Using the Derivative Function to Differentiate a Waveform With the New Advanced CODAS Graphic User Interface (GUI)

The new Advanced CODAS GUI makes easy work of differentiating a waveform with respect to time. With a single mouse click you can determine the rate of change of a waveform; be it from displacement data, to determine the rate at which an object is moving, or from a ventricular pressure waveform, to determine speed at which a heart muscle contracts.

Performing a second derivative (on the velocity waveform) yields acceleration, or the rate of change of velocity.

A built in “Smoothing Factor” allows you to filter out noise, or smooth the calculated waveform.

In this example, we’ll differentiate displacement data from a string pot to derive velocity, and then differentiate the velocity waveform to obtain acceleration: