Bode Plots for First-Order Filters:

Comprehensive Analysis
Electrical Engineering

1 Introduction to Bode Plots

Bode plots are graphical representations of a system’s frequency response,
consisting of two separate plots:

• Magnitude plot: Shows gain in decibels (dB) versus frequency

• Phase plot: Shows phase shift in degrees versus frequency

Both plots use logarithmic frequency scales, which allows us to approxi-

mate the response using straight-line segments called asymptotes.

2 First-Order Low-Pass Filter

2.1 Transfer Function
For a first-order low-pass filter with time constant τ :
1
H(s) =
1 + τs
In frequency domain (s = jω):
1
H(jω) =
1 + jωτ

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2.2 Magnitude Response
1
|H(jω)| = p
1 + (ωτ )2
In decibels:
!
1
|H(jω)|dB = 20 log10 p = −10 log10 (1 + (ωτ )2 )
1 + (ωτ )2

2.3 Phase Response

∠H(jω) = − arctan(ωτ )

3 Bode Plot Asymptotes

3.1 Magnitude Asymptotes
• Low-frequency asymptote (ω ≪ τ1 ):

|H(jω)| ≈ 1 ⇒ |H(jω)|dB ≈ 0 dB

• High-frequency asymptote (ω ≫ τ1 ):

1
|H(jω)| ≈ ⇒ |H(jω)|dB ≈ −20 log10 (ωτ )
ωτ

This high-frequency asymptote has a slope of -20 dB/decade.

3.2 Cutoff Frequency

The cutoff frequency (or -3 dB frequency) occurs at:
1
ωc =
τ
At this frequency:
1
|H(jωc )| = √ ≈ 0.707 ⇒ |H(jωc )|dB = −3 dB
2

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3.3 Phase Asymptotes
• Low-frequency asymptote (ω ≪ 0.1ωc ):

∠H(jω) ≈ 0◦

• High-frequency asymptote (ω ≫ 10ωc ):

∠H(jω) ≈ −90◦

• At cutoff frequency (ω = ωc ):

∠H(jωc ) = −45◦

4 Complete Bode Plot Example

-10
Magnitude (dB)

-20

-30
0.1ωc ωc 10ωc 100ωc
Frequency ω (rad/s)

Figure 1: Bode magnitude plot for first-order low-pass filter (τ = 1, ωc = 1

rad/s)

5 Step-by-Step Bode Plot Construction

5.1 Magnitude Plot Construction
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1. Identify cutoff frequency: ωc = τ

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 0
Phase (degrees)

-45

Cutoff Frequency
-90 ωc
0.1ωc 10ωc 100ωc
Frequency ω (rad/s)

Figure 2: Bode phase plot for first-order low-pass filter (τ = 1, ωc = 1 rad/s)

2. Draw low-frequency asymptote: Horizontal line at 0 dB for ω < ωc

3. Draw high-frequency asymptote: Line with slope -20 dB/decade

starting at ωc

4. Mark actual response:

• At ωc : -3 dB point
√
• At 0.1ωc : 20 log10 (1/ 1.01) ≈ −0.04 dB
√
• At 10ωc : 20 log10 (1/ 101) ≈ −20.04 dB

5.2 Phase Plot Construction

1. Low-frequency: 0◦ for ω < 0.1ωc

2. High-frequency: −90◦ for ω > 10ωc

3. Transition region: Straight line between:

• (0.1ωc , 0◦ )
• (ωc , −45◦ )
• (10ωc , −90◦ )

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6 Numerical Example
6.1 Given Parameters
• Resistance: R = 1 kΩ

• Capacitance: C = 1 µF

• Time constant: τ = RC = 1 ms

• Cutoff frequency: ωc = 1
τ
= 1000 rad s−1

• Cutoff frequency (Hz): fc = ωc

2π
= 159.15 Hz

6.2 Magnitude Calculations

Frequency ωτ Exact Magnitude (dB) Asymptotic (dB)

