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# Derivation of One Dimensional Wave Equation

## What are One Dimensional Waves?

Last updated date: 26th Mar 2023
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One dimensional wave as the name suggests prescribes to own space dimension, i.e., the only independent variable present is time. There are various examples of waves, such as sound waves, ocean waves, or vibrations that are produced by musical instruments as well as electromagnetic radiations producing waves. A wave is studied in classical physics in mechanics, sound, and light. A wave can be described as a disturbance that travels through a medium transferring energy. A single disturbance is called a pulse, and a repetitive disturbance is called a periodic wave. The medium is a series of interconnected particles exhibiting wave-like nature. The particles interact with one another, allowing the disturbance or wave to travel through such mediums.

## Types of Waves

Waves can generally be categorized into two different types, namely, travelling and stationary waves.

• Travelling waves, for example, sea waves or electromagnetic radiation, are waves that "move", implying that they have a recurrence and are spread through space and time where time is the only independent variable. Another method of depicting this property of "wave development" is related to energy transmission– a wave moves over a set distance. The most significant sorts of travelling waves in regular existence are electromagnetic waves, sound waves, and maybe water waves. It is hard to break down waves spreading out in three measurements, reflecting off items, so we start with the least fascinating instances of waves, those limited to move along a line. We should begin with a rope, similar to a clothesline. You take one end free, holding the rope, and, keeping it extended, wave your hand up and back once. On the off chance that you do it sufficiently quickly, you'll see a solitary knock travel along the rope.

• As opposed to travelling waves, standing waves, or stationary waves, stay in a consistent situation with peaks and boxes in fixed stretches. One method of creating an assortment of standing waves is by pulling a guitar or violin string. While putting one's finger on a part of the string and then pulling the string with another finger, one has made a standing wave. The examples for this wave include the string wavering in a sine-wave design with no vibration at the closures. There is additionally no vibration at a progression of similarly divided focuses between the closures. These "calm" places are hubs. The spots of greatest wavering are antinodes.

## The Wave Equation

The One-dimensional wave equation was first discovered by Jean le Rond d'Alembert in 1746. The mathematical representation of the one-dimensional waves (both standing and travelling) can be expressed by the following equation:

$\frac{\partial^{2} u(x, t)}{\partial x^{2}} \frac{1 \partial^{2} u(x, t)}{v^{2} \partial t^{2}}$

Where u is the amplitude, of the wave position x and time t, with v as the velocity of the said wave, this equation is known as the linear partial differential equation in one dimension. This equation tells us how 'u' can change as a function of time and space.

## One-Dimensional Wave Equation Derivation

Let us consider the relationship between the volume ∆v in the direction x and Newton's law which is being applied to it:

$\triangle F = \frac{\triangle mdv x}{dt}$ (Newton's law)

Where F is the force acting on the element with volume ∆v,

$= \triangle Fx = - \triangle px \triangle Sx = (\frac{\partial p \triangle x}{\partial x} + \frac{\partial p dt}{\partial x}) \triangle Sx \simeq - \triangle V \frac{\partial p}{\partial p}{\partial x} - \triangle V \frac{\partial p}{\partial p}{\partial x} = M \frac{dvx}{dt}$

dt is minuscule; therefore it is not considered, and ΔSx is in the x-direction, so, ΔyΔz and from Newton’s law).

$= \frac{\rho \triangle V dvx}{dt}$

From,

$\frac{dvx}{dt}$ as $\frac{\partial vx}{dt} \frac{dvx}{dt} = \frac{\partial vx}{\partial dt} + vx \frac{\partial vx}{\partial x} \approx \frac{\partial vx}{\partial x} - \frac{\partial p}{\partial x} = \rho \frac{\partial vx}{\partial t}$ (This is the equation of motion)

$= - \frac{\partial}{\partial x} ( \frac{\partial p}{\partial x}) = \frac{\partial}{\partial x} (\frac{\rho \partial vx}{\partial t}) = \rho \frac{\partial}{\partial t} (\frac{\partial vx}{\partial x})$

