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MAE 105: Introduction to Mathematical Physics

Homework 4
DUE: Thursday, May 9, 2019
1. When a sound wave passes through air, and we hear it, the air pressure where we are varies with time.
Suppose the excess pressure above (and below) atmospheric pressure in a sound wave is given by the graph
below:

(a) Show that the fundamental (n=1) is 15 times smaller in amplitude compared to the second harmonic (n=2).
Hint: Expand p(t) in a Fourier series to show this. It would be interesting to note that the fundamental
frequency corresponds approximately to middle C on a piano.
(b) What frequencies do you hear when you listen to such a sound wave?
Hint: Assume that the intensity of the sound wave (average energy striking unit area of your ear per second) is
proportional to the average of the square of the excess pressure.

2. Expand the function, f(x) = x, defined over the interval 0 <x <2, in terms of:
(a) A Fourier sine series, using an odd extension of f(x)
(b) A Fourier cosine series, using an even extension of f(x)
3. Expand f(x) = x2, 0 < x < 2 in a Fourier series, if
(a) the period is 2 Additionally, what is the value of f(x) at x= 0 and x = 2?
(b) the period is not specified.

4. Using the results of Problem 3, prove that 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + ... = 

2

2 2 2 2 6
1 2 3 4
5. Show, graphically, that a Fourier series can only be differentiated if f (x) is continuous and f (0) = f (L) = 0.
Consequently, verify that the temperature distribution in a one-dimensional rod (that we previously derived in
class) could be expanded in terms of a Fourier sine series, if and only if both ends of the rod have a temperature
of zero.
6. Show (using the de Moivre relations) that an alternate representation of the function, f(x) expressed as a

Fourier series over an interval (-L, L), i.e., f(x) ~ ao + a n cos( nx ) +  bn sin( nx ) is:
 

n =1 L n =1 L

 nx
−i ( ) 1
f(x) ~  cn e L where cn =
2
(a n + i bn )
n = −