# One Dimensional Wave Equation Derivation

The wave equation in classical physics is considered to be an important second-order linear partial differential equation to describe the waves. The wave equation arises in fields like fluid dynamics, electromagnetics and acoustics.

d’Alembert discovered the one-dimensional wave equation in the year 1746, after ten years Euler discovered the three-dimensional wave equation.

## One Dimensional Wave Equation Derivation

Consider the relation between Newton’s law that is applied to the volume ΔV in the direction x:

$\Delta F=\Delta m\frac{dv_{x}}{dt}$ (Newton’s law)

Where,

F: force acting on the element with volume ΔV

$\Delta F_{x}=-\Delta p_{x}\Delta S_{x}$

$=(\frac{\partial p}{\partial x}\Delta x+\frac{\partial p}{\partial x}dt)\Delta S_{x}$

$\simeq -\frac{\partial p}{\partial x}\Delta V$

$-\Delta V\frac{\partial p}{\partial x}=\Delta m\frac{dv_{x}}{dt}$ (as dt is small, it is not considered and ΔSx is in x direction so ΔyΔz and from Newton’s law)

$=\rho \Delta V\frac{dv_{x}}{dt}$

From $\frac{dv_{x}}{dt} as \frac{\partial v_{x}}{\partial t}$

$\frac{dv_{x}}{dt}=\frac{\partial v_{x}}{\partial t}+v_{x}\frac{\partial v_{x}}{\partial x}\approx \frac{\partial v_{x}}{\partial x}$

$-\frac{\partial p}{\partial x}=\rho \frac{\partial v_{x}}{\partial t}$

Above equation is known as the equation of motion.

$-\frac{\partial }{\partial x}(\frac{\partial p}{\partial x})=\frac{\partial }{\partial x}(\rho \frac{\partial v_{x}}{\partial t})$

$=\rho \frac{\partial }{\partial t}(\frac{\partial v_{x}}{\partial x})$

$-\frac{\partial^2 p}{\partial x^2}=\rho \frac{\partial }{\partial t}(-\frac{1}{K}\frac{\partial p}{\partial t})$ (from conservation of mass)

$\frac{\partial p^{2}}{\partial x^{2}}-\frac{\rho }{K}\frac{\partial^2 p}{\partial t^2}=0$

Where,

K: bulk modulus

Rewriting the above equation:

$\frac{\partial p^{2}}{\partial x^{2}}-\frac{1}{c}^{2}\frac{\partial^2 p}{\partial t^2}=0$

Where,

c: velocity of sound given as $c=\sqrt{\frac{K}{\rho }}$

Thus, above is the one-dimensional wave equation derivation.

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