- #1
roldy
- 237
- 2
Homework Statement
Derive the general nontrivial relation between [tex]\phi[/tex] and [tex]\psi[/tex] which will produce a solution to [tex]u_{tt}-u_{xx}=0[/tex] in the xt-plane satisfying
[tex]u(x,0)=\Phi(x)[/tex] and [tex]u_t(x,0)=\Psi(x)[/tex] for [tex]-\infty\leq x \leq \infty[/tex]
and such that u consists solely of a wave traveling to the left along the x-axis.
Homework Equations
d'Alemberts Formula
The Attempt at a Solution
So for a wave traveling to the left, the equation takes the form of
[tex]u(x,t)=G(x+ct)[/tex]
Is this correct? It was my assumption that wave equations have two parts to them, i.e [tex]F(x-ct)[/tex] and [tex]G(x+ct)[/tex].
I think I know the general procedure of doing this, although I am probably wrong as I am just guessing here. We were never shown in class how to derive relations between the functions of the initial conditions.
I think that I would probably work in reverse from [tex]u(x,t)=G(x+ct)[/tex]
So with the initial conditions...
[tex]
u(x,0)=\phi(x)=G(ct)
[/tex]
[tex]
u_t(x,0)=\psi(x)=cG'(ct)
[/tex]
After this I got stuck.
Last edited: