Wave Equation, Basics of vector

Dr. Md. Anisur Rahaman

October 27, 2021

1 What is light?
Light is an electro-magnetic wave (E. M. wave).

1.1 What is wave?

ψ → ψ(x, y, z, t) (1)
[x, y, z] → space
t → time
For 1D:

∂ 2 ψ(x, t) 1 ∂ 2 ψ(x, t)
= (2)
∂x2 α2 ∂t2
Partial derivative: In mathematics, a partial derivative of a function of several
variables is its derivative with respect to one of those variables, considering others as
constant. In total derivative or ordinary derivative all variables are allowed to vary.
Partial derivatives are very much useful in vector calculus and in many other branches
of science.

Suppose that f is a function of more than one variable. For instance,

f (x, y) = x2 + 2xy + y 2 (3)

Then we can write,

∂ ∂f (x, y) ∂ 2 ∂ ∂
fx0 = ∂x f = f (x, y) = = x + 2xy + y 2 = 2x+2y +0 = 2(x+y) (4)
∂x ∂x ∂x ∂x ∂x
similarly

∂ ∂f (x, y) ∂ 2 ∂ ∂
fy0 = ∂y f = f (x, y) = = x + 2xy + y 2 = 0 +2x+ 2y = 2(x+y) (5)
∂y ∂y ∂y ∂y ∂y

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Although in this particular example fx0 = fy0 , in general fx0 6= fy0 . Calculate fx0 and fy0
for the function f (x, y) = x2 + 3xy + y 2 and show that fx0 6= fy0 .

Problem 1: Calculate fx0 , fy0 and fz0 for the follwing functions:
i) 2x2 y + 3y 2 z + xz 2 + 3xyz
ii) 2x3 y + 3xy 2 z
iii) x + y + z
iv) 2x − 7z

Can you remember the expression (function) which represents a progres-

sive wave propagating along the +x-axis?

It is:

y(x, t) → Asin(kx − ωt)/Acos(kx − ωt)/Asin(kx − ωt + φ)/Acos(kx − ωt + φ) (6)

let,

ψ(x, t) → y(x, t) = Asin(kx − ωt + φ) (7)

∂ψ
Now, ∂x = kAcos(kx − ωt + φ)

∂2ψ ∂ ∂ψ
or ∂x2
= ∂x ( ∂x ) = −k 2 Asin(kx − ωt + φ) = −k 2 ψ

Similarly

∂2ψ
= −ω 2 ψ
∂t2
now rewriting those equation:

1 ∂2ψ 1 ∂2ψ
= −ψ = (8)
k 2 ∂x2 ω 2 ∂t2
or

∂2ψ 1 ∂2ψ
= (9)
∂x2 ω 2 /k 2 ∂t2
or

∂2ψ 1 ∂2ψ
= (10)
∂x2 v 2 ∂t2

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Show that any function f (x − vt) or g(x + vt) is a solution of the 1-D wave
equation.

Let, x − vt → η i.e. f (x − vt) → f (η)

∂f ∂f ∂η
∂x = ∂η ∂x

Now,

η = x − vt

∂η
∂x =1

∂f ∂f
∂x = ∂η

∂ ∂f ∂ ∂f ∂ ∂f ∂η
∂x ( ∂x ) = ∂x ( ∂η ) = ∂η ( ∂η ) ∂x

∂2f ∂2f
= = f 00 (η) (11)
∂x2 ∂η 2
Similarly,

∂f ∂f ∂η
∂t = ∂η ∂t

Now,

η = x − vt

∂η
∂t = −v

∂f
∂t = −v ∂f
∂η

∂ ∂f ∂ ∂f ∂ ∂f ∂η
∂t ( ∂t ) = −v ∂t ( ∂η ) = −v ∂η ( ∂η ) ∂t

∂2f ∂2f
2
= v 2 2 = v 2 f 00 (η) (12)
∂t ∂η
Hence,

∂2f 1 ∂2f
= (13)
∂x2 v 2 ∂t2

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 Find a periodic solution of the 1-D wave equation

Let, ψ(x, t) → X(x) × T (t)

ψ(x, t) = X(x)T (t) (14)

∂ψ(x, t) ∂X(x) dX
= T (t) = T (t) (15)
∂x ∂x dx

∂2ψ d2 X
= T (t) (16)
∂x2 dx2
Similarly,
∂2ψ d2 T
= X(x) (17)
∂t2 dt2
Now we will substitute those equations in 1-D wave equation.

d2 X 1 d2 T
T (t) = X(x) (18)
dx2 v2 dt2
or
1 d2 X 1 1 d2 T
= (19)
X(x) dx2 v 2 T (t) dt2
or
X 00 (x) 1 T 00 (t)
= 2 (20)
X(x) v T (t)
Hence the variable are seperated now. This method is called seperation of variable.

