General vibration of a string fixed

at two ends | Fourier analysis

 N-coupled oscillators & a vibrating string

In Mode number "𝑛"

In Mode number "𝑛" (𝑝 → 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑙𝑒 𝑛𝑜. )

𝑦𝑝𝑛 = 𝐴𝑝𝑛 cos 𝜔𝑛 𝑡 𝑦𝑛 𝑥 = 𝐴𝑛 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜔𝑛 𝑡

N∞
𝑙→0 𝑛𝜋 𝒙
𝒑 𝑛𝜋 𝐴𝑛 𝑥 = Cn sin( )
𝐴𝑝𝑛 = 𝐶𝑛 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝐿
𝑁+1
𝑛𝜋 𝜋 𝑇
𝜔𝑛 = 2𝜔0 sin [ ] 𝜔𝑛 = 𝑛
2 𝑁+1 𝐿 𝜇

𝒏 = 𝟏, 𝟐, 𝟑, … . , 𝑵 𝒏 = 𝟏, 𝟐, 𝟑, … . , ∞
 N-coupled oscillators & a vibrating string
N-coupled oscillator Vibrating string

𝑛=1 𝑛=1

𝑛=2 𝑛=2

….and so on ….and so on

𝒑 𝑛𝜋 𝑛𝜋 𝒙
𝐴𝒑𝑛 = 𝐶𝑛 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝐴𝑛 𝑥 = Cn sin( )
𝑁+1 𝐿
 General Motion of a coupled oscillator

Normal Modes are not the only possible motions of a coupled oscillator

However, the Normal Modes can describe all possible motions

𝑥1 𝑡 = 𝐴 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜔𝐼 𝑡 + 𝜙 + 𝐵 𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝜔𝐼𝐼 𝑡 + 𝛿)

𝑥2 𝑡 = 𝐴 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜔𝐼 𝑡 + 𝜙 + 𝐵 𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝜔𝐼𝐼 𝑡 + 𝛿)

Normal Mode-I Normal Mode-II

 General motion of a vibrating string
N-coupled oscillator

𝑛=1

𝑛=2

….and so on
Are normal modes the only possible ways
in which the N-oscillator system can vibrate ?
 General motion of a vibrating string
N-coupled oscillator Vibrating string

𝑛=1 𝑛=1
+

𝑛=2 𝑛=2

….and so on
Eqn. of motion is also satisfied by Are Normal modes the only ways in
Superposing the “N” normal modes which the string can vibrate ?

General motion
superposition of ALL normal modes
 General motion of a vibrating string
N-coupled oscillator Vibrating string

𝑛=1 𝑛=1
+ +

𝑛=2 𝑛=2

+ +

….and so on ….and so on
Eqn. of motion is also satisfied by
Superposing the “N” normal modes

General motion General motion

superposition of ALL normal modes superposition of ALL normal modes
 General motion of a vibrating string
∞
Vibrating string
𝑦𝑛 𝑥, 𝑡 = 𝐴𝑛 𝑥 cos(𝜔𝑛 𝑡 + 𝛿𝑛 )
𝑛=1
𝑛=1
𝑛𝜋𝑥 +
𝐴𝑛 𝑥 = Cn sin( )
𝐿

𝜋 𝑇
𝜔𝑛 = 𝑛 𝑛=2
𝐿 𝜇
+

∞ ….and so on
𝑛𝜋𝑥
𝑦𝑛 𝑥, 𝑡 = Cn sin cos(𝜔𝑛 𝑡 + 𝛿𝑛 )
𝐿
𝑛=0

𝐶 ′ 𝑠 & 𝛿 ′ 𝑠 −→ 𝑑𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝐼𝑛𝑖𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑙 General motion

𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 superposition of ALL normal modes
 General motion of a vibrating string
∞
𝑛𝜋𝑥
𝑦 𝑥, 𝑡 = Cn sin cos(𝜔𝑛 𝑡 + 𝛿𝑛 )
𝐿
𝑛=0

If we knew C′ s & 𝛿 ′ 𝑠 ,
𝑤𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑦𝑛 (𝑥, 𝑡)

Different C ′ s & 𝛿 ′ 𝑠 ,
𝑤𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑦𝑛 (𝑥, 𝑡)

However, we have to solve the Inverse problem.

