One Dimensional Wave Equation on < x <

[1] Consider the initial value problem for a nonhomogeneous wave equation:

utt c2 uxx = p(x, t) < x < , t > 0,

u(x, 0) = f (x), ut (x, 0) = g(x) < x < .

Show that the solution of this problem is given by

1 t
Z Z x+ctc
u(x, t) = p(, )dd
2c =0 =xct+c
x+ct
1 1 1
Z
+ f (x + ct) + f (x ct) + g()d.
2 2 2c =xct

[2] Find a solution of the problem in [1] with


a |x| < L,
p(x, t) = 0, g(x) = 0, f (x) =
0 |x| > L.

L L 3L
Sketch the solution u(x, t) vs x at times t = 0, , , .
2c c 2c
[3] Find a solution of the problem in [1] with

b |x| < L,
p(x, t) = 0, f (x) = 0, g(x) =
0 |x| > L.

L L 3L
Sketch the solution u(x, t) vs x at times t = 0, , , .
2c c 2c

(See next page for the answers)

1
 Answers:

[2]

To describe the solution formula, we divide the space-

time ( < x < , t 0) into six parts, G1 , , G6 ,
as in the figure on the left.
For example, regions G3 and G5 are defined as follows:

G3 : 0 t L/c, L + ct x L ct;
G5 : x L + ct, x L ct, x L + ct.

The solution formula is given by

0 for (x, t) in G1 , G4 , G6 ,

u(x, t) = a/2 for (x, t) in G2 , G5 ,

a for (x, t) in G3 .
[3] Let G1 , , G6 be the same as in Problem [2]. The solution to [3] is
0 for (x, t) in G1 , G6 ,



b(ct + x + L)/(2c) for (x, t) in G2 ,



u(x, t) = bt for (x, t) in G3 ,

bL/c for (x, t) in G4 ,





b(ct x + L)/(2c) for (x, t) in G5 .