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IV. Exercises · Q9

Q.Consider the following functions:

(a) y=x2+2αtxy = x^2 + 2\alpha tx
(b) y=(x+vt)2y = (x+vt)^2. Which among the above functions can be characterized as a wave?
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Step 1. A function represents a wave only if it satisfies the one-dimensional wave equation ∂2y/∂x2=(1/v2)∂2y/∂t2\partial^2y/\partial x^2=(1/v^2)\partial^2y/\partial t^2 (and stays finite everywhere).

Step 2. For (a) y=x2+2αtxy=x^2+2\alpha tx: ∂y/∂x=2x+2αt\partial y/\partial x=2x+2\alpha t, so ∂2y/∂x2=2\partial^2y/\partial x^2=2 (a nonzero constant). But ∂y/∂t=2αx\partial y/\partial t=2\alpha x, which does not depend on t, so ∂2y/∂t2=0\partial^2y/\partial t^2=0. Since 2≠(1/v2)(0)=02\ne(1/v^2)(0)=0, this function does NOT satisfy the wave equation, so it does not describe a wave.

Step 3. For (b) y=(x+vt)2y=(x+vt)^2: ∂y/∂x=2(x+vt)\partial y/\partial x=2(x+vt), so ∂2y/∂x2=2\partial^2y/\partial x^2=2. Also ∂y/∂t=2v(x+vt)\partial y/\partial t=2v(x+vt), so ∂2y/∂t2=2v2\partial^2y/\partial t^2=2v^2. …

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