Wave Equation in 1D (Part 1)
Wave Equation in 1D (Part 1)
u ( x, ti ), i = 0,1,...
Equally, we could fix attention to one point on the string
and watch it over time
Physical assumptions*
1. The mass of the string per unit length is
constant (“homogeneous string”). The string is
perfectly elastic and does not offer resistance
to bending
2. The tension caused by stretching the string is
so large that gravitational effects can be
neglected.
3. The string performs small transverse motions –
that is, every particle on the string moves
strictly vertically and so that the deflection and
the slope at every point of the string remain
small.
T2
β
By assumption 3 :
α T1 cos α = T2 cos β = T (a constant)
T1
u ( x, t ) ∂ 2u
T2 sin β − T1 sin α = (ρ∆x ) 2
x δx ∂t
Newton’s Law of motion in the vertical direction
tan β − tan α =
( ρ∆x ) ∂ 2u
T ∂t 2
⎛ ∂u ⎞ ⎛ ∂u ⎞ 1 ⎛⎜ ⎛ ∂u ⎞ ⎛ ∂u ⎞ ⎞⎟ ρ ∂ u
2
⎝ L⎠
π
Denoting λn = cn , the solutions for G (t ) are
L
Gn (t ) = Bn cos λnt + Bn * sin λnt
Solutions for the 1D Wave Equation are :
π
un ( x, t ) = Fn ( x)Gn (t ) = (Bn cos λn t + Bn * sin λn t )sin n x
L
These functions are the eigenfunctions of the vibrating string, and
the values λn = cnπ / L are called the eigenvalues. The set of the
eigenvalues [λ1 ,..., λn ] is called the spectrum.
∞
π ∂u ⎡∞
= g ( x ) = ⎢∑ (− λn Bn sin λn t + λn Bn * cos λn t )sin n
π ⎤
u(x,0) = ∑ Bn sin n x = f (x) ∂t t =0 ⎣ n =1 L
x⎥
⎦ t =0
n=1 L
∞
π
andso = ∑ λn Bn * sin n x
n =1 L
2
L
π and so
Bn = ∫ f ( x) sin n xdx
L0 L 2
L
π
λn Bn * = ∫ g ( x ) sin n xdx
L0 L
2
L
π
Bn * =
cnπ ∫ g ( x) sin n
0
L
xdx
L
π 2
L
π
∫
2 Bn * =
Bn = ∫ f ( x) sin n xdx g ( x) sin n xdx
L0 L cnπ 0 L
Example 1: plucked string*
k
0 L
⎧ 2k L
⎪L x if 0 < x <
f ( x) = ⎨ 2
2k L
⎪ ( L − x) if < x < L
⎩L 2
g ( x) ≡ 0