X 00 (x) 1 T 00 (t)
= 2 = constant (21)
X(x) v T (t)
constant = −ve/0/ + ve
Case I: constant = 0

X 00 (x)
=0 (22)
X(x)
or
X 00 (x) = 0 (23)
The solution is:
X(x) = A + Bx (24)
x → ±∞, X(x) → ±∞

Hence the solution is unacceptable.

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 Case II: constant = +ve = +k 2

X 00 (x)
= +k 2 (25)
X(x)
or
X 00 (x) = +k 2 X(x) (26)
Let, X(x) = aemx

X 00 (x) = m2 aemx

m2 aemx = +k 2 aemx (27)

m2 = k 2 (28)
or
m = ±k (29)
The solution is:
X(x) = Aekx + Be−kx (30)
x → ±∞, X(x) → ±∞

Hence the solution is again unacceptable.

Case III: constant = −ve = −k 2

X 00 (x)
= −k 2 (31)
X(x)
or
X 00 (x) = −k 2 X(x) (32)
Let, X(x) = aemx

X 00 (x) = m2 aemx

m2 = −k 2 (33)
or
m = ±ik (34)
The solution is:
X(x) = Aeikx + Be−ikx (35)

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 x → ±∞, X(x) is always finite.

Hence the solution is acceptable.

Now we are looking for the solution of T (t).

T 00 (t)
= −k 2 v 2 (36)
T (t)
or
T 00 (t) = −k 2 v 2 T (t) (37)
Let, T (t) = bent

T 00 (t) = n2 bent

n2 = −k 2 v 2 (38)
or
n = ±ikv (39)
The solution is:
T (t) = Ceikvt + De−ikvt (40)
Hence we can write:

ψ(x, t) = X(x)T (t) = (Aeikx + Be−ikx )(Ceikvt + De−ikvt ) (41)

let, kv = ω

So

ψ(x, t) = (Aeikx + Be−ikx )(Ceiωt + De−iωt ) (42)

or

ψ(x, t) = A1 ei(kx+ωt) + A2 ei(kx−ωt) + A3 e−i(kx−ωt) + A4 e−i(kx+ωt) (43)

Where
A × C = A1
A × D = A2
B × C = A3
B × D = A4

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 Now remeber the Euiler’s formula:

eiθ = cosθ + isinθ (44)

Hence:

A1 ei(kx+ωt) = A1 cos(kx + ωt) + iA1 sin(kx + ωt) (45)

i(kx−ωt)
A2 e = A2 cos(kx − ωt) + iA2 sin(kx − ωt) (46)
−i(kx−ωt)
A3 e = A3 cos(kx − ωt) − iA3 sin(kx − ωt) (47)
A4 e−i(kx+ωt) = A4 cos(kx + ωt) − iA4 sin(kx + ωt) (48)
Hence:

ψ(x, t) = (A1 +A4 )cos(kx+ωt)+(A2 +A3 )cos(kx−ωt)+i(A1 −A4 )sin(kx+ωt)+i(A2 −A3 )sin(kx−ωt)
(49)
Where
A1 + A4 = A0
A2 + A3 = B 0
A1 − A4 = C 0
A2 − A3 = D 0
or

ψ(x, t) = A0 cos(kx + ωt) + B 0 cos(kx − ωt) + iC 0 sin(kx + ωt) + iD0 sin(kx − ωt) (50)

Case-I: Wave is propagating along +ve x-axis

ψ(x, t) = B 0 cos(kx − ωt) + iD0 sin(kx − ωt) (51)

Considering the real part of the solution, we can write:

ψ(x, t) = B 0 cos(kx − ωt) (52)

Case-II: Wave is propagating along −ve x-axis

ψ(x, t) = A0 cos(kx + ωt) + iC 0 sin(kx + ωt) (53)

Similarly considering the real part of the solution, we can write:

ψ(x, t) = A0 cos(kx + ωt) (54)

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2 Basics of vector algebra:
2.1 operator
~ → Gradient; ∇.
∇ ~ → Divergence; ∇×
~ → Curl;

~ It always operates on a scaler function and produces a vector.

