School of Mathematics, Thapar University, Patiala

Tutorial Sheet 07: (Applications of Fourier Series)

1. A string is stretched and fastened to two points l apart. Motion is started by displacing the
string in the form of y a sin(x / l ) from which it is released at time t 0 . Find the
displacement of any point at a distance x from one end at time t .

2. A string stretched along the x axis, to which it is attached at x 0 and x l . A tightly stretched
string with fixed end points initially in the position y mx(l x) . If it is released from rest
from this positive, find the displacement y in terms of x and t .

3. A tightly stretched string with fixed end points x 0 and x l is initially in a position given
by y y0 sin 3 ( x / l ) . If it is released from rest from this position, find the displacement
y( x, t ) .

4. A lightly stretched string of length 4 with fixed ends is initially in equilibrium position. It is
u ( x,0) x ; 0 x 2
set vibrating by giving each point a velocity and u( x,0) 0 . Find
t 0 ; 2 x 4
the displacement y( x, t ) .
u 2 u
5. Solve the equation with boundary conditions u( x,0) 3sin nx , u(0, t ) 0 and
t x 2
u(1, t ) 0 , where 0 x 1, t 0 .
u 2u
6. Find the solution of the heat equation c 2 2 , 0 x , t 0 under the boundary
t x
condition u(0, t ) 0 u( , t ) and the following initial conditions
x ; 0 x /2
u ( x,0)
x ; / 2 x
7. An elastic string of length l which is fastened at its ends x 0 and x l is picked up at its
center point x l / 2 to a height of l / 2 and released from rest. Find the displacement of the
string at ay instant of time.

Answers:
8l 2 m 1 (2n 1)x (2n 1)ct
1. y( x, t ) a sin( x / l ) cos( ct / l ) 2. y 3 sin cos
m1 (2n 1) 3
l l
3y x ct y 0 3x 3ct
3. y ( x, t ) 0 sin cos sin cos
4 l l 4 l l
1 4 n n nct nx
2 2 2 cos
4. sin sin sin
c n n 2 2 4 4

4 1 n n 2 c 2t
u ( x, t ) 3 e n x t sin nx
2 2
5. 6. sin sin(nx)e
n 1 n 2
2

4l
(1) k 1 (2k 1) c t (2k 1)x
7. u ( x, t ) 2 cos sin
k 1 (2k 1) 2
l l