db#dec is used because of order
of pole$% &or a t'ird order pole(
as)mptote is !*0 db#dec
1. .ra1 lo1 /re2uency asymptote
at 0"
2. .ra1 *ig* /re2uency asymptote
at !+,0"
3. Connect 1it* a straig*t line
/rom 0.14+
0
to 104+
0
!+,0 is used because order of
pole$% &or a t'ird order pole( 'ig'
fre-uenc) as)mptote is at !%.0
BodePlotGui: A Tool for Generating
Asymptotic Bode Diagrams
BodePlotGui is a graphical user interface written in the MATLAB programming
language. It takes a transfer function and splits it into its constituent elements, then
draws the piecewise linear asymptotic approximation for each element. It is hoped
that the BodePlotGui program will be a versatile program for teaching and learning
the construction of Bode diagrams from piecewise linear approximations.
Files for the program are found here
Use of program.
A Simple Example.
Consider the transfer function:
This function has three terms to be considered when constructing a Bode
diagram, a constant (100), a pole at =10 rad/sec, and a zero at the origin. The
following MATLAB commands begin execution of the GUI:
>>MySys=tf(1000*[1
0],[1 10])"
#!efine $fer
function
>>%o!e&'ot(ui(MySys)
#)n*o+e (,)
The GUI generates a window as shown below.

Starting in the upper left and going counterclockwise, the windows show:
1. The magnitude plot, both the piecewise linear approximation for all three terms
as well as the asymptotic plot for the complete transfer function and the exact
Bode diagram for magnitude. Also shown is a zero reference line.
2. The phase plot.
3. A list of the systems in the user workspace.
4. Several checkboxes that let the user format the image. In particular there is a
check-box that determines whether or not to display the asymptotic plot for the
complete transfer function; sometimes it gets in the way of seeing the other plots,
so you may want to hide it.
5. Buttons for help and a web resource (the web resource are the Bode Plot pages
you are currently looking at).
6. The legend identifying individual terms on the plot.
7. A box that shows elements excluded from the plot. This box is empty in this
display because the diagram displays all three elements of the transfer function.
8. A 'Legend' box that shows elements displayed in the plot.
9. Several check-boxes that allow the user to display how the plots are displayed
Also shown in the upper right hand corner is the transfer function, H(s).
Modifying what is displayed
The function displayed can be manipulated term by term to illustrate the
effect of each term. For example, the zero at the origin can be excluded simply
by clicking on it in the lower left hand box. The figure below shows the result.
Note that the zero at the origin is no longer included in the plot. Each term
can be likewise included or excluded by simply clicking on it.
The next plot shows the plot modified to have thicker lines, a grid, phase in
radians and with the asymptotic plot of the complete transfer function. In the
previous graph, the phase of the asymptotic plot obscured that of the real pole;
this is an example when it might be convenient not to show the asymptotic
approximation.
Underdamped terms
Underdamped poles (and zeros) present a difficulty because they cause a
peak (dip) in the magnitude plot. The program show this with a simple circle
showing the peak height. For example the transfer function
yields the output shown below. The peak due to the underdamped pole is
clearly shown.
A more complicated example
The example below is more complicated. It shows underdamped terms,
repeated poles, and a pole at the origin.
Limitations of the software:
The software has known limitations. It does not calculate the phase
associate with a time delay. It only decomposes transfer functions with up to 20
separate terms (a limit only of the number of colors used). Repeated poles and
zeros are treated as a single term (i.e., it is not possible to move only one pole of
a repeated pair from the Elements included in plot window to the Elements
excluded from plot window of the GUI).
Get the files
Make your own Bode plot paper
When making Bode plots one needs two pieces of semi-logarithmic paper, one for the
magnitude plot and one for the phase. The program described here, BodePaper.m,
can be used to make paper. Download it and save it so that MatLab can find it (from
the Matlab menu you can go to File->Set Path and include the directory where you
stored the BodePaper.m file.)
The syntax for calling is given by the function's help file.
>> -e'. %o!e&a.er
%o!e&a.er is Mat'a co!e
to /enerate /ra.- .a.er
for %o!e .'ots0 )t
/enerates
t1o se2i'o/ /ra.-s for
2a+in/ %o!e .'ots0 T-e
to. .'ot is for
2a/nitu!e, t-e
units on t-e *ertica'
a3is is set to !%0 T-e
otto2 .'ot s-o1s .-ase0
T-e
units on t-e .-ase .'ot
can e ra!ians or
!e/rees, at t-e
!iscretion of t-e
user0 T-e !efau't is
!e/rees0
T-e correct ca''in/
synta3 is:
%o!e&a.er(o24'o, o24-i,
!%4'o, !%4-i, .-4'o,
.-4-i, ,se5a!)
o24'o t-e 'o1 en! of
t-e fre6uency sca'e0 T-is
can e eit-er
ra!7sec or 890 :o
units are !is.'aye! on
t-e /ra.-0
o24-i t-e -i/- en! of
t-e fre6uency sca'e0
!%4'o t-e otto2 en!
of t-e !% sca'e0
!%4-i t-e to. en! of
t-e !% sca'e0
.-4'o t-e otto2 en!
of t-e .-ase sca'e0
.-4-i t-e to. en! of
t-e .-ase sca'e0
,se5a! an o.tiona'
ar/u2ent0 )f t-is
ar/u2ent is non-9ero t-e
units
on t-e .-ase .'ot
are ra!ians0 )f t-is
ar/u2ent is 'eft off
or set to 9ero,
t-e units are !e/rees0
To make paper that goes from 0.1 Hz to 100 Hz, with the magnitude scale
going from -60 to 40 dB and the phase from -180 to 90 degrees, the function call
would be
>> %o!e&a.er(001,100,-
;0,<0,-1=0,>0)
and the paper looks like:
To change the units on phase the function call would be:
%o!e&a.er(001,100,-
;0,<0,-.i,.i72,1)
and the paper now looks like this: