MATHEMATICS

FOR PHYSICS
Physics Teacher Education
EQUATIONS OF WAVE
PROPAGATION
Chapter 2
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2.1. Mathematical physics equations

a) Poisson, Laplace equations: u = f
This is the equation to study electrostatic potential, static
magnetic field, hydrodynamics, gravitational potential, stationary
heat transfer. If f  0 it is called Poisson's equation, if f = 0 it is
called Laplace's equation.
b) D’ Alember equation:

This is an equation describing the propagation of waves

such as electromagnetic waves, elastic waves.
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2.1. Mathematical physics equations

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2.1. Mathematical physics equations

d) Schodinger equation

Describe the change of state of a microparticle over time in a

potential energy field V(r,t).
e) Klein-Gordon equation

Describe the motion of microparticles in the relativistic case.

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2.1. Mathematical physics equations

D’ Alember equation:

utt''  a2uxx''  0 : the equation describing the free

oscillation of the wire, of the uniform rod.

utt''  a 2uxx''  g(x, t) : the equation describing the

forced oscillation of the string, of the rod under the
action of an external force.

utt''  a2 (uxx
''
 u'yy' )  0 : the free oscillation equation of
the thin film.
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2.2. One-way wave equation

2.2.1. Set up the oscillation equation of the elastic
string in horizontal tension
Using Newton's second law to establish

here
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2.2. One-way wave equation

2.2.1. Set up the oscillation equation of the elastic
string in horizontal tension

a and p(x,t) the wave velocity and the external force

acting on a unit length of the string, respectively.
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2.2. One-way wave equation

2.2.1. Set up the oscillation equation of the elastic
string in horizontal tension
Vibration energy of the string
Consider the differential element on a string of length dS
2 2
 u  2  u  2
dS  dx  du  dx    dx  1    dx
2 2 2

 x   x 
 1  u  2 
 1     dx
 2  x  
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2.2. One-way wave equation

Elemental energy dx consists of kinetic energy plus potential energy:
+ Potential energy is the work of tension: 2
1  u 
dU  T ( dS  dx)  T   dx
2  x 
2
1  u 
+ Kinetic: dK    ( dx )
2  t 
2 2
1  u  1  u 
+ Energy: dE  dU  dK  T   dx    ( dx )
2  x  2  t 

 L
2  u 
2
 u  
2

 E   a      dx
2 0   x   t  
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2.2. One-way wave equation

2.2.2. Conditions and solutions
a) Boundary and initial conditions
- Initial conditions (string):

Give the initial displacement and velocity of the string at the point of
coordinate x.
- Boundary conditions:
Two ends of the wire are fastened :
Two ends of the wire move according to a given rule:
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2.2. One-way wave equation

2.2.2. Conditions and solutions

- Boundary condition: (for elastic oscillating rod)

there is an external force acting F0

u ( x , t ) u ( x, t )
ES  F0 ; ES  F0
x x 0
x x 
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2.2. One-way wave equation

2.2.2. Conditions and solutions

b) Solution method
- General test method
- Method of separating variables
- Integral transform method
- Power series method
- Green's function method
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2.2. One-way wave equation

2.2.2. Conditions and solutions

Problem 1: Free oscillation of a string of length L with both ends

fastened
Problem 2: Free oscillation of a string with one end fastened and
the other free.
Problem 3: The free oscillation of the string with the boundary
obeys a given law
Problem 4 : Forced vibration of the string
Problem 5: Oscillation of rectangular and circular thin film
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2.2. One-way wave equation

2.2.4. Examples:

Problem 1: Free oscillation of a string of length l with both ends

fastened
Suppose a string of length l is initially at rest on the x-axis and has
both ends fastened. We solve the equation:

 2u 2  u
2
0  x  
a 2 (1) in the region: 
t 2
x  t  0

u (0, t )  0 Initial  u ( x ,0 )  f ( x )
Boundary   '
condition: u (, t )  0 condition: u t ( x ,0 )  F ( x )

Using Method of separating variables

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2.2. One-way wave equation

Ttt'' (t) 2 X xx'' ( x)
Set: u(x,t) = X(x).T(t) substitute into equation: a
T (t ) X ( x)

''
X ( x)  X ''
  X  0(2)
Here     ''
X ( x)  T  a 2
 T  0 (3)

For the equation to have a solution, then :   0   2

Equation (2) becomes : X ''

 2
X  0

The solution of the equation has the form:

X  A cos  x  B sin  x
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2.2. One-way wave equation

 X (0 )  0
 A  0
- Boundary condition:   
 
k
 X ( )  0  

kx
  X k  Bk sin

- Eq (3) becomes: T ''  a 2 2T  0
kat kat
 Tk (t )  Ck sin  Dk cos
 
- Solution of Eq (1):

kat kat kx
u( x, t)  uk (x, t)  (ak cos  bk sin ) sin
k 1   
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Using the initial conditions:  u ( x ,0 )  f ( x )

 '
 u t ( x ,0 )  F ( x )

kx kx
 
2 4
ak   f ( x) sin dx bk  
ka 0
F(x) sin dx

0 
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The physical meaning:

kat kat kx

uk ( x, t )  (ak sin  bk cos ) sin
  
ka kx
 a k  bk cos(
2 2
t   ) sin
 
Every point on the string x=x0 make a harmonic oscillation

kx0 ka
u k ( x 0 , t )  Ak sin cos( t )
 