The gradient (∇):

The operator in cartesian coordinate system (x, y, z) looks like:

~ ≡ ∂ î + ∂ ĵ + ∂ k̂
∇ (55)
∂x ∂y ∂z
How to operate?

~ = ∂φ î + ∂φ ĵ + ∂φ k̂
∇φ (56)
∂x ∂y ∂z
~ where φ = x2 y + 2xz 2 + y 2 z.
Problm I: Calculate ∇φ,

Solution of problm I:

~ = ∇(x
∇φ ~ 2 y + 2xz 2 + y 2 z)

or

~ =
∇φ ∂ 2 + 2xz 2 + y 2 z)î + ∂ 2 + 2xz 2 + y 2 z)ĵ + ∂ 2 + 2xz 2 + y 2 z)k̂
∂x (x y ∂y (x y ∂z (x y

or

~ = (2xy + 2z 2 + 0)î + (x2 + 0 + 2yz)ĵ + (0 + 4xz + y 2 )k̂

∇φ

or

~ = (2xy + 2z 2 )î + (x2 + 2yz)ĵ + (4xz + y 2 )k̂

∇φ

~
The divergence (∇.): It always operates on a vector and produces a scaler function.

The operator in cartesian coordinate system (x, y, z) looks like:

~ ≡ ∂ î. + ∂ ĵ. + ∂ k̂.

∇. (57)
∂x ∂y ∂z

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 How to operate?

~ has three component. A

Let A ~ = A1 î + A2 ĵ + A3 k̂

Then

~ A
∇. ~ = ( ∂ î. + ∂ ĵ. + ∂ k̂.)(A1 î + A2 ĵ + A3 k̂) = ∂A1 + ∂A2 + ∂A3 (58)
∂x ∂y ∂z ∂x ∂y ∂z
~ A,
Problm II: Calculate ∇. ~ where A
~ = x2 y î + xyz ĵ + y 2 z k̂.

Solution of problm II:

~ A
∇. ~ = ∇.(x
~ 2 y î + xyz ĵ + y 2 z k̂)

or

~ A
∇. ~= ∂ 2 ∂ ∂ 2 = 2xy + xz + y 2
∂x (x y) + ∂y (xyz) + ∂z (y z)

~ A,
Problm III: Calculate ∇. ~ where A
~ = x3 y î + x2 yz ĵ + xyz 2 k̂ at (0, 1, 2)

~
The curl (∇×): It always operates on a vector and produces another vector.

How to operate?

~ = A1 î + A2 ĵ + A3 k̂ and produces another vector say,

It operates on a vector, say A
~
B = B1 î + B2 ĵ + B3 k̂.

~ ×A
∇ ~=B
~ (59)
~ are obtained by the following rules:
The components of B

∂A3 ∂A2
B1 = − (60)
∂y ∂z
∂A1 ∂A3
B2 = − (61)
∂z ∂x
∂A2 ∂A1
B3 = − (62)
∂x ∂y
Hence

∂A3 ∂A2 ∂A1 ∂A3 ∂A2 ∂A1

     
~ =
B − î + − ĵ + − k̂ (63)
∂y ∂z ∂z ∂x ∂x ∂y

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 ~ × A,
Problm IV: Calculate ∇ ~ where A
~ = x4 y î + x2 y 2 z ĵ + xyz 3 k̂ at (1, 1, 1)

~ × ∇φ
Problm V: Show that ∇ ~ =0

∂ ∂φ ∂ ∂φ ∂2φ ∂2φ ∂2φ ∂2φ

− = − = − =0 (64)
∂y ∂z ∂z ∂y ∂y∂z ∂z∂y ∂y∂z ∂y∂z
~ × F~ = 0, where F~ is the gravitational force or Columb force
Problm VI: Show that ∇
in electrostatics.

3 Wave Equation in 3D:

For 3D the wave equation is given by:

∂ 2 ψ(x, y, z, t) ∂ 2 ψ(x, y, z, t) ∂ 2 ψ(x, y, z, t) 1 ∂ 2 ψ(x, y, z, t)

+ + = (65)
∂x2 ∂y 2 ∂z 2 v2 ∂t2
or,

∂2 ∂2 ∂2 1 ∂2ψ
 
2
+ 2+ 2 ψ= 2 2 (66)
∂x ∂y ∂z v ∂t
or,

1 ∂2ψ
∇2 ψ = (67)
v 2 ∂t2
where,

∂2 ∂2 ∂2
∇2 → + + (68)
∂x2 ∂y 2 ∂z 2

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