Tutorial 3: (Question4)

Find the solution of utt = c²uxx , -  < x <  , t > 0 with initial condition

u( x , 0 ) = and ut = ( x , 0 ) = 0
1 0  x 1 , 2  x  3

0 otherwise

Solution

By using d’Alembert method ,

General solution = U ( x , t ) = F ( x - ct ) + G ( x + ct )
And from the d’Alembert solution we have :

1 1 x  ct
u(x,t)=
2
[ f ( x - ct ) + f ( x + ct )] +
2c 
x  ct
g ( x ) dx

when g(x) = 0 ,
1 , 0  x - ct  1 - ct
1 
1 , 2  x - ct  3 - ct
Hence u ( x , t ) = 2 
0 , else
+
1, 0  x  ct  1  ct
1 
1, 2  x  ct  3  ct
2 
0 , else

0
1 x  ct
+
2c  x  ct
0dx

f (x) 
1 , 0  x  1

1 , 2  x  3
0 , els e


f ( x  ct )  f ( x  ct ) 
1 , 0  x  ct  1

1 , 2  x  ct  3

0 , else

1 , 0  x  ct  1

1 , 2  x  ct  3
0 , e lse


i) t = 0
by sketching the graph u ( x , 0 ) at t = 0

Let c = 1, at t = 0
1
u ( x , 0 ) = 2 [ f ( x – 1(0) ) + f ( x + 1(0)] + 0
1
= [ f ( x ) + f ( x) ]
2

u ( x , 0 ) = f(x)
ii) At t = 1 and c = 1
U(x,1) = 1 [f(x–1) +f(x+1)]
2
= f (x–1) +f(x+1)
2 2

U(x,1) = 1 [ 1[1,0≤x-1≤1 + 1 [1,0≤x+1≤1

2 1 2 ≤ x – 1≤ 3 2 1 2≤x+1≤3
0 , otherwise 0 , otherwise

Graph = f (x–1)
2

Graph = f (x+1)
2

Graph = f (x–3) + f (x–3)

2 2
At t = 2 and let c = 1
U(x,2) = 1 [f(x–2) +f(x+2)]
2
= f (x–2) +f(x+2)
2 2

U(x,2) = 1[ 1[1,0≤x-2 ≤1 + 1 [1,0≤x+2≤1

2 1 2≤x–2≤3 2 1 2≤x+2≤3
0 , otherwise 0 , otherwise

Graph = f (x–2)
2

Graph = f (x+2)
2

Graph = f (x–2) + f ( x – 2)
2 2

At t = 3
U(x,3) = 1 [f(x–3) + f(x+3)]
2
 = f (x–3) +f(x+3)
2 2

U(x,3) = 1 [ 1[1,0≤x-3 ≤1 + 1 [1,0≤x+3≤1

2 1 2≤x–3 ≤3 2 1 2≤x+3≤3
0 , otherwise 0 , otherwise

Graph = f (x–3)
2

Graph = f (x+3)
2

Graph = f (x–3) + f (x–3)

2 2