- #1
makris
- 11
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Assume the well known PDE of an infinite length string
D^2(y)/Dt^2 = c^2* ( D^2(y)/Dx^2)
where y=y(x,t) is the transverse displacement of the string.
D/Dx= partial derivative with respect to x
D/Dt= partial derivative with respect to t
c= velocity of the wave
According to Morse and Ingard's Theoretical Acoustics (page 97), if the shape of the string is described by the function y(x,t)=F(x-ct), then Dy/Dt= -c*F'(x-ct)= -c*Dy/Dx (Where F'(z)= the derivative of F with respect to z).
I found the last statement a little bit confusing. Could anyone explain why F'(x-ct)=Dy/Dx ? Obviously if F'(x-ct)=Dy/Dt then a constrain is put on c which is not correct...
D^2(y)/Dt^2 = c^2* ( D^2(y)/Dx^2)
where y=y(x,t) is the transverse displacement of the string.
D/Dx= partial derivative with respect to x
D/Dt= partial derivative with respect to t
c= velocity of the wave
According to Morse and Ingard's Theoretical Acoustics (page 97), if the shape of the string is described by the function y(x,t)=F(x-ct), then Dy/Dt= -c*F'(x-ct)= -c*Dy/Dx (Where F'(z)= the derivative of F with respect to z).
I found the last statement a little bit confusing. Could anyone explain why F'(x-ct)=Dy/Dx ? Obviously if F'(x-ct)=Dy/Dt then a constrain is put on c which is not correct...