100 rad s−1 0.1 -0.04 0
500 rad s−1 0.5 -0.97 0
1000 rad s−1 1.0 -3.01 -3
2000 rad s−1 2.0 -6.99 -6
5000 rad s−1 5.0 -14.15 -14
10 000 rad s−1 10.0 -20.04 -20

Table 1: Magnitude response comparison

6.3 Phase Calculations

7 First-Order High-Pass Filter

7.1 Transfer Function
τs
H(s) =
1 + τs
In frequency domain:
jωτ
H(jω) =
1 + jωτ

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 Frequency ωτ Exact Phase (°) Asymptotic (°)
100 rad s−1 0.1 -5.7 0
500 rad s−1 0.5 -26.6 -27
1000 rad s−1 1.0 -45.0 -45
2000 rad s−1 2.0 -63.4 -63
5000 rad s−1 5.0 -78.7 -81
10 000 rad s−1 10.0 -84.3 -90

Table 2: Phase response comparison

7.2 Bode Plot Characteristics

• Magnitude:
– Low-frequency: +20 dB/decade slope
– High-frequency: 0 dB horizontal line
– Cutoff frequency: -3 dB point
• Phase:
– Low-frequency: +90◦
– High-frequency: 0◦
– Cutoff frequency: +45◦

8 Important Concepts
8.1 Cutoff Frequency Significance
The cutoff frequency (ωc = 1/τ ) is critically important because:
• It marks the -3 dB point in the magnitude response
• Output power is reduced to half of the input power
√
• Output voltage is reduced to 1/ 2 ≈ 70.7% of input voltage
• Phase shift is exactly −45◦ for low-pass filters
• It defines the boundary between passband and stopband

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8.2 Decibels (dB)
 
Vout
Gain (dB) = 20 log10
Vin
√
• -3 dB = Half power point (1/ 2 voltage ratio) at cutoff frequency

• -6 dB = Half voltage point

• -20 dB = 1/10 voltage ratio

• +20 dB = 10× voltage ratio

8.3 Decade and Octave

• Decade: 10:1 frequency ratio

• Octave: 2:1 frequency ratio

• -20 dB/decade = -6 dB/octave

8.4 Slope Calculations

For a transfer function H(s) = (s/ω0 )n :
• Magnitude slope: 20n dB/decade

• Phase shift: 90n degrees

9 Practical Interpretation
9.1 Filter Characteristics from Bode Plot
• Passband: Frequency range where gain ≈ 0 dB (below cutoff fre-
quency)

• Stopband: Frequency range where gain decreases (above cutoff fre-

quency)

• Transition band: Region around cutoff frequency

• Roll-off rate: -20 dB/decade for first-order filters

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9.2 Design Implications
• Component selection: R and C determine cutoff frequency ωc =
1/RC

• Filter order: First-order provides -20 dB/decade attenuation after

cutoff

• Phase effects: Significant phase shift occurs around cutoff frequency

• Signal integrity: Consider both magnitude and phase effects near

cutoff

9.3 Cutoff Frequency in Different Domains

Time constant: τ = RC
1 1
Angular cutoff frequency: ωc = =
τ RC
ωc 1
Frequency cutoff: fc = =
2π 2πRC

10 Summary
First-order filters have predictable Bode plot characteristics centered around
the cutoff frequency:

• Magnitude: Two asymptotes meeting at cutoff frequency with -3 dB

actual value

• Phase: 90◦ total phase change centered at cutoff frequency

• Slope: -20 dB/decade for low-pass, +20 dB/decade for high-pass

• Accuracy: Asymptotes within 3 dB of actual response

• Cutoff significance: Defines -3 dB point and 45° phase shift

The cutoff frequency is the most critical parameter in filter design as it

determines the frequency where the filter begins to significantly attenuate
signals and where substantial phase shifts occur.

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 Bode plots provide intuitive understanding of filter behavior around the
cutoff frequency and are essential tools for filter design and analysis in both
analog and digital signal processing.