Infinite and Semi-infinite Spatial Domains 601
> u(x,t):=Heaviside(x)*(invfourier(U(omega,t),omega,x));
u(x, t) := Heaviside(x) cosh(tx) e
−
1
4
t
2
−x
2
(9.58)
ANIMATION
> animate(u(x,t),x=0..10,t=0..10,thickness=3);
The preceding animation command shows the spatial-time-dependent solution of the wave
amplitude u(x, t). The animation sequence here and in Figure 9.7 shows snapshots of the
animation at times t = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
ANIMATION SEQUENCE
> u(x,0):=subs(t=0,u(x,t)):u(x,1):=subs(t=1,u(x,t)):
> u(x,2):=subs(t=2,u(x,t)):u(x,3):=subs(t=3,u(x,t)):
> u(x,4):=subs(t=4,u(x,t)):u(x,5):=subs(t=5,u(x,t)):
> plot({u(x,0),u(x,1),u(x,2),u(x,3),u(x,4),u(x,5)},x=0..5,thickness=10);
x
0
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
12345
Figure 9.7
EXAMPLE 9.10.4: (Waves on an infinite string with initial speed) We seek the wave
amplitude u(x, t) for transverse wave motion on a long string over the infinite interval
I ={x |−∞<x<∞}. The string has an initial displacement u(x, 0) = 0 and an initial speed
distribution u
t
(x, 0) = g(x) given as follows. There are no external forces acting on the system,
and the wave speed is c = 1/2.
SOLUTION: The wave partial differential equation is
∂
2
∂t
2
u(x, t) = c
2
∂
2
∂x
2
u(x, t)