Application of Bessel function

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The discussion centers on solving a modified Bessel differential equation related to modeling standing waves in a drum membrane. The equation presented is nearly in the form of Bessel's equation but includes a parameter λ that is not equal to 1. The user attempts to demonstrate that the solution involves Bessel functions by substituting r with r√λ, but struggles with justifying the transformation. The conversation emphasizes the importance of correctly applying substitutions to derive the standard form of Bessel's equation, ultimately seeking clarity on how to validate the substitution process. The goal is to confirm that the proposed solution is indeed valid and to understand the method for identifying such substitutions in future problems.
Luage
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Homework Statement


This is not exactly a homework problem. It is just a bump in my own spare time calculations that i can't seem to get through.

When trying to model a drum membrane (the physical details are not important) I came up with the following equation for the radial component of the standing waves:

R''+\frac{1}{r}R'+\left(\lambda -\frac{1}{r^2}n^2\right)R=0
where R is a function of rThis is almost Bessel's differential equation except that \lambda≠1.
My calculator tells me that the result is found by multiplying r by √λ in the input of the bessel functions, and I thought that this would be easy to show by substitution. But somehow I can't get this to work.

Homework Equations


The Attempt at a Solution


I tried working backwards. The final result is:
R(r)=C_1 J_n\left(r\sqrt{\lambda}\right)+C_2 Y_n\left(r\sqrt{\lambda}\right)

The differential equation that i know this must be a solution of is(r^2 has been multiplied through from the first equation and substituded for r√λ):
(r\sqrt{\lambda})^2\frac{d^2 R(r\sqrt{\lambda})}{d(r\sqrt{\lambda})^2}+(r\sqrt{\lambda})\frac{d R(r\sqrt{\lambda})}{d(r\sqrt{\lambda})}+\left((r\sqrt{\lambda})^2-n^2\right)R(r\sqrt{\lambda})=0

r^2\frac{d^2 R(r\sqrt{\lambda})}{dr^2}+r\frac{d R(r\sqrt{\lambda})}{dr}+\left(r^2\lambda-n^2\right)R(r\sqrt{\lambda})=0

So it looks like that this is the solution except that the input of all the funktions and funktion derivatives are multiplied by a factor. How do I proceed from here. For now I would be satisfied if I could at least be able to show that the funktion proposed by my calculator is a correct solution. If there is an elegant way then it would of course also be great to know how to spot these kinds of substitutions in the future, but those problems are often related.
 
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Luage said:

Homework Statement


This is not exactly a homework problem. It is just a bump in my own spare time calculations that i can't seem to get through.

When trying to model a drum membrane (the physical details are not important) I came up with the following equation for the radial component of the standing waves:

R''+\frac{1}{r}R'+\left(\lambda -\frac{1}{r^2}n^2\right)R=0
where R is a function of r


This is almost Bessel's differential equation except that \lambda≠1.
My calculator tells me that the result is found by multiplying r by √λ in the input of the bessel functions, and I thought that this would be easy to show by substitution. But somehow I can't get this to work.

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


I tried working backwards.

That can be done, but it is much simpler to work forwards. You know you want to replace
<br /> r^2 \frac{d^2 R}{dr^2} + r\frac{dR}{dr} + (\lambda r^2 - n^2)R = 0<br />
with
<br /> x^2 \frac{d^2 R}{dx^2} + x\frac{dR}{dx} + (x^2 - n^2)R = 0.<br />
This suggests x = r\sqrt{\lambda} so that
<br /> \frac{dR}{dr} = \frac{dR}{dx} \frac{dx}{dr}<br /> = \sqrt{\lambda}\frac{dR}{dx}<br />
and so forth.
 
pasmith said:
That can be done, but it is much simpler to work forwards. You know you want to replace
<br /> r^2 \frac{d^2 R}{dr^2} + r\frac{dR}{dr} + (\lambda r^2 - n^2)R = 0<br />
with
<br /> x^2 \frac{d^2 R}{dx^2} + x\frac{dR}{dx} + (x^2 - n^2)R = 0.<br />
This suggests x = r\sqrt{\lambda} so that
<br /> \frac{dR}{dr} = \frac{dR}{dx} \frac{dx}{dr}<br /> = \sqrt{\lambda}\frac{dR}{dx}<br />
and so forth.

Well I tried this but it didn't help me. From your notation it is not clear, but very quickly the same problem arises. Here you can see where i get stuck:

First I have to rewrite your last equation because right now it is a little ambiguous. is it R(x) or R(r)?

<br /> \frac{dR(x)}{dr} = \frac{dR(x)}{dx} \frac{dx}{dr}<br /> = \sqrt{\lambda}\frac{dR(x)}{dx}<br />
and for compleetness:
<br /> \frac{d^2R(x)}{dr^2} = \lambda \frac{d^2R(x)}{dx^2}<br />

Then we have
<br /> r^2 \frac{d^2 R(r)}{dr^2} + r \frac{dR(r)}{dr} + (\lambda r^2 - n^2)R = 0<br />
⇔(THIS SUBSTITUTION IS UNJUSTIFIED. HELP ME JUSTIFY IT. THEN THE PROBLEM IS SOLVED)
<br /> r^2 \lambda \frac{d^2R(x)}{dx^2} + r \sqrt{\lambda}\frac{dR(x)}{dx} + (\lambda r^2 - n^2)R = 0<br />

<br /> \left(\frac{x}{\sqrt{\lambda}}\right)^2 \lambda \frac{d^2R(x)}{dx^2} +\frac{x}{\sqrt{\lambda}} \sqrt{\lambda}\frac{dR(x)}{dx} + \left(\lambda \left(\frac{x}{\sqrt{\lambda}}\right)^2 - n^2\right)R = 0<br />
This last equation trivially simplifies to Bessel's equation. If we can justify how we arrive at it then the problem is solved.
 
Question: A clock's minute hand has length 4 and its hour hand has length 3. What is the distance between the tips at the moment when it is increasing most rapidly?(Putnam Exam Question) Answer: Making assumption that both the hands moves at constant angular velocities, the answer is ## \sqrt{7} .## But don't you think this assumption is somewhat doubtful and wrong?

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