What does a Bode plot represent and what is a pole and zero of a Bode plot?

Question

I studied Bode plots and the author of my book is somehow relating zeros of transfer functions to Bode plots. What is the relation between zeros or poles of a Bode plot and transfer function? We usually take zeros at \$s=-a\$ (let's say) but how will we show it in a Bode plot since the log of negative values doesn't exist?

Answer 1

Bode plot

Take a typical 2nd order low pass filter amplitude response bode plot: -

3-D picture introducing pole-zero diagram

Here's the bigger picture of that response when combined with a pole zero diagram: -

Traditional pole zero diagram

Looking down from above onto the 3-D picture shows the traditional pole zero diagram: -

Pole zero geometry and |H(s)|

What is the relation between zeros or poles of bode plot and transfer function?

If you know the pole positions (or the zero positions) you can predict the bode plot magnitude by calculating the distance from each pole (or zero) to any particular point on the bode plot. This reveals the magnitude along the \$j\omega\$ axis. Note that the red dot below is a variable point on the \$j\omega\$ axis that is required to be calculated. The geometry of the pole zero diagram is examined: -

The reciprocal of \$d_1\cdot d_2\$ gives you the magnitude of the bode plot at any point on the \$j\omega\$ axis. If there was a zero involved (at a distance \$n_1\$ to the particular point on the \$j\omega\$ axis), the magnitude would be the reciprocal of: -

$$\dfrac{d_1\cdot d_2}{n_1}$$

Some pictures from here.

Pole zero diagram and phase response

If you want to know how the phase response is derived from the pole zero diagram, here it is for the conjugate pole example from above: -

But, of course, you could just take the transfer function and mathematically derive phase and magnitude response without reference to the geometry of the pole zero diagram. This is shown further down on this page.