October 9, 2018 APM 346 Justin Ko

Week 3: The Wave Equation on R

Introduction
Consider the wave equation on the whole line

2
utt = c uxx
 x ∈ R, t > 0,
u(x, 0) = φ(x) x ∈ R,

ut (x, 0) = ψ(x) x ∈ R.


The particular solution to this PDE is given by

x+ct
φ(x + ct) + φ(x − ct)
Z
1
u(x, t) = + ψ(s) ds.
2 2c x−ct

This solution to the initial value problem is called d’Alembert’s formula.

Problems
Problem 1. (Plucked String) Solve the initial value problem

2
utt = c uxx
 x ∈ R, t > 0,
u(x, 0) = φ(x) x ∈ R,

ut (x, 0) = 0 x ∈ R.


where for a > 0 and b > 0, the initial position φ(x) is given by
(
b − b|x|
a for |x| ≤ a
φ(x) =
0 for |x| > a.

Solution 1. The graph of φ(x) for b = 1 and a = 2 is given below

2
1

−8 −7 −6 −5 −4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
−1
−2

In general, the b controls the amplitude of the triangle, and a denotes the width of the triangle.

From d’Alembert’s formula, we know

φ(x + ct) + φ(x − ct)

u(x, t) = .
2
Notice that the first term is a wave with height b/2, centered at −ct with width a,

(
b|x+ct| b + b(x+ct)
a for −a − ct ≤ x < −ct
b− a for |x + ct| < a 
φ(x + ct) = = b − b(x+ct)
a for −ct ≤ x ≤ a − ct
0 for |x + ct| > a 
0 for x > a − ct or x < a − ct.


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October 9, 2018 APM 346 Justin Ko

and the second term is a wave with height b/2, centered at ct with width a,

(
b|x−ct| b + b(x−ct)
a for −a + ct ≤ x < ct
b− a for |x − ct| < a 
φ(x − ct) = = b − b(x−ct)
a for ct ≤ x ≤ a + ct
0 for |x − ct| > a 
0 for x > a − ct or x < a − ct.


Our solution is of a different form depending on large and small times

1. t < ac : In this case we have a > ct, so we have −a − ct < −a + ct < a − ct < a + ct. In this
region, the two separate waves overlap in the region −a + ct < x < a − ct. Therefore, we have


 0 x ≤ −a − ct


 1  b(x + ct) 
b+ −a − ct < x ≤ −a + ct


2 a




1 b(x + ct) b(x − ct)  ct 
  
u(x, t) = b− +b+ =b· 1− −a + ct < x ≤ a − ct

 2 a a a
 1 b − b(x − ct)

  

 a − ct < x ≤ a − ct
2 a



0 x > a + ct


2. t ≥ ac : In this case we have a ≤ ct, so we have −a − ct < a − ct ≤ −a + ct < a + ct. In this

region, the two separate waves do not overlap. Therefore, we have


0 x ≤ −a − ct

1 b(x + ct)

  

 b+ for −a − ct < x ≤ −ct
2

 a
1 b(x + ct) 




 b − for −ct < x ≤ a − ct
2 a


u(x, t) = 0 for a − ct < x ≤ −a + ct

1 b(x − ct)

  
b+ for −a + ct < x ≤ ct





 2 a
b(x − ct)


 1  

 b− for ct < x ≤ a + ct
2 a




0 for x > a + ct.


The inequalities in the domains above don’t matter, because the sum of continuous functions are
continuous. The graphs of the wave for b = 1 and a = 2 at several times are presented below:
t=0
2
1

−8 −7 −6 −5 −4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
−1
−2
1
t= c
2
1

−8 −7 −6 −5 −4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
−1
−2

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October 9, 2018 APM 346 Justin Ko

2
t= c
2
1

−8 −7 −6 −5 −4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
−1
−2
3
t= c
2
1

−8 −7 −6 −5 −4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
−1
−2

Problem 2. (Hammer Blow) Solve the initial value problem


2
utt = c uxx
 x ∈ R, t > 0,
u(x, 0) = 0 x ∈ R,

ut (x, 0) = ψ(x) x ∈ R.


where for a > 0, the initial velocity φ(x) is given by

(
1 for |x| < a
ψ(x) =
0 for |x| ≥ a.

Solution 2. The graph of ψ(x) for a = 1 is given below

2
1

−8 −7 −6 −5 −4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
−1
−2

In general, a denotes the width of the square wave.

From d’Alembert’s formula, we know

Z x+ct
1
u(x, t) = ψ(s) ds.
2c x−ct

Since ψ is constant on [−a, a], the integral

Z x+ct
ψ(s) ds
x−ct

is simply the area of the set [−a, a] ∩ [x − ct, x + ct], so

1  
u(x, t) = [−a, a] ∩ [x − ct, x + ct]
2c

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October 9, 2018 APM 346 Justin Ko

where | · | is the length of the interval.

The graphs of the wave with c = 1 and a = 1 at several times are presented below:
t=0
2
1

−8 −7 −6 −5 −4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
−1
−2
1
t= 2
2
1

−8 −7 −6 −5 −4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
−1
−2
t=1
2
1

−8 −7 −6 −5 −4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
−1
−2
3
t= 2
2
1

−8 −7 −6 −5 −4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
−1
−2
t=2
2
1

−8 −7 −6 −5 −4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
−1
−2
t=5
2
1

−8 −7 −6 −5 −4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
−1
−2

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