Preface

The wave equation is an important second order linear partial differential equation that is used
for the description of waves, description in sense, one can calculate displacement of a wave in
time ‘t’ at any point, the angle made by the wave, the velocity of wave, the acceleration of wave
etc.

In this context I have tried to elaborate the derivation and the assumptions of second and third
dimensional wave equations. These equations here are derived by using Newton’s second law of
motion i.e F = ma. To derive wave equation we then need all the forces acting on the object
under observation, mass of the wave and acceleration of wave.

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Table of Contents
Question # 01 Derivation of a two dimensional wave equation..................................................................3
Question # 03 derivation of a three dimensional wave equation................................................................4
Conclusion :.................................................................................................................................................6
References :.................................................................................................................................................6

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Question # 01 Derivation of a two dimensional wave equation
This equation under certain assumptions gives us the information of propagation of waves in
two dimensional pattern. Before the modeling of a 2D wave equation we need to know certain
assumptions.

1) The mass per unit area of membrane is constant i.e the distribution of mass throughout
the membrane is homogeneous.
2) The membrane is perfectly elastic. Means it offers no resistance.
3) The tension T per unit length is same throughout the membrane.
4) The deflection U(x,y,t) of membrane is very small and the angles are also very small as
compared to the size of the membrane.

Consider a small portion of membrane of area ∆ A=∆ x ∆ y. we will now derive the motion of
membrane by considering the forces acting on it. By using newton’s second law of motion the
total forces acting on the membrane is equal to mass of membrane times the acceleration of
membrane. i.e. F= m a.

We will consider the vertical component of forces the components along right side and left side
are T ∆ y sinϴ2 and –T ∆ y sinϴ1 respectively.

∂u ∂u
T ∆ y (sinϴ2 - sinϴ1) = T ∆ y (tan ϴ2 – tan ϴ1 ) = T ∆ y [ ( x + ∆ x , y1 ) - ( x, y2 )]
∂x ∂x

Where tan ϴ1 and tan ϴ2 are slopes at x and x + ∆ x respectively, and y1 and y2 are values
between y and y + ∆ y. Similarly the resultant of the vertical components of forces acting on the
other two sides of portion is

∂u ∂u
T∆x[ ( x1 , y + ∆ y ) - ( x2, y )] where x1 and x2 are the values between x and x + ∆
∂y ∂y
x.

Since φ assumed is very small , sin φ = tan ϴ = Ux

ꝭ the mass per unit area i.e density of the membrane then the mass of small portion of
Let be
ꝭ A where ∆ A = ∆ x ∆ y. for the acceleration we have Utt
the membrane is ∆

∂2 u ∂u ∂u ∂u
ꝭ∆ A =T∆y[ ( x + ∆ x , y1 ) - ( x, y1 )] + T ∆ x [ ( x1 , y + ∆ y ) -
∂t2 ∂x ∂x ∂y
∂u
( x2, y )]
∂y

Dividing by ꝭ ∆ x ∆ y on both sides

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 ∂u ∂u
∂2 u T (x + ∆ x , y 1)− ( x , y 1)
[ ]
∂u /∂ y (x 2 , y + ∆ y)−∂ u/∂ y (x 2, y)
∂x ∂x +
∂t2 = ꝭ ∆y
∆x

For the limiting case such that ∆ x and ∆ y → 0 the differential equation becomes

∂2 u ∂ 2u ∂2 u T
∂t2
= c2(
∂x 2
+
∂y2
) , where c2 =
ꝭ
.

Hence two dimensional wave equation can be written as:

∂2 u
= c2 ∇2 U.
∂t2

Question # 03 derivation of a three dimensional wave equation.

The 3 dimensional wave equation helps us to study a 3D wave such as a water wave This
equation under certain assumptions gives us the information of propagation of waves in
three dimensional pattern. Before the modeling of a 3D wave equation we need to know
certain assumptions.

1) The mass per unit area of wave is constant i.e the distribution of mass
throughout the water waveis homogeneous.
2) The wave is perfectly elastic. Means it offers no resistance.
3) The tension T per unit length is same throughout the wave.
4) The deflection U(x,y,z,t) of wave is very small and the angles are also very small
as compared to the size of the wave.

Consider a small portion of water wave of volume ∆ V=∆ x ∆ y ∆ z. we will now derive the
motion of the water wave by considering the forces acting on it. By using newton’s second
law of motion the total forces acting on the water wave is equal to mass of water wave times
the acceleration of wave. i.e. F= m a.

We will consider the vertical component of forces the components along right side and left
side are T ∆ y ∆ z sinϴ2 and –T ∆ y ∆ z sinϴ1 respectively.

∂u
T ∆ y ∆ z (sinϴ2 - sinϴ1) ≈ T ∆ y ∆ z (tan ϴ2 – tan ϴ1) = T ∆ y ∆ z [ ( x + ∆ x , y1,z1 )
∂x
∂u
- ( x, y1,z1 )]
∂x

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Where tan ϴ1 and tan ϴ2 are slopes at x and x + ∆ x respectively, and y1 and y2 are values
between y and y + ∆ y. Similarly the resultant of the vertical components of forces acting on
the other two sides of portion is:

∂u ∂u
T ∆ x∆ z [ ( x2 , y + ∆ y,z2 ) - ( x2, y,z2 )] where x1 and x2 are the values between
∂y ∂y
x and x + ∆ x.

Similarly T ∆ x ∆ y [∂u/∂z(x3,y3,z + ∆ z)- ∂u/∂z (x3,y3,z)]

∂u
Since φ assumed is very small , sin φ = tan ϴ =
∂x

Let ꝭ be the mass per unit area i.e density of the membrane then the mass of small portion
∂2 u
of the membrane is ꝭ ∆ V where ∆ V = ∆ x ∆ y ∆z. for the acceleration
∂t2

∂2 u ∂u ∂u
ꝭ∆V =T∆y∆z[ (x + ∆ x, y1,z1) - ( x,y1,z1 )] +
∂t2 ∂x ∂x

∂u ∂u ∂u ∂u
T∆x∆z[ (x2 ,y + ∆ y,z2) - (x2,y,z2 )] + T ∆ x ∆ y [ (x3,y3,z + ∆ z)-
∂y ∂y ∂z ∂z
(x3,y3,z)]

Dividing by ꝭ ∆ x ∆ y ∆z on both sides

∂2 u T ∂u /∂ x (x +∆ x , y 1, z 1)−∂ u/∂ x (x , y 1, z 1)
∂t2
=
ꝭ
[ ∆x
+

∂u /∂ y ( x 2 , y + ∆ y , z 2)−∂u /∂ y ( x 2, y , z 2)
+
∆y
∂u /∂ z ( x 3, y 3, z +∆ z )−∂ u /∂ z ( x 3, y 3, z )
∆z
]

For the limiting case such that ∆ x, ∆ y and ∆z → 0 the differential equation becomes

∂2 u ∂ 2u ∂ 2u T
= c2 ( + ), where c2 =
∂t2 ∂x 2 ∂ y2 ꝭ

Hence three dimensional wave equation can be written as:

∂2 u
= c2 ∇2 U.
∂t2

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Conclusion :
After observing the context we can conclude that these equations can provide us enough
information that is required to understand behavior of a wave. These equations are also
capable of tackling most of the problem that arrive in gathering information about a wave.
These equations can only accurately tell us about waves that are smaller in amplitude.

References :