

What are One Dimensional Waves?
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 key assumptions made when deriving the one-dimensional wave equation for a vibrating string?
When deriving the one-dimensional wave equation, several key assumptions are made to simplify the physical model of a vibrating string. These include:
- The string is perfectly uniform and elastic, meaning its mass per unit length is constant.
- The tension in the string is constant and significantly large, so the effects of gravity on the string's motion are negligible.
- The string performs only small, transverse vibrations, meaning the particles of the string move perpendicular to its length (the x-axis).
- The slope of the string at any point is very small, which simplifies the mathematical expressions for tension and displacement.
- There is no resistance to the motion, such as air friction.
2. How is the one-dimensional wave equation derived using Newton's second law for a small segment of a string?
The derivation involves analysing the forces on a very small segment of a vibrating string. The net vertical force on this segment is due to the tension acting at its ends. By applying Newton's second law (F=ma), we equate this net force to the mass of the segment times its acceleration. Using calculus and the assumption of small displacements, this relationship simplifies to the partial differential equation: ∂²y/∂t² = (T/μ) ∂²y/∂x², where 'y' is the displacement, 't' is time, 'x' is position, 'T' is tension, and 'μ' is the linear mass density. This is the one-dimensional wave equation.
3. What is the physical significance of the term 'v' in the standard form of the wave equation, ∂²y/∂t² = v² ∂²y/∂x²?
The term 'v' in the one-dimensional wave equation represents the speed of wave propagation. It determines how fast a disturbance or wave pattern travels along the medium (e.g., the string). For a stretched string, this speed is determined by the physical properties of the medium itself, specifically the tension (T) and the linear mass density (μ), through the relationship v = √(T/μ). A higher tension or a lower mass density results in a faster wave speed.
4. Why is the one-dimensional wave equation classified as a partial differential equation (PDE)?
The one-dimensional wave equation is a partial differential equation (PDE) because it involves the partial derivatives of a function that depends on more than one independent variable. In this case, the displacement of the string, denoted by y(x, t), is a function of both position (x) and time (t). The equation contains second-order partial derivatives with respect to both x (∂²y/∂x²) and t (∂²y/∂t²), linking the curvature of the string in space to its acceleration in time.
5. What is the general solution to the one-dimensional wave equation?
The general solution to the one-dimensional wave equation was found by d'Alembert. It is expressed as y(x, t) = f(x - vt) + g(x + vt). This solution cleverly represents any possible wave motion as the superposition of two waves:
- f(x - vt): Represents a wave of an arbitrary shape 'f' moving in the positive x-direction with speed 'v'.
- g(x + vt): Represents another wave of an arbitrary shape 'g' moving in the negative x-direction with speed 'v'.
Together, these two functions can describe any travelling or standing wave pattern on the string.
6. How does the one-dimensional wave equation differ from the two-dimensional wave equation?
The primary difference lies in the number of spatial dimensions considered. The one-dimensional wave equation describes wave propagation along a single spatial axis (like a string), involving derivatives with respect to one spatial variable (x). The two-dimensional wave equation describes waves spreading across a surface (like a drum membrane), involving derivatives with respect to two spatial variables (x and y). Its form is ∂²u/∂t² = v² (∂²u/∂x² + ∂²u/∂y²), which is more complex to solve.
7. What are some real-world examples where the one-dimensional wave equation is applied?
The one-dimensional wave equation is a fundamental model used in various fields of physics and engineering. Key examples include:
- Vibrating Strings: Modelling the behaviour of strings on musical instruments like guitars, violins, and pianos.
- Acoustics: Describing the propagation of sound waves in a narrow pipe or tube.
- Electromagnetism: Analysing the transmission of electromagnetic signals along a transmission line or coaxial cable.
- Torsion Waves: Modelling the propagation of torsional (twisting) waves along a thin rod.

















