Problem 7 Raihan Amin Rana

Ques: The solution of the Newton equation, mẍ = F (t) (where F(t) depends
∞
only on time t) can be expressed with an integral operator as, x(t) = ∫−∞ G(t −
t′ )F (t′ )dt′ .What is the kernel G(t − t′ ) of the integral operator?

Soln:
Given that,
The solution of the Newton's equation mẍ = F (t) can be expressed with an
′
integral operator G(t − t ) such that
∞
x(t) = ∫−∞ G(t − t′ )F (t′ )dt′
(where F (t) depends only on time t )
So, x(t) = (F ∗ G)(t) = (G ∗ F )(t)
⇒ ẍ = (G′′ ∗ F )(t) [ ∵ d
dt
(G ∗ F )(t) = (G′ ∗ F )(t) ]
Writing Newton's equation in this form,we get,
∞
m ∫−∞ G′′ (t − t′ )F (t′ )dt′ = F (t)
Now, it is evident that

m G′′ (t − t′ ) = δ(t′ − t) = δ(t − t′ ) So, G is a green function ]

We will use direct integration method to find G
⇒ m G′′ (u) = δ(−u) = δ(u)
⇒ m G′ (u) = θ(u) + C Here θ is the unit step function]

⇒ m G(u) = uθ(u) + Cu + D
We can calculate the constant of integration, C and D using the following
methods :
As, x(t) = (F ∗ G)(t)
∞
⇒ x′′ (t) = (F ′′ ∗ G)(t) = ∫−∞ G(t − t′ )F ′′ (t′ )dt′
∞
⇒ m ∫−∞ G(t − t′ )F ′′ (t′ )dt′ = F (t)
∞
⇒ m ∫−∞ [(t − t′ )θ(t − t′ ) + C(t − t′ ) + D]F ′′ (t′ )dt′ = F (t)
So,we choose C = D = 0 so that the intrgrals converge for any F (t).
1
∴ G(t − t′ ) = m
[(t − t′ )θ(t − t′ )]

In case of Newton's equation, we know that F (t′ ) isn't defined for t′ < 0.
However, we have kept things general so that the calculation becomes simpler.
So, For Newton's equation, it is equivalent to say :

∴ G(t − t ) = {
1
′ m (t − t′ ) if 0 < t′ < t
0 otherwise

Problem 7 Raihan Amin Rana 1

 Comments:
i) We could reach to the solution by finding G(t) for the differential equation of
an oscillator
x′′ (t) + ω 2 x(t) = F (t)
We can show using the general procedure that the associate kernel G(t) will
be[1]:

G(t − t′ ) = { 1
0 for 0 < t < t′
ω sin ω(t − t′ ) for 0 < t′ < t
Taking the limit ω → 0 ,we will get the same result.
ii) We could also show that the associate kernel for a differential equation
Dn+1 x(t) = F (t) is[2] :
(t−t′ )n
n!
θ(t − t′ )
Resources:
1 https://web.iisermohali.ac.in/Faculty/anoshjoseph/courses/2019

2https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green's_function

Problem 7 Raihan Amin Rana 2