I How do I classify this partial differential equation? Inhomogeneous?

Phys pilot
Messages
28
Reaction score
0
Hello,

I have to solve this second order differential equation. It's like a string vibrating equation but with a constant c:

$$\frac{{\partial^2 u}}{{\partial t^2}}=k\frac{{\partial^2 u}}{{\partial x^2}}+c$$

B.C $$u(0,t)=0$$ $$u(1,t)=2c_0$$ c_0 is also a constant

I.C $$u(x,0)=c_0(1-\cos\pi x)$$

This is new for me and I would like to know how to classify it and maybe some recommended book that includes this because mine doesn't and I think I can not separate variables. I have never seen a equation with a constant and then just one initial condition, they usually give us two.
thank you
 
Physics news on Phys.org
The presence of a constant makes a linear DE like this inhomogeneous.

Can you solve the equation without the constant?

If so, what happens if you take that solution and add to it a function of only ##t## that, when differentiated twice wrt ##t##, gives ##c##?
 
andrewkirk said:
The presence of a constant makes a linear DE like this inhomogeneous.

Can you solve the equation without the constant?

If so, what happens if you take that solution and add to it a function of only ##t## that, when differentiated twice wrt ##t##, gives ##c##?

Probably best to take a function of x which when differentiated twice yields -c/k and satisfies the boundary conditions at 0 and 1, since you can then subtract it from c_0(1 - \cos(\pi x)) and expand the difference as a sine series on [0,1] to get the initial conditions for the complimentary functions.
 
  • Like
Likes Chestermiller
pasmith said:
Probably best to take a function of x which when differentiated twice yields -c/k and satisfies the boundary conditions at 0 and 1, since you can then subtract it from c_0(1 - \cos(\pi x)) and expand the difference as a sine series on [0,1] to get the initial conditions for the complimentary functions.
andrewkirk said:
The presence of a constant makes a linear DE like this inhomogeneous.

Can you solve the equation without the constant?

If so, what happens if you take that solution and add to it a function of only ##t## that, when differentiated twice wrt ##t##, gives ##c##?
I'm a little bit lost. So, I have to solve it first without the constant which should be easy. But then? I didn't understand the second part. Thats why I'm looking for a book or pdf solving a case like this. Because I found some that intead of a constant they add a function but then the B.C and I.C are different.

I have another doubt, I think that a u_t I.C is missing right? or can I solve it without it?
thanks, sorry for my english
 
The thing about linear problems, such as this one, is that you can split them up into simpler linear problems which you can already solve. Then you just add the solutions together.

So here the simplest method is to write <br /> u(x,t) = u_1(x) + u_2(x,t) where u_1 satisfies <br /> 0 = k\frac{d^2u_1}{dx^2} + c and u_2 satisfies <br /> \frac{\partial^2 u_2}{\partial t^2} = k \frac{\partial^2 u_2}{\partial x^2} so that the sum u satisfies <br /> \frac{\partial^2 u}{\partial t^2} = k \frac{\partial^2 u}{\partial x^2} + cas required.

Now we need to satisfy the boundary conditions. Our only constraint is on the value of u_1 + u_2, so we are free to choose the conditions on u_1 to our advantage. My suggestion is to take u_1(0) = 0 and u_1(1) = 2c_0 so that u_2(0,t) = u_2(1,t) = 0. The initial condition on u_2 must then be <br /> u_1(x) + u_2(x,0) = c_0(1 - \cos(\pi x)). Thus we are left with two problems:

(1) Solve \frac{d^2u_1}{dx^2} = -c/k subject to u_1(0) = 0 and u_1(1)=2c_0.

(2) Solve \frac{\partial^2 u_2}{\partial t^2} = k \frac{\partial^2 u_2}{\partial x^2} subject to u_2(0,t) = u_2(1,t) = 0 and u_2(x,0) = c_0(1 - \cos(\pi x)) - u_1(x).

Hopfully you know how to solve each of those problems separately.

(There is a missing initial condition on u_t. My suggestion is to assume that u_t(x,0) = 0.)

Why did I not follow @andrewkirk's suggestion of writing u(x,t) = u_3(t) + u_4(x,t)? Because that leaves me with a problem for u_4 with boundary conditions <br /> u_4(0,t) = -u_3(t), \qquad u_4(1,t) = 2c_0 - u_3(t),\qquad u_4(x,0) = c_0(1-\cos(\pi x)) - u_3(0) which is much harder to solve than the problem for u_2 above.
 
  • Like
Likes Phys pilot
pasmith said:
The thing about linear problems, such as this one, is that you can split them up into simpler linear problems which you can already solve. Then you just add the solutions together.

So here the simplest method is to write <br /> u(x,t) = u_1(x) + u_2(x,t) where u_1 satisfies <br /> 0 = k\frac{d^2u_1}{dx^2} + c and u_2 satisfies <br /> \frac{\partial^2 u_2}{\partial t^2} = k \frac{\partial^2 u_2}{\partial x^2} so that the sum u satisfies <br /> \frac{\partial^2 u}{\partial t^2} = k \frac{\partial^2 u}{\partial x^2} + cas required.

