(a) By introducing the variables ξ=x+ct and η=x−ct (where c is a constant), derive d'Alembert's solution of the initial value problem for the wave equation:
utt−c2uxx=0,u(x,0)=ϕ(x),ut(x,0)=ψ(x)
where −∞<x<∞,t⩾0 and ϕ and ψ are given functions (and subscripts denote partial derivatives).
(b) Consider the forced wave equation with homogeneous initial conditions:
utt−c2uxx=f(x,t),u(x,0)=0,ut(x,0)=0
where −∞<x<∞,t⩾0 and f is a given function. You may assume that the solution is given by
u(x,t)=2c1∫0t∫x−c(t−s)x+c(t−s)f(y,s)dyds
For the forced wave equation utt−c2uxx=f(x,t), now in the half space x⩾0 (and with t⩾0 as before), find (in terms of f ) the solution for u(x,t) that satisfies the (inhomogeneous) initial conditions
u(x,0)=sinx,ut(x,0)=0, for x⩾0
and the boundary condition u(0,t)=0 for t⩾0.