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The physical meaning:

k=1
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Ex1: Find the oscillation of the string attached to the two

ends of the string x = 0, x = l if the initial velocity is zero
and the form of the string at t = 0 is a quadratic parabolic
arc with peak at x=l/2 ; u = h as shown figure.
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Problem 2: Free oscillation of a string with one end

fastened and the other free
There are two case: + at x = 0 free , at x = l fastened

+ at x = 0 fastened, at x = l free

2u 2 2u 0  x  
Solve Eq: a 2 (1) In region: 
t 2
x  t 0

Boundary
u x' (0, t )  0  u (0, t )  0
 or  '
condition:  u ( , t )  0 u x (, t )  0
 u ( x ,0 )  f ( x )
Initial condition:  '
 u t ( x ,0 )  F ( x )
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Method of separating variables

Ttt'' (t ) ''
2 X xx ( x )
Set: u(x,t) = X(x).T(t) substitute into equation a
T (t ) X ( x)
''
X ( x)  X ''   X  0 ( 2 )
Here    ''
X ( x)  T  a 2
 T  0 (3)

Solving (2) and (3) by using the boundary condition

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In the case 1: at x = 0 free, at x = l fastened

u x' ( 0, t )  0
With the boundary condition: 
 u (, t )  0

The solution of (1) has the form:


(2k 1)at (2k 1)at (2k 1)x
u(x, t)  (ak cos  bk sin ) cos
k0 2 2 2
2 (2k 1)x (2k  1)x

4
Here: ak   f (x)cos dx k (2k  1)a 
b  F ( x ) cos
2
dx
0 2 0
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In the case 2: at x = l free, at x = 0 fasten

 u (, t )  0
With the baundary condition:  '
u x (0, t )  0

The solution of (1) has the form:


(2k  1)at (2k  1)at (2k  1)x
u( x, t )  (ak cos  bk sin ) sin
k 0 2 2 2
here: 
(2k 1)x
(2k  1)x 4

2
ak   f ( x) sin
 2
dx bk 
(2k 1)a 0 F ( x) sin
2
dx
0
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Problem 3: The free oscillation of the string with the

boundary obeys a given law
0  x  
Solving Eq: u  a u  0 (1)
'' 2 ''
tt xx
In region: 
 t 0
 u( x,0)  f ( x)
Initial condition:  '
ut ( x,0)  F ( x)

Boundary condition: u (0, t )  h1 (t )


u (, t )  h2 (t )
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Set u(x,t) = V(x,t) + W(x,t)

 Vtt''  a2Vxx''  0 (2)
substitute into equation (1):  '' 2 ''
W tt  a Wxx  0 (3)
x W(0, t)  h1 (t)
with W (x, t)  h1(t)  h2 (t)  h1(t) B.C 
 W(, t)  h2 (t)
Solving (2): Vtt  a Vxx  0
'' 2 ''

V (0, t)  0  V (x,0)  f (x) W(x,0)

B. C 
I. C  '
V
t ( x,0)  F ( x)  W '
t ( x,0)
V (, t)  0

solution method is similar to problem 1

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Problem 4: Forced vibration of the string

0  x  
Solving Eq:u a u  g(x) (1)
'' 2 ''
In region: 
tt xx  t0
u (0, t )  h1 (t )  u(x,0)  f (x)
B. C :  and I. C:  '
u (, t )  h2 (t ) ut (x,0)  F(x)
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Problem 4: Forced vibration of the string

Ex 4.1: Solving Eq: utt''  a 2u xx''  6 x

In region: 0  x  

 t0
u (0, t )  0
B.C: 
u (, t )  0

u ( x,0)   x
I. C:  '
 u ( x,0)  0
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Click to add
Problem 5: Oscillation of Title
rectangular and
circular thin film
 31

Problem 5: Click to add of

Oscillation Title
rectangular and
circular thin film
The thin film Oscillation Eq:
 32

Problem 5: Click to add of

Oscillation Title
rectangular and
circular thin film
The Boundary and initial conditions:
 33

Problem 5: Click
Oscillation
to add of rectangular and
Title
circular thin film
Phương pháp giải:
 34

Problem 5: Click
Oscillation
to add of rectangular and
Title
circular thin film
Phương pháp giải:
 35

Problem 5: Click
Oscillation
to add of rectangular and
Title
circular thin film
Phương pháp giải:
 36

Problem 5: Click
Oscillation
to add of rectangular and
Title
circular thin film
 37

Problem 5: Click
Oscillation
to add of rectangular and
Title
circular thin film
 38

Problem 4: Forced vibration of the string

EX4.2: Solve the equation : utt''  a 2u xx''  x  1

In region: 0  x  

 t0
u (0, t )  0
With boundary condition: 
u (, t )  0
 u ( x,0)  0
With initial condition: u ' ( x,0)  sin x
 
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EX 4.3: Solving the equation: utt''  a 2u xx

''
 x 1
In the region: 0  x  
 t0
 u (0, t )  ao
With B.C: 
u (, t )  ao
 u ( x,0)  0
With I.C: u ' ( x,0)  sin x
 