Now we need to satisfy the boundary conditions. Our only constraint is on the value of u_1 + u_2, so we are free to choose the conditions on u_1 to our advantage. My suggestion is to take u_1(0) = 0 and u_1(1) = 2c_0 so that u_2(0,t) = u_2(1,t) = 0. The initial condition on u_2 must then be <br /> u_1(x) + u_2(x,0) = c_0(1 - \cos(\pi x)). Thus we are left with two problems:

(1) Solve \frac{d^2u_1}{dx^2} = -c/k subject to u_1(0) = 0 and u_1(1)=2c_0.

(2) Solve \frac{\partial^2 u_2}{\partial t^2} = k \frac{\partial^2 u_2}{\partial x^2} subject to u_2(0,t) = u_2(1,t) = 0 and u_2(x,0) = c_0(1 - \cos(\pi x)) - u_1(x).

Hopfully you know how to solve each of those problems separately.

(There is a missing initial condition on u_t. My suggestion is to assume that u_t(x,0) = 0.)

Why did I not follow @andrewkirk's suggestion of writing u(x,t) = u_3(t) + u_4(x,t)? Because that leaves me with a problem for u_4 with boundary conditions <br /> u_4(0,t) = -u_3(t), \qquad u_4(1,t) = 2c_0 - u_3(t),\qquad u_4(x,0) = c_0(1-\cos(\pi x)) - u_3(0) which is much harder to solve than the problem for u_2 above.
Thank you. So it's the general solution of the homogeneous equation plus a particular solution.
I will try to solve the problem and post the solution here. Thank you again.
 
pasmith said:
The thing about linear problems, such as this one, is that you can split them up into simpler linear problems which you can already solve. Then you just add the solutions together.

So here the simplest method is to write <br /> u(x,t) = u_1(x) + u_2(x,t) where u_1 satisfies <br /> 0 = k\frac{d^2u_1}{dx^2} + c and u_2 satisfies <br /> \frac{\partial^2 u_2}{\partial t^2} = k \frac{\partial^2 u_2}{\partial x^2} so that the sum u satisfies <br /> \frac{\partial^2 u}{\partial t^2} = k \frac{\partial^2 u}{\partial x^2} + cas required.

Now we need to satisfy the boundary conditions. Our only constraint is on the value of u_1 + u_2, so we are free to choose the conditions on u_1 to our advantage. My suggestion is to take u_1(0) = 0 and u_1(1) = 2c_0 so that u_2(0,t) = u_2(1,t) = 0. The initial condition on u_2 must then be <br /> u_1(x) + u_2(x,0) = c_0(1 - \cos(\pi x)). Thus we are left with two problems:

(1) Solve \frac{d^2u_1}{dx^2} = -c/k subject to u_1(0) = 0 and u_1(1)=2c_0.

(2) Solve \frac{\partial^2 u_2}{\partial t^2} = k \frac{\partial^2 u_2}{\partial x^2} subject to u_2(0,t) = u_2(1,t) = 0 and u_2(x,0) = c_0(1 - \cos(\pi x)) - u_1(x).

Hopfully you know how to solve each of those problems separately.

(There is a missing initial condition on u_t. My suggestion is to assume that u_t(x,0) = 0.)

Why did I not follow @andrewkirk's suggestion of writing u(x,t) = u_3(t) + u_4(x,t)? Because that leaves me with a problem for u_4 with boundary conditions <br /> u_4(0,t) = -u_3(t), \qquad u_4(1,t) = 2c_0 - u_3(t),\qquad u_4(x,0) = c_0(1-\cos(\pi x)) - u_3(0) which is much harder to solve than the problem for u_2 above.
Hello again, I had some problems. So when I solve this eq and I apply de boundar conditions y get this solution:
\frac{d^2u_1}{dx^2} = -c/k
$$u_1(x)=2c_0x+\frac{c}{2k}x-\frac{h}{2k}x^2$$
I'm not sure if I did it correctly.
And when I solve the second eq, which is a typical wave equation I get this solution:
$$T_n(t)=C_n\cos{n \pi \sqrt{k} t}$$
$$X_n(x)=B_n \sin{n \pi x}$$
$$u_2(x,t)= \sum_{n=1}^\infty{} a_n \sin{n \pi x}\cos{n \pi \sqrt{k} t}$$
So when I apply the initial condition
u_2(x,0) = c_0(1 - \cos(\pi x)) - u_1(x).
I get:
$$u_2(x,0)= \sum_{n=1}^\infty{} a_n \sin{n \pi x}=c_0(1 - \cos(\pi x)) - u_1(x)=c_0(1-2x-\cos{\pi x})+\frac{c}{2k}(x^2-x)=g(x)$$
Which seems impossible to solve in an easy way because doesn't look like a Fourier series.