$= \frac{-\partial^{2} p}{\partial x^{2}} = \rho \frac{\partial}{\partial t} (\frac{-1}{\frac{K \partial p}{\partial t}})$

$= \frac{\partial p^{2}}{\partial x^{2}} - \frac{\rho}{K} \frac{\partial^{2} p}{\partial t^{2}} = 0$

Rewriting the above equation gives us:

$\frac{\partial^{2} u(x, t)}{\partial x^{2}} \frac{1 \partial^{2} u(x, t)}{v^{2} \partial t^{2}}$

### Hooke's Law

When English scientist Robert Hooke was investigating springs and elasticity in the 19th century, he observed that numerous materials had a similar feature when the stress-strain connection was analyzed. The force required to stretch the material was proportional to the extension of the material in a linear area. This is known as Hooke’s Law. Within the elastic limit of a material, Hooke's law indicates that the strain is proportional to the applied stress. When elastic materials are stretched, the atoms and molecules deform until stress is applied, and then they return to their original state when the stress is removed. Hooke’s law is expressed as -

F = –kx

F is the force, x is the extension length, and k is the proportionality constant, also known as the spring constant in N/m, in the equation.

## FAQs on Derivation of One Dimensional Wave Equation

1. What are the different ways to derive the One Dimensional Wave Equation?

The wave equation in one dimension can be inferred through several physical settings. Most broadly, it very well may be concluded for the situation of a string that is vibrating in a two-dimensional plane, with every one of its components being pulled in inverse ways by the power of tension.

Another physical setting for the deduction of the wave equation uses Hooke's Law. In the hypothesis of versatility, Hooke's Law is an estimation for specific materials, expressing that the sum by which a material body is twisted (the strain) is straightly identified with the power causing the wave.

2. Give a Comprehensive Example of Travelling Waves.

You can cause a ripple effect with a rope by moving your hand up and down. You will see that the travelling wave keeps a similar shape as it descends the rope. Extending the rope firmly enough that we can take it to be flat, we will refer to its rest position as our x-axis. The y-axis is taken vertically upwards, and we just wave the rope in an upwards way, so y(x,t) will be the distance the rope is from its rest position at x at the time, t.

3. What is a wave formula?

A wave is a field disturbance in which the oscillation of a physical property occurs repeatedly at each position. When a vibrating source disrupts the first particle of a periodic nature, production waves occur. This process produces a wave pattern that propagates from particle to particle via a medium. The frequency at which a particle vibrates, which is the same as the frequency of sound vibration. Furthermore, the period of vibration of each individual particle is equal to the period of vibration of a source. The movement of the wave is one wavelength in a period of time. As a result, this information must be combined with the speed equation. Consequently, the wavelength/period of a wave is clearly the speed of the wave.

Speed = Wavelength/Period

The period also refers to the frequency being reciprocal. In the preceding equation for time, the term 1/f can be substituted. As a result, rearranging the equation produces a new equation of the form:

Speed = Wavelength × Frequency

The waves equation is the above equation or expression. It expresses the mathematical connection between a wave's speed, wavelength, and frequency. As a result, the equation or formula may be rewritten as follows:

v = f × λ

where, v = speed of

f = frequency

λ = wavelength

4. How can the wave equation in one space dimension be derived?

In one space dimension, the wave equation may be derived in a number of physical conditions. It is most commonly used for the instance of a string vibrating in a two-dimensional plane with each of its parts being pushed in opposing directions by tension. Hooke's Law is another physical context for deriving the wave equation in one space dimension. Hooke's Law is an approximation for certain materials in the theory of elasticity, indicating that the amount by which a material body is deformed is linearly linked to the force that causes the deformation or the stress.

5. Can I get Study Material for the Physics Chapter “One Dimensional Wave Equation” on Vedantu?

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