d’Alembert’s formula

E158707

d’Alembert’s formula is a classical solution method for the one-dimensional wave equation that expresses the displacement of a vibrating string in terms of its initial shape and velocity.

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d’Alembert’s formula canonical 1

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Statements (38)

Predicate Object
instanceOf analytical solution method ⓘ
mathematical formula ⓘ
partial differential equation solution ⓘ
applicableWhen no boundary conditions or infinite domain ⓘ
appliesTo one-dimensional wave equation ⓘ
vibrating string ⓘ
assumes constant wave speed ⓘ
infinite string ⓘ
linear wave equation ⓘ
captures finite speed of disturbance propagation ⓘ
characteristicMethod uses propagation along characteristics x±ct = const ⓘ
contrastWith energy method for wave equations ⓘ
numerical methods for the wave equation ⓘ
domain real-valued functions of two variables ⓘ
expresses displacement of a vibrating string ⓘ
field applied mathematics ⓘ
mathematical physics ⓘ
partial differential equations ⓘ
generalizes to piecewise smooth initial data ⓘ
historicalPeriod 18th century ⓘ
mathematicalType closed-form solution ⓘ
namedAfter Jean le Rond d’Alembert ⓘ
linked to: Jean d’Alembert
property preserves finite propagation speed ⓘ
represents superposition of left- and right-traveling waves ⓘ
relatedTo Fourier series methods for the wave equation ⓘ
Green’s function for the one-dimensional wave equation ⓘ
method of characteristics ⓘ
relates solution to initial data ⓘ
requires twice differentiable solution in x and t ⓘ
solutionForm u(x,t) = F(x-ct) + G(x+ct) ⓘ
u(x,t) = \tfrac12[f(x-ct)+f(x+ct)] + \tfrac1{2c} \int_{x-ct}^{x+ct} g(s)\,ds ⓘ
solves u_{tt} = c^2 u_{xx} ⓘ
usedFor Cauchy problem for the 1D wave equation ⓘ
usedIn acoustics ⓘ
theory of vibrating strings ⓘ
wave propagation theory ⓘ
uses initial displacement ⓘ
initial velocity ⓘ

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Jean d’Alembert → knownFor → d’Alembert’s formula ⓘ