Homework Assignment 6 Mathematical Methods of Physics, Spring 2012 Due: Wednesday, February 29, 2012. Problem 1.

. Consider the function f (t) = t2 for 0 t . (a) (i) Make a hand-drawn plot of several periods of the even-function periodic extension of f (t). (ii) Find the general formula for the Fourier series coecients of the even-function extension. (iii) Write down the rst 4 non-zero terms in the Fourier series expansion. (b) (i) Make a hand-drawn plot of several periods of the odd-function periodic extension of f (t). (ii) Find the general formula for the Fourier series coecients of the odd-function extension. (iii) Write down the rst 4 non-zero terms in the Fourier series expansion. (c) Discuss qualitatively why one set of Fourier coecients from parts (a) and (b) decreases faster as a function of n than the other set. What it is about the extended f (t) functions that causes this? Problem 2. A function f (t) with the period P = 2L is dened as: f (t) = F cos and f (t) = 0 for L < t < L and L < t < L. 2 2 (a) Make a hand-drawn sketch of the function versus t for 3L < t < 3L. (b) Find the values of the coecients a , an , and bn in the Fourier series expansion of f (t). Show all your work and explain all your reasoning. [Hint: be careful nding the Fourier coecient for n = 1.] (c) Write down the values of the rst 4 non-zero terms in the Fourier series for f (t). (d) Write the full Fourier series for f (t) using the compact form. (e) By evaluating both sides of your Fourier series formula for f (t) from part (d) at t = 0, obtain the expression: (1)n = 2 4 . 2 n=1 4n 1 This is one of many such innite series involving that can be found using the Fourier series method. Problem 3. A function f (t) is dened as f (t) = 3 for 0 < t 1, and f (t) = 1 for 1 < t < 2. Assume we want to nd a particular, steady-periodic solution to the dierential equation: 2 + 20x = f (t), for x 0 < t < 2. (a) Find the values of the Fourier series coecients A , An , and Bn for the odd-function extension of f (t). (b) (i) Expand the unknown steady-periodic solution xsp (t) to the dierential equation in a Fourier series with the same period as the odd-function extension of f (t), using the coecient names a , an , and bn . (ii) Using this Fourier series, obtain an innite series expression for xsp (t). (iii) Put the xsp (t) and xsp (t) series expressions into the dierential equation given above. (c) Using your result from part (b), determine the value of a , and a general expression for the coecients an and bn for n 1 in the Fourier series for the steady-periodic solution xsp (t). (d) Find the numerical values for the rst 4 non-zero Fourier series coecients. Then write down the rst 4 non-zero terms in the Fourier series for the steady-periodic solution xsp (t). (e) What do you notice about the importance of the individual terms in your answer to part (d)? Make a physics argument that qualitatively explains this trend. Explain what physical system is being described by the dierential equation, and why such a system would show this trend. Problem 4. A function f (t) is dened as f (t) = 2t for 0 < t < 3. Assume we want to nd a particular, steady-periodic solution xsp (t) to the dierential equation: x + 0.1x + 4x = f (t) for 0 < t < 3. (a) Find the values of the Fourier series coecients A , An , and Bn for the even-function extension of f (t). 1
t L

for L t L , 2 2

(b) (i) Expand the unknown steady-periodic solution xsp (t) in a Fourier series with the same period as the even-function extension of f (t), calling the coecients a , an , and bn . (ii) Using this Fourier series, obtain expressions for xsp (t) and xsp (t). (iii) Put all of these expressions into the dierential equation from above. (c) Using your result from part (b), nd the numerical values for a1 and b1 , the n = 1 coecients in the Fourier series expansion of xsp (t). (d) Now nd the steady-periodic solution xsp (t) using another method. Consider your answer to part (a) and what we learned previously this semester about the steady-periodic solutions to such dierential equations when f (t) = F cos(t) or f (t) = F sin(t). Using this knowledge, write down the innite series solution for the steady-periodic motion xsp (t) in compact form, in terms of just n, t, elementary functions, and constants. (e) Using your answer to part (d), determine the numerical values of the rst 3 non-zero terms in the innite series for the steady-periodic solution xsp (t). (f) Discuss qualitatively why the coecients of the second and third terms you found in part (e) should have the relative magnitudes that they do. Use a physics argument, employing a physical system that is being described by the dierential equation . (g) Show that your answer to part (c) for the values of a1 and b1 agrees with your answer to part (e).