D'Alembert solution for the wave equation: question about the speeds

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The D'Alembert solution for the wave equation is expressed as $$u(x,t)=(f(x+ct)+f(x-ct)+1/c*\int_{x-ct}^{x+ct}g(s)ds)/2$$, where $$u(x,0)=f(x)$$ and $$u_t(x,0)=g(x)$$. This solution indicates that a vibrating string can exhibit transverse motion at speeds exceeding the wave speed $$c$$, while the longitudinal movement remains constrained to speed $$c$$. However, the assumptions made during the derivation of the wave equation, particularly regarding the transverse speed and the small displacement from equilibrium, are crucial for the validity of this model, as discussed in Weinberger's "A First Course in Partial Differential Equations".

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The solution for the wave equation with initial conditions $$u(x,0)=f(x)$$ and $$u_t(x,0)=g(x)$$

Is given for example on wikipedia : $$u(x,t)=(f(x+ct)+f(x-ct)+1/c*\int_{x-ct}^{x+ct}g(s)ds)/2$$

So a vibrating string, since there is no conditions on ##g## (like ##\sqrt{1-g(x)^2/c^2}##), could move transversally at speed bigger than c, while the movement along the rope is at speed c ?
<mentor fix latex>
 
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Perhaps an analysis of the simple wave equation ##\partial^2 f/\partial t^2 = c^2 \partial^2 f/\partial x^2## indicates that, but you need to pay attention to the assumptions made when deriving the equation for waves on a string. The book "a first course in partial differential equations" by Weinberger begins with a detailed derivation, and one of the assumptions made is that the transverse speed is small compared to ##c##.

Also, there are conditions on ##g##. For one thing, the displacement from equilibrium must be very small for that simple linear PDE to be useful approximation.
 
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