One Dimensional Wave Equations

Chhabi Siwakoti

Nepal college of information and Technology,Balkumari,Lalitpur

November 1, 2020

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One dimensional wave equation(Equation of vibrating
string)

Let us consider a thin and homogeneous elastic string of length L and

mass per unit length m, which is stretched and then fixed at its two ends
along x − axis in its equilibrium position. Let one end of the string is
fixed at origin.

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Now, we assume the following assumptions:
1. The string is perfectly elastic so that it can transmit tension only but
not bending or shearing forces.

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2. Each particle of the string moves in a direction perpendicular to the
equilibrium position of the string.

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3. The tension T , caused by stretching the string before fixing it at the
end points is constant at all times at all points of the deflected string.

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4.The tension is large enough compared to the weight of the string so
that the gravitational force of attraction may be negligible.

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5. The effect of frictional force is negligible.

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6. The slope of deflection curve is small at all times and at all points.

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When the string is in motion, let u(x, t) be the displacement at any point
of the string at time t.Consider the elementary portion PQ of the string
of length ∆x.
Since the string offers no resistance to bending, the tension is tangential
to the curve of the string at each point.

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Let α and β be the angles made by the tensions T1 and T2 along
x − axis at points P and Q respectively.Since the points of the string
move vertically, there is no motion in horizontal direction.Hence the
horizontal component of the tensions must be constant.

i.e.T1 cos α = T2 cos β = T (say ).... ...(1)

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The vertical component of tensions are −T1 sin α and T2 sin β, the minus
sign indicates that the tension at P is directed downward. Therefore, the
resultant force acting on the element PQ is

−T1 sin α + T2 sin β

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By Newton’s second law of motion
resultant force = mass × acceleration

∂2u
i.e. − T1 sin α + T2 sin β = m∆x.
∂t 2

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Dividing by T we get

T2 sin β T1 sin α m∆x ∂ 2 u

− =
T T T ∂t 2

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Using (1)
T2 sin β T1 sin α m∆x ∂ 2 u
− =
T2 cos β T1 cos α T ∂t 2

m∆x ∂ 2 u
or , tan β − tan α = .....(2)
T ∂t 2

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Since, tan α and tan β are the slopes of the string at x and x + ∆x, so
∂u
tan α = |x
∂x
and
∂u
tan β = |x+∆x
∂x
So, from (2), we get

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 m∆x ∂ 2 u
   
∂u ∂u
− =
∂x x+∆x ∂x x T ∂t 2

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Dividing by ∆x we get
( ∂u

∂u

)
m ∂2u ∂x x+∆x − ∂x x
=
T ∂t 2 ∆x

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Taking limit as ∆x → 0 we get
( ∂u

∂u

)
m ∂2u ∂x x+∆x − ∂x x
= lim
T ∂t 2 ∆x→0 ∆x

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or,
m ∂2u
 
∂ ∂u
=
T ∂t 2 ∂x ∂x

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or,
∂2u T ∂2u
=
∂t 2 m ∂x 2
Hence,
∂2u 2
2∂ u
= c
∂t 2 ∂x 2
T
which is required one dimensional wave equation, where c 2 = m

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Solution of one dimensional wave equation:
One dimensional wave equation is

∂2u 2
2∂ u
= c ...(1)
∂t 2 ∂x 2
Since the string is fixed at its end points, so there is no deflection on the
boundaries. Therefore, the boundary conditions are

u(0, t) = 0

and
u(L, t) = 0
The initial conditions are

u(x, 0) = f (x) (initial displacement)

and
ut (x, 0) = g (x) (initial velocity )

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Let
u(x, t) = X (x).T (t)
where, X (x) is function of x alone and T (t) is function of t alone, be the
solution of (1).
Then, differentiating partially with respect to x we get
∂u dX
= .T
∂x dx
Also, differentiating partially with respect to t we get
∂u dT
= X.
∂t dt

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Again, differentiating partially w.r to x , we get

∂2u d 2X
2
= .T
∂x dx 2
Also,
∂2u d 2T
= X .
∂t 2 dt 2

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Now, from equation (1),

d 2T 2 d 2X
X. = c T .
dt 2 dx 2
Dividing by c 2 XT we get

1 d 2T 1 d 2X
= = k(say )... ...(2)
c 2 T dt 2 X dx 2

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Now we have the following three cases.
Case I:
Let k is positive, say k = λ2 ,then

1 d 2X
= λ2
X dx 2
and
1 d 2T
= λ2
c 2 T dt 2

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or,
d 2X
− λ2 X = 0
dx 2
and
d 2T
− c 2 λ2 T = 0
dt 2

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Solving we get
X = C1 e λx + C2 e −λx
and
T = C3 e λct + C4 e −λct

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So,
u(x, t) = X .T
now becomes

u(x, t) = C1 e λx + C2 e −λx C3 e λct + C4 e −λct ....(3)

