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[g] Wave and Heat equations

We derive one. dimentional wa:7e equation which is due to the transverse vibr t· f
W 1 d d" . . a ion o
a stretched stnng. . ea so_ enve one 1me~s1onal heat equation which is due to the
heat flow along a thin bar msulated on all sides. We also discuss the solution of these
two equations.
(}.z[] Derivation of one dimensional wave equation
Consider a flexible string tightly stretched between two fixed points at a distance l
apart. Let p be the mass per unit length of the string.
We shall assume the following.
(i) The tension T of the string is same throughout.
(ii) The effect of gravity can be ignored due to large tension T.
(iii) The motion of the string is in small transverse vibrations.

x x +8x X

Let us consider the forces acting on a small element AB of length 8x.

Let T 1 and T2 be the tensions at the points A and B.

Since there is no motion in the horizontal direction, the horizontal components T 1

and T 2 must cancel each other.

T 1 cos a = T 2 cos f3 = T . .. (i)

where a and f3
are the angles made by T1 and T2 with the horizontal. Vertical
components of tension are - T sin a and T2 sin f3, where the nega tive sign is
1
used because T 1 is directed downwards. Hence the resulant force ac ting vertically
upwards is T 2 sin f3 - Tl sin a.

Applying Newton's second law of motion, that is

Force= mass x accelera tion, w e get

T 2 SI.n tJ
r-t T . , a2 11
- 1 sm a = ( p 8x ) - -
at2
 PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EOUATJC
194 JNE_i

(p 8x is the 111ass of the donc11t port-ion AB and securi d derimtive wdh respect to ,l'
reprrscn ts acceleration)
Dividing throughout by T we have,

T2 . Tl . p u a2
T sm B - T sm a = T bx at2
T T 1
But from (i) __l = --1
-· - -~ - - --
, T cos a T - cos ~
· P.. • '.J2
sm.., _ sma _ _e_ ()X _cJ_ll
cos B cos a - T 2 at
z.e. , tan ~ - tan a = ~ 8x - -
a2u
r at2
But tan ~ and tan a represent the slopes at B ( x + 8x ) and A ( x ) respectivel y.

tan ~ =( !~ 'j X+ 8x
and tan a = ( !: )X

Now (ii) becomes

( au)
ax X
= Q
T
ox a2 u
at2

Dividing by 8x and taking limit as 8x ➔ 0, we have

1

lim _(_!~_)_x_+_8x_-_-__(_!_:_)_x _ Q a2 u
8x ➔ 0
ox -r at2

But the LHS is nothing but the derivative of au

ax w.r.t x treating t as constant.

a2u
That is
axa ( au
ox ) or ax2 Hence we have

a2u =- -
p a2u or
a2u T o2 u
ax2 T at2 at2 = P -ax2
Denoting TI p by c2 we get

a2 u - c?- i2 u or 2
i) i2 - i) X2 Ult = C "xx

This is the wave equation in one dimension .

.
_
 I
.I

195

--
I /[A r £QUA TIO NS
~\A\£: S • ~ ~ -- - -- - -- --------------------------

~ I)erivation of the one dimensional heat equation

, , the following ernpirical laws (bnsed on obseruatio11 / ex per i men t ) in respect of
W L' hc1v e
heat flow .
/ L--J. l F)ows fr o m a highe r temp era h u e to a lower te n1perahrre.
/ \I ) 1 (.!c"I ' . . •
y1ne amount of heat 1n a body 1s pro p o rtional to its mass and tempera ture.
}-; Th e rate of hea t flow across an a rea is proportion a l to the area and to the
(.J ) temperature gradient n o rmal to the a re a whe re the constant of proportiona lity
( K) i~ ca !l(:d the ther ma l conductiv ity .
R

/> P' X !
II
II
j
C on si c..h .• r ,1 h o m o~L•n cu u s bar of con$tM,t cn.1ss-scc tiona l a rea A. Le t p be the density, I

_., be the ~peci fi <.: h0;1t and K b1.... tlw thermal conduc tiv ity o f the m a te ria l. Let the sides
tw insu l nteJ so th t1 t thl' s tre.ul'\ lin(.~ of h«.>a t flow .u c para llel a n d p e rp endicular to
Ilw .1rc'1 /\ ,
1.c..:t one l' nd o f the..• b,H b<.... tJ~t•n a~ the odgin O a nd the d irection o f the heat flow be
thv pos iti vt· X - ,\ x1!'> .
I ,l'l 11 == 11 t x , t ) bL• tht.• tl.'mpcr~1 turc of the slab .1 t a dis tance x fro n1 the origin.
I I
Cnn ~iuer ,l n dt..•nwnt of b.u bct,vt..-"Cn the p lanes P Q R S a n d P' Q ' R S a t a
d 1s l,rn Cl' x .u,d ,\' • Sx from tht• end 0 . Let 6 1, be the ch an ge in temperature in a
s l.,b o f thi c knc s :-- 6x of the bar .

'l'hv m,,ss o f tlw elL• m cnt = "' p &x

Thl' q u,mti ty o f h e.it s torL'd in this slab cle rncnt = /\ p s 8x 8 u
l krn:t· t\w r,1tl· of in ne,1se of hea t in this s lab elemen t is

.. . (i)

H R1 is tht:.· r,1tt> t)f inflow o f hea t and R 0 is the ra te o f o ut flow o f h eat we have

RI =- KA I\ ~
-
ax
1
\"
and R
O
= _ KA
ax -I + 8x
[ az.l
- X
... (ii)

where the negative sign is d ue to empiricai law (1 )

Hence ·we have fro m (i) and (ii)
196 PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EOUA TIONS

le., A p s 8x au = KA [au]
at ax
x+8x
KA [ :: 1
au K
[:: ] x+8x
- [:: ]
x
or -- - .. . (iii)
at Ps 8x
Taking limit as 8x ➔ 0, R.H.S of (iii) is equal to
2
K l_ ( au J __!S_ a 2u
p s ax ax - p S ax
2
Further denoting c = Kl p s which is called the diffusity of the substance, (iii)
becomes

This is the one dimensional heat equation.

• I