Stretched string

Standing Waves

nx
sin
cos nt
L

Newtons 2nd

F ma

Wave Equation

2 y 1 2 y
2 2
2
x
v t

Progressive Waves

f x vt

Fourier Analysis
Normal Modes:

nx

yn x, t An sin
cos nt n
L

n=1

n=3

n=2

Any wave motion on the string can be described by a sum of these modes!

nx

y x, t An sin
cos nt n
L
n1

One equation, infinity unknowns

thanks for nothin Joe!
Joseph Fourier, 1768-1830

Focus on the shape first! y(x)

nx
y x Bn sin

L
n 1

How to find a specific Bn?

Multiply by nth harmonic and integrate.

This reduces series to 1 term!

Mathematically
L

n*x

x
n
x

Bn sin
dx
sin
0 y x sin L dx 0
L
n 1
L

sin sin 12 cos cos

L
n n* x
n n* x
Bn
cos
cos

L
L
n 1 2 0

dx

 n n x
n n x
Bn
L
L

sin
sin


*
*
L
L
n 1 2 n n

n n

Bn
L
L

*
*

sin n n
sin n n 0 0
*
*
n n

n 1 2 n n

n n*

n n*

0
0

0
x

LHopitals Rule:
If f(c)=0 and g(c)=0 then

f x
f x
lim
lim
x c g x
x c g x

all terms zero!

uh oh.

Bn* L cos 0
2

1
Bn* L
2

Bn* L
n*x
0 y x sin L dx 2

y x Bn sin
n 1

nx

2
nx
Bn y x sin
dx
L0
L

Any shape y(x) between 0 and L

Graphically.
n=1

n=2

n=3

n=4

n=5

n=6

n*=1
Positive
contribution

zero
contribution

zero
contribution

zero
contribution

zero
contribution

zero
contribution

zero
contribution

Positive
contribution

zero
contribution

zero
contribution

zero
contribution

zero
contribution

n*=2

n1x
n2x
0 sin L sin L dx 0

orthogonal

L
L

Bn

2
nx dx
cx
sin

L0
L

c = slope

Integrate by parts:
b

f x g x dx f x g x a f x g x dx
b

2c

L
nx
Bn x
cos

L
n
L

L
nx

cos

n 0
L
L

2c

L
nx

Bn x
cos

L
n
L

2c
Bn
n

L
L
nx

cos

n 0
L

nx
L
nx
sin


L n L

x cos

2c
L cos n 0 0 0
Bn
n
2cL
Bn
cos n
n
nx
y x Bn sin

L
n 1

1.2

1st

0.8
0.4
y
0
-0.4
-0.8
-1.2

-3

-2

-1

0
x

1.2

1st + 2nd

0.8
0.4
y
0
-0.4
-0.8
-1.2

-3

-2

-1

0
x

1.2

1st + 2nd + 3rd

0.8
0.4
y
0
-0.4
-0.8
-1.2

-3

-2

-1

0
x

1.2

1st + 2nd + 3rd + 4th

0.8
0.4
y
0
-0.4
-0.8
-1.2

-3

-2

-1

0
x

1.2

1st + 2nd + 3rd + 4th + 5th

0.8
0.4
y
0
-0.4
-0.8
-1.2

-3

-2

-1

0
x

Barrys profile

350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0

50

100

150

200

Barrys profile

250

300

350

120

100

80

60

40

20

50

100

150

200

250

300

Barrys 1st harmonic

350

400

120

100

80

60

40

20

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Barrys 1st and 2nd harmonic

400

250
200
150
100
50
0
-50
-100

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

Barrys 1st, 2nd, and 3rd harmonic

clear
load f;
f=f-172;
plot(f)
B(200)=0;
y(355)=0;
for n = 1:200
for x = 1:355
B(n)=B(n)+(2/355)*f(x)*sin(n*pi*x/355);
end
end
figure
plot(B,'.')
for x = 1:355
for n = 1:200
y(x)=y(x)+B(n)*sin(n*pi*x/355);
end
end
figure
plot(y)

Les Foibles de Fourier en F

(Frenchs Fourier Foibles)

nx

y x Bn sin
n 1

Good choice if boundaries are at 0:

2
nx

Bn y x sin
dx
L0
L
Not so good for other shapes..

More General: function periodic on interval x = L to x = L.

A0
n

nx
y x An cos
Bn sin

2 n 1
L n 1
L

A0

1
y x dx

L L

1
nx

An y x cos
dx
L L
L
L

1
nx
Bn y x sin
dx
L L
L
L

Something hard:
H

L8

1
1
A0 Hdx 0dx
L 0
LL8

H
A0
8

L/8

1
An
L

L8

H cos

nx
1
nx

dx 0 cos
dx
L
LL8
L

H L
nx
An
sin

L n
L
H
n
An
sin

n 8

L8

1
Bn
L

Bn

L8

nx
H sin
dx 0
L

H L
nx
cos

L n
L

L8

H
n

Bn
1 cos

n
8

H H
H
n
nx
n
nx
y x sin
cos
1 cos
sin

8 n 1 n 8
L n 1 n
8
L

MATLAB summation of 1 to 100 terms.

Any well behaved repetitive function can be

described as an infinite sum of sinusoids with
variable amplitudes (a Fourier Series). On a
stretched string these correspond to the
normal modes. Fourier analysis can describe
arbitrary string shapes as well as progressive
waves and pulses.