# Wave equation complex problem

1. Jan 1, 2015

### JI567

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

Ytt = 1 Yxx

with initial conditions of
yT(x,0) = 0
y(x,0) = \begin{cases}
1 & \text{if } x \geq 0 \
& \text{if } x \leq 1 \\
0 & \text{if } otherwise
\end{cases}

Sketch the solution of this wave equation for 5 representative values of t, when the solution of the wave is considered on the infinite domain

2. Relevant equations

D'alembert solution

$\frac {1} {2} \$ (f(x+ct)+f(x-ct)) + $\frac {1} {2c} \$ $\int_{x-ct}^{x+ct} g(x) \$
3. The attempt at a solution
As the g(x) part was 0 I tried solving it by
y(x,t) = φ1(x,t) + φ2(x,t)

where φ1 = $\frac {1} {2} \$ f(x+ct) and φ2 = $\frac {1} {2} \$ f(x-ct)

The solution should look like this

2. Jan 1, 2015

### Orodruin

Staff Emeritus
You seem to be off to a good start with the shape of the wave for two given times. I would perhaps sketch it for one or two more times, but generally you are doing fine.

3. Jan 1, 2015

### JI567

The pictures were given in the solution and I need to sketch for 0.5 and 0.75s. I understand how it works for t=0 but can you please explain how did the wave get that shape for t = 0.25. Explain all three parts of the graph please.

4. Jan 1, 2015

### Orodruin

Staff Emeritus
How do the +-ct parts in the argument affect the shape of the solution for different times?

5. Jan 1, 2015

### Staff: Mentor

The figure you showed illustrates what is happening very nicely and intuitively. Half the solution is moving to the right (the middle red plot) with velocity c = 1, and half the solution is moving to the left (I can't tell what color that curve is from the figure, but it's the upper plot) with velocity c = 1. The two portions of the solution sum to the full solution (the lower plot, which is the sum of the red plot and the other plot).

Chet

6. Jan 2, 2015

### JI567

The solution moving to left is blue part. Yeah I got that the lower black part is the sum of red and blue plot. But lets say when t = 0.25 and x = 1.5. The red part is the φ2 and the blue part is φ1. I get how both parts are mvoing due to +- ct to the left or right. But the lowest part why did it get split into different parts and why at x =1.5 is the highest part? why not in other points. Also just for the record the y(x,0) is actually 2 for 1<x <2 for this question so please ignore the value I posted in the question, its not letting me edit it there.

I have attached a better picture of the graph

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7. Jan 2, 2015

### Staff: Mentor

I'm really having trouble understanding what your issue (doubt) is. The red plus the blue equals the solution. The picture tells the whole story. You've already articulated all this.

Chet

8. Jan 2, 2015

### JI567

My issue is I didn't draw the graph in the picture! This picture was already given in the question but I need to know why is the lowest part drawn like that? I mean why is the maximum at x = 1.5 and then it gets split into two sides?

9. Jan 2, 2015

### Ray Vickson

I think you need to actually DRAW the graph yourself, not just look at what somebody else has drawn. Your sketches can be "rough", but they need to be good enough to illustrate what is happening. Here are the steps:
(1) For your given value of t > 0, draw the graphs of y = f(x-ct) and y = f(x+ct).
(2) Add them up: the graph of y = f(x-ct) + f(x+ct) just adds together the y-values on each of the two separate graphs.

I am absolutely serious about the above advice: until you actually carry out the steps yourself you will remain confused and uncertain.

10. Jan 2, 2015

### Staff: Mentor

It's the opposite. The upper two parts have to be summed to give the lower part (which is the solution). What do you get at x = 1.5 when you sum the upper two parts?

Chet

11. Jan 2, 2015

### JI567

i get y = 1.5 then...is that correct?

12. Jan 2, 2015

### Staff: Mentor

No. You can see from the figure that it's 2.0.

13. Jan 2, 2015

### JI567

Okay so from 1.25<x<1.75 why is y 2? and why is it 1 for the remaining left and right sides?

14. Jan 2, 2015

### Staff: Mentor

A 1.0 is contributed by the red profile and another 1.0 is contributed by the blue profile.
Do you understand that the red profile represents f(x-ct)/2, and the blue profile represents f(x+ct)/2. The initial red profile has moved 0.25 to the right by the time t = 0.25, and the initial blue profile has moved 0.25 to the left by the time t = 0.25.

Also, note that the solution goes to zero at time t = 0.25 for values of x >2.25 and x < 0.75. Do you see that?

Chet

15. Jan 2, 2015

### JI567

yeah I see that...well okay so why isn't here the lowest part 2 then? The red and blue are still cotributing 1 each

16. Jan 2, 2015

### Staff: Mentor

Well, that's only at one instant of time at one isolated point. I guess at t = 0.5 there should be a dot at x = 1.5, y = 2. But, it's not worth including.

Chet

17. Jan 2, 2015

### JI567

what do you mean? What so special happened between t =0.25 and t = 0.5 that the y decreased to 1?

18. Jan 2, 2015

### Staff: Mentor

Nothing. The region of overlap between the red and the blue just decreased. Did you check out what happens after t =0.5?

19. Jan 2, 2015

### JI567

yeah I checked this is what happens in after t = 0.5

Can you please explain what steps should I do in order to draw these type of graphs for different t's....I am so confused

20. Jan 2, 2015

### Staff: Mentor

You take half the initial y profile and move it to the right a distance ct to get the red profile. You again take half the initial y profile and move it to the left a distance ct to get the blue profile. Then you add the red and the blue profiles together to get the black profile.