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Using the boundary condition u(0, t) = 0, we get

0 = C1 e 0 + C2 e 0 C3 e λct + C4 e −λct

or
0 = (C1 + C2 ) C3 e λct + C4 e −λct

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 i.e.C1 + C2 = 0
since
C3 e λct + C4 e −λct 6= 0

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Again, using the boundary condition u(L, t) = L, we get

0 = C1 e λL + C2 e −λL C3 e λct + C4 e −λct

or
0 = C1 e λL − C1 e −λL
∵ C1 + C2 = 0 and C3 e λct + C4 e −λct 6= 0
 

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 or , e λL = e −λL
or,
e 2λL = 1
or
e 2λL = e 0
or,
2λL = 0
or,
λ = 0, ∵ 2L 6= 0
This is a contradiction to the fact that k = λ2 is positive. So this
solution is rejected.

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Case II:
Let k = 0, then from (2)
1 d 2X
=0
X dx 2
and
1 d 2T
=0
c 2T
dt 2
or
d 2X
=0
dx 2
and
d 2T
=0
dt 2

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Integrating we get
dX
=A
dx
and
dT
=C
dt
where A and C are constants of integration.

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Again, integrating we get
X = Ax + B
and
T = Ct + D

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So,
u(x, t) = X .T
now becomes
u(x, t) = (Ax + B)(Ct + D)

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Using the boundary condition u(0, t) = 0, we get

0 = (A.0 + B)(Ct + D)

i.e.
B = 0 since Ct + D 6= 0

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Again, using the boundary condition u(L, t) = 0, we get

0 = (A.L + 0)(Ct + D)

i.e.
A = 0 since Ct + D 6= 0

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 ∴ u(x, t) = (Ax + B)(Ct + D) = 0 since A = 0 and B=0

So only the zero solution is possible in this case. So, this solution is also
discarded.

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Case III:
Let k is negetive, say k = −λ2 ,then

1 d 2X
= −λ2
X dx 2
and
1 d 2T
= −λ2
c 2Tdt 2

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or,
d 2X
+ λ2 X = 0
dx 2
and
d 2T
+ c 2 λ2 T = 0
dt 2

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Solving, we get
X = C1 cos λx + C2 sin λx
and
T = C3 cos λct + C4 sin λct

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So,
u(x, t) = X .T
now becomes

u(x, t) = (C1 cos λx + C2 sin λx)(C3 cos λct + C4 sin λct)... ...(4)

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Using the boundary condition u(0, t) = 0, we get

0 = (C1 .1 + C2 .0)(C3 cos λct + C4 sin λct)

i.e.
C1 = 0 since (C3 cos λct + C4 sin λct) 6= 0

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Again, using the boundary condition u(L, t) = 0, we get

0 = (0 + C2 . sin λL)(C3 cos λct + C4 sin λct)

i.e.

sin λL = 0 since C2 6= 0 and (C3 cos λct + C4 sin λct) 6= 0

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 or , sin λL = 0 = sin nπ
or
λL = nπ
or,
nπ
λ= n = 1, 2, 3, 4, ....
L
Now, from equation (4), we get

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 nπ nπ nπ
u(x, t) = C2 sin x(C3 cos ct + C4 sin ct)
L L L
i.e.
nπ nπ nπ
un (x, t) = sin x(an cos ct + bn sin ct)
L L L
where
an = C2 C3
and
bn = C2 C4

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Using principle of superposition, (i.e. adding all possible solutions) , we
get
X∞
u(x, t) = un (x, t)
n=1

i.e.
∞
X nπ h nπ nπ i
u(x, t) = sin x an cos ct + bn sin ct .....(5)
n=1
L L L

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Differentiating with respect to time, we get
∞
X nπ h nπ nπ nπ nπ i
ut (x, t) = sin x an .(−) c. sin ct + bn . c cos ct .....(6)
n=1
L L L L L

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Using the initial condition

u(x, 0) = f (x)

we get from (5)

∞
X nπ
f (x) = sin x [an cos 0 + bn sin 0]
n=1
L

or
∞
X nπ
f (x) = an sin x
n=1
L
which is a half range Fourier sine series, where

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 Z∞
2 nπ
an = f (x) sin x dx ....(7)
L L
0

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Again, using the initial condition

ut (x, 0) = g (x)

we get from (6)

∞
X nπ h nπ i
g (x) = sin x 0 + bn . c.1
n=1
L L

or
∞
X nπ nπ
g (x) = bn . c sin x
n=1
L L
which is also a half range Fourier sine series, where

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 Z∞
nπ 2 nπ
bn . c = g (x) sin x dx
L L L
0

i.e.
Z∞
2 nπ
bn = g (x) sin x dx ....(8)
nπc L
0

The equation (5), together with the equations (7) and (8) gives the
required general solution of one dimensional wave equation.

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