Fourier Methods

Fourier sine series

Application to the wave
equation
Fourier cosine series
Fourier full range series

Blue
book

New
chapte
r 12

Complex form of Fourier

series
Introduction to Fourier
transforms
and the
Dr Mervyn
Roy (S6)
convolution theorem
www2.le.ac.uk/departments/physics/people/academic-staff/mr6
PA214 Waves and Fields

Fourier

Resources
Lecture notes
www2.le.ac.uk/departments/physics/people/academic-staff/mr6

214 course texts

Blue book, new chapter 12 available on Blackboard
Notes on Blackboard
Notes on symmetry and on trigonometric identities
Computing exercises
Exam tips
mock papers

Books
Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences (Mary L.

Boas)
Library!

PA214 Waves and Fields

Fourier

Introduction
The wave equation

a string fixed at and has harmonic solutions

for

erposition tells us that sums of such terms must also be solu

PA214 Waves and Fields

Fourier

Set

coefficients from initial conditions, e.g. string

released from rest with then

PA214 Waves and Fields

Fourier

What

happens if the initial shape of the string is

something more complex?
In general can be any function
The implication is that we can represent any
function as a sum of sines
and/or cosines or complex exponentials.
This is Fouriers theorem

PA214 Waves and Fields

Fourier

urier sine series (half-range)

We
will find that a function in the range can be
represented by the Fourier sine series

where

PA214 Waves and Fields

Fourier

ourier sine series

How does this work ?

Need a standard integral (new chapter 12 A.2)

PA214 Waves and Fields

Fourier

Square wave,

PA214 Waves and Fields

Fourier

Square wave,

PA214 Waves and Fields

Fourier

Square wave,

PA214 Waves and Fields

Fourier

Square wave,

PA214 Waves and Fields

Fourier

Square wave,

PA214 Waves and Fields

Fourier

Square wave,

PA214 Waves and Fields

Fourier

odic extension of Fourier sine series

e know that sine waves have odd symmetry,

and that

PA214 Waves and Fields

Fourier

Within

can expand any function as a sum

of sine waves,

How

does this expansion behave

outside of the range ?

PA214 Waves and Fields

Fourier

square wave

sawtooth wave

exp wave (odd)

PA214 Waves and Fields

Fourier

The wave equation

String fixed at and

Initial conditions and

PA214 Waves and Fields

Fourier

e.g. and , then

(see workshop 1, exercises 1 & 2)

PA214 Waves and Fields

Fourier

e.g. and , then

(see workshop 1, exercises 1 & 2)

PA214 Waves and Fields

Fourier


e.g.
and (see new chapter 12, exercise
12.5)

PA214 Waves and Fields

Fourier


e.g.
and (see new chapter 12, exercise
12.5)

PA214 Waves and Fields

Fourier

go through the same procedure with the solutions to other P

Laplace equation (see workshop 1 exercise 3),

Imagine

the boundary conditions are and then

and
can find coefficients from boundary condition for

PA214 Waves and Fields

Fourier