Creating a Square Wave in Excel
1.5
1 cycle
Amplitude
1
Amplitude
0.5
0
-0.5
-1
-1.5
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
Time (sec)
1
1.2
1.4
Step 1.
Create columns in Excel: for Amplitude, delta t, Time & Square Wave
Step 2.
Enter desired values for Amplitude and delta t (sec.)
Step 3.
Fill in column for Time (sec.)
A.
Enter in the initial time (in this
example 0.0 sec.) in the first
cell in the time column.
B.
Fill in the time column using
Equation 1
ti+1 = ti + Dt
(Equation 1)
Note: you need to fix the cell for
delta t in Equation 1. This can
be done by adding a $ in front
of the Row and Column values
or by pressing „F4‟.
Step 3.
C.
Fill in column for Time (sec.)
Highlight the desired number of
rows in the time column and fill
down (Ctrl +D).
Continued
Step 3.
Fill in column for Time (sec.)
Time column after “Filling Down”
Continued
Step 4.
Generate Square Wave
The period (T) of the Square Wave is
equal to the inverse of the frequency (f)
T (sec.)
T/2
T=1/f
+A
(Equation 2)
t (sec.)
 A , 0 < t < T/2
Square Wave  
 A , T/2 < t < T
-A
T/2
Step 4.
Generate Square Wave
Continued
For this example: Generate a 4 Hz Square Wave with an Amplitude of 1.0
f = 4 Hz; therefore, T = 0.25 sec.
0.25 sec.
0.125 sec.
+1
t (sec.)
-1
0.125 sec.
Step 4.
Generate Square Wave
Continued
0 < t < T/2
 A , 0 < t < T/2
Amplitude  
 A , T/2 < t < T
1
Amplitude
0.5
0
0
0.05
0.1
0.15
-0.5
-1
-1.5
Time (sec.)
0.2
0.25
0.3
T/2 < t < T
1.5
Step 4.
Generate Square Wave
Copy cells E3 through E52 for
additional Square Wave cycles.
1.5
1
Amplitude
0.5
0
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
-0.5
-1
-1.5
Time (sec.)
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1
Continued