Do you think is right? if so, which is the best method to solve it? thanks

EDIT:
So to calculate the coefficients a_n I deduce that I have to solve this integral:
$$a_n=2\int_0^1 g(x) \sin{n\pi x}$$
But introducing my g(x) is not giving me the supposed solution which apparently is:
$$a_n=\frac{2c_0}{n\pi}[1+(-1)^n]+\frac{2nc_0}{(n^2-1)\pi}[1-(-1)^n]+\frac{2c}{k\pi^3 n^3}[(-1)^n-1]$$

Actually, the solution to the problem is supposed to be:
$$u(x,t)=-\frac{cx^2}{2k}+(2c_0+\frac{c}{2k})x-\frac{4c}{k\pi}e^{-c\pi^2 t}\sin{\pi x}+ \sum_{n=2}^\infty{} a_n e^{-cn^2\pi^2 t}\sin{n\pi x}$$

As you can see, I'm not getting those exponentials of the general solution so I think I have a problem obtaining the function U(x) or/and a problem solving the temporal part of the homogeneous wave equation because I get a cosine. But I can not identify the mistake.
 
Last edited:
Up please. I'm trying and trying and getting always the same result
 
Is it possible that the PDE is actually <br /> \frac{\partial u}{\partial t} = k \frac{\partial^2 u}{\partial x^2} + c?<br /> That would explain both the absence of an initial condition on \partial u/\partial t and the expansion in terms of e^{-kn^2 \pi^2t}\sin(n\pi x).

Since the Fourier coefficients depend only on the initial condition and not the time dependence of the eigenfunctions you still have to determine a_n from <br /> a_n = 2 \int_0^1 \left( c_0(1 - \cos(\pi x)) - \frac{c}{2k}x(x_0 - x)\right)\,dx (Here x_0 is chosen so that u_1(1) = 2c_0; the working is simplified if the actual value is not substituted until the final step.)

This involves finding the four separate Fourier series for 1, x, x^2 and \cos(\pi x).
 
Last edited:
  • #10
pasmith said:
Is it possible that the PDE is actually <br /> \frac{\partial u}{\partial t} = k \frac{\partial^2 u}{\partial x^2} + c?<br /> That would explain both the absence of an initial condition on \partial u/\partial t and the expansion in terms of e^{-kn^2 \pi^2t}\sin(n\pi x).

Since the Fourier coefficients depend only on the initial condition and not the time dependence of the eigenfunctions you still have to determine a_n from <br /> a_n = 2 \int_0^1 \left( c_0(1 - \cos(\pi x)) - \frac{c}{2k}x(x_0 - x)\right)\,dx (Here x_0 is chosen so that u_1(1) = 2c_0; the working is simplified if the actual value is not substituted until the final step.)

This involves finding the four separate Fourier series for 1, x, x^2 and \cos(\pi x).
Yes! apparently there was a mistake on the equation and it's heat equation.
You wrote this:
<br /> a_n = 2 \int_0^1 \left( c_0(1 - \cos(\pi x)) - \frac{c}{2k}x(x_0 - x)\right)\,dx
But it should be:
<br /> a_n = 2 \int_0^1 \left( c_0(1 - \cos(\pi x)) - \frac{c}{2k}x(x_0 - x)\right) \sin(n\pi x)\,dx
right?

When you say that I have to find the separate Fourier series you mean that I have to solve 4 integral like these ones:

<br /> 2 \int_0^1 c_0\, \sin(n\pi x) dx
<br /> 2 \int_0^1 - \cos(\pi x) \, \sin(n\pi x) dx
<br /> 2 \int_0^1 - x_0\frac{c}{2k}x\, \sin(n\pi x) dx
<br /> 2 \int_0^1 -\frac{c}{2k}x^2\, \sin(n\pi x) dx

And then sum them. Or do I have to calculate the Fourier series for 1, x, x^2 and \cos(\pi x) and the coefficients a_0, a_n and b_n. If it is like this I don't understand why.

And also if you realize in the given solution the expansion starts in 2 because a_n is not defined for a_1.So how do you get the part of the solution corresponding to $$-\frac{4c}{k\pi}e^{-k \pi^2 t} \sin(\pi x)$$ (which is out of the expansion in the solution).

Sorry for so many questions and thank you again.

Edit:
I don't understand. I keep solving the integrals like this:

$$a_n=2 \int_0^1 c_0\, \sin(n\pi x) dx+2 \int_0^1 -c_0\cos{\pi x}\, \sin(n\pi x) dx +2 \int_0^1 -2c_0x\, \sin(n\pi x) dx+2 \int_0^1 -\frac{c}{2k}x\, \sin(n\pi x) dx + \\2 \int_0^1 \frac{c}{2k}x^2\, \sin(n\pi x) dx$$

Which I understand that it's the solution of the coefficientes but I'm not getting the supposed solution and also my expansion doesn't start at 2
 
Last edited:
Back
Top