Page 278 - Basic Electrical Engineering

Figure 3.4 Non-sinusoidal waves and harmonics

In Fig. 3.4 (a) have been shown a trapezoidal and a triangular-type non-
sinusoidal wave. In Fig. 3.4 b (i) has been shown a non-sinusoidal wave

which is the sum of two component sine waves of different frequencies. One
has the same frequency as the non-sinusoidal wave. This is called the

fundamental. The other harmonic wave has twice the frequency as the
fundamental. This is called the second harmonic. The non-sinusoidal wave

shown in 3.4 b (ii) and (iii) are composed of a fundamental wave and a third
harmonic. A third harmonic wave has three times the frequency as the