In practice, we set up the initial displacement & profile of the string

Sound of a stringed instrument depends on where you strike it.

Normal modes present will depend on the initial profiles (displacement & velocity)
 General motion of a vibrating string
Impose initial conditions on displacement & velocity profile .
∞
𝑛𝜋𝑥
𝑦 𝑥, 𝑡 = Cn sin cos(𝜔𝑛 𝑡 + 𝛿𝑛 )
𝐿
𝑛=0

∞
𝑦 𝑥, 0
𝑛𝜋𝑥
𝑣 𝑥, 𝑡 = −𝜔𝑛 Cn sin sin(𝜔𝑛 𝑡 + 𝛿𝑛 )
𝐿
𝑛=0
𝑥
∞
𝑛𝜋𝑥
𝑦 𝑥, 0 = Bn sin 𝐵𝑛 = 𝐶𝑛 cos 𝛿𝑛
𝐿
𝑛=0

∞
𝑛𝜋𝑥 𝐷𝑛 = −𝜔𝑛 𝐶𝑛 sin 𝛿𝑛
𝑣 𝑥, 0 = Dn sin
𝐿
𝑛=0

Infinite number of unknowns exist !!!!

 From general motion of a vibrating
string TO Fourier series
∞
𝑛𝜋𝑥
𝑦 𝑥, 0 ≡ 𝑦0 𝑥 = Cn sin
𝐿 𝑦 𝑥, 0
𝑛=0

𝑦0 𝑥 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑏𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑓𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑥 𝑥

Above suggests
An arbitrary function (zero at 2 ends) can be
represented/expanded/decomposed
into
Infinite number of sinusoidal terms of different wavelengths
 Fourier series
∞ ∞
𝑛𝜋𝑥 𝑛𝜋𝑥
𝑦 𝑥 = Cn sin + 𝐷𝑛 cos( )
𝐿 𝐿
𝑛=0 0
𝑦 𝑥, 0

𝑦 𝑥 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑏𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑓𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑥 𝑥

An arbitrary function can

be expanded into
Infinite number of sinusoidal terms of different wavelengths
 General motion of a vibrating string| find
the amplitudes of modes
Impose initial conditions on displacement & velocity profile .
∞
𝑛𝜋𝑥
𝑦 𝑥, 𝑡 = Cn sin cos(𝜔𝑛 𝑡 + 𝛿𝑛 )
𝐿
𝑛=0

∞
𝑦 𝑥, 0
𝑛𝜋𝑥
𝑣 𝑥, 𝑡 = −𝜔𝑛 Cn sin sin(𝜔𝑛 𝑡 + 𝛿𝑛 )
𝐿
𝑛=0
𝑥
∞
𝑛𝜋𝑥
𝑦 𝑥, 0 = Cn sin 𝐵𝑛 = 𝐶𝑛 cos 𝛿𝑛
𝐿
𝑛=0
Lets Determine the constants
∞
𝑛𝜋𝑥 𝐷𝑛 = −𝜔𝑛 𝐶𝑛 sin 𝛿𝑛
𝑣 𝑥, 0 = Dn sin
𝐿
𝑛=0

Infinite number of unknowns exist !!!!

Fourier analysis for vibrating string |
Final result
𝐿
2 𝑛𝜋𝑥
𝐶𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛿𝑛 = 𝑦0 𝑥 sin 𝑑𝑥
𝐿 0 𝐿
Amplitudes of different modes
that are excited
𝐿
2 𝑛𝜋𝑥
𝜔𝑛 𝐶𝑛 sin 𝛿𝑛 = 𝑣0 𝑥 sin 𝑑𝑥
𝐿 0 𝐿

∞
𝑛𝜋𝑥
𝑦 𝑥, 𝑡 = Cn sin cos(𝜔𝑛 𝑡 + 𝛿𝑛 )
𝐿
𝑛=0