AMATH 353

Lecture 1

Weston Barger

University of Washington
[email protected]

June 21, 2016

Syllabus

I Grade Breakdown

Homework: 50 %
Midterm: 20 %
Final: 30 %
Syllabus

I Grade Breakdown

Homework: 50 %
Midterm: 20 %
Final: 30 %

I Homework will be turned in on canvas

Syllabus

I Grade Breakdown

Homework: 50 %
Midterm: 20 %
Final: 30 %

I Homework will be turned in on canvas

I You may turn in one homework assignment up to one week
late without penalty.
Syllabus

I Grade Breakdown

Homework: 50 %
Midterm: 20 %
Final: 30 %

I Homework will be turned in on canvas

I You may turn in one homework assignment up to one week
late without penalty.
I There will be a 10 % bonus on each homework for LATEX.
Syllabus

I Grade Breakdown

Homework: 50 %
Midterm: 20 %
Final: 30 %

I Homework will be turned in on canvas

I You may turn in one homework assignment up to one week
late without penalty.
I There will be a 10 % bonus on each homework for LATEX.
I MATLAB, Python, or Mathematica (for plotting)
Syllabus

I Grade Breakdown

Homework: 50 %
Midterm: 20 %
Final: 30 %

I Homework will be turned in on canvas

I You may turn in one homework assignment up to one week
late without penalty.
I There will be a 10 % bonus on each homework for LATEX.
I MATLAB, Python, or Mathematica (for plotting)
I Office Hours: TTh 3-4, LEW 129
I Homework 1 is posted.
Introduction

Question
What is this class about?
Introduction

Question
What is this class about?

Answer
This class is for gaining techniques and intuition for solving partial
differential equations (PDE). Importantly, this class focuses on
understanding wave phenomena.
Examples of waves
Let’s begin with some examples of waves
Examples of waves
Let’s begin with some examples of waves
Aero. Radar is an important example of the use of waves: waves are
sent out and their reflection is observed. This is the same
process used by bats to determine where they are in the
middle of the night or in a dark cave.
Examples of waves
Let’s begin with some examples of waves
Aero. Radar is an important example of the use of waves: waves are
sent out and their reflection is observed. This is the same
process used by bats to determine where they are in the
middle of the night or in a dark cave.
Clouds Patterns in clouds are an example of wave behavior. Specific
examples are the

Figure : Morning glory Figure : Kelvin-Hemholtz

phenomenon. instability.
Examples of waves

Biology Dispersal of seeds by wind waves is one of the most important

means of plant regeneration.
Examples of waves

Biology Dispersal of seeds by wind waves is one of the most important

means of plant regeneration.
Bio. E. The movement of plant habitats as a function of a changing
climate is described by a wave that moves a lot slower than
most of the ones we describe here; a noticeable change can
take decades to be observable.
 Examples of waves

Biology Dispersal of seeds by wind waves is one of the most important

means of plant regeneration.
Bio. E. The movement of plant habitats as a function of a changing
climate is described by a wave that moves a lot slower than
most of the ones we describe here; a noticeable change can
take decades to be observable.
Chemistry The Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction
(https://youtu.be/IBa4kgXI4Cg)
 Examples of waves
Mech. E. Understanding of tidal and other water waves is important for
harbor and ship design:

Figure : Waves in a harbor model interacting with the harbor walls.

 Examples of waves
Ocngrphy Ocean wave and tsunami modeling are active areas of research
here at UW.
 Examples of waves
Ocngrphy Ocean wave and tsunami modeling are active areas of research
here at UW.
Phys. The electron microscope allows us to see matter at an atomic
scale by sending in an electron wave (a beam of electrons)
which interacts with the surface of the material we are looking
at. By analyzing the reflected and the transmitted wave, we
can determine the nature of the surface.
 Examples of waves
Ocngrphy Ocean wave and tsunami modeling are active areas of research
here at UW.
Phys. The electron microscope allows us to see matter at an atomic
scale by sending in an electron wave (a beam of electrons)
which interacts with the surface of the material we are looking
at. By analyzing the reflected and the transmitted wave, we
can determine the nature of the surface.
Poli. S. The propagation of political or economical ideas can be
described by a wave. As we are leading up to an election,
different candidates generate different waves of enthusiasm
based on a variety of external forces (media, advertising, etc).
These waves are also affected by the medium in which they
propagate: Iowa first, New Hampshire second, and so on.
 Examples of waves
Ocngrphy Ocean wave and tsunami modeling are active areas of research
here at UW.
Phys. The electron microscope allows us to see matter at an atomic
scale by sending in an electron wave (a beam of electrons)
which interacts with the surface of the material we are looking
at. By analyzing the reflected and the transmitted wave, we
can determine the nature of the surface.
Poli. S. The propagation of political or economical ideas can be
described by a wave. As we are leading up to an election,
different candidates generate different waves of enthusiasm
based on a variety of external forces (media, advertising, etc).
These waves are also affected by the medium in which they
propagate: Iowa first, New Hampshire second, and so on.
Psyc. A delta wave is a brain wave that occurs during what is
known as deep sleep. It is known that delta wave activity is
vastly reduced in people with schizophrenia.
Wave characterization

Definition (Wave)
A wave is any recognizable signal that is transferred from one part
of a medium to another with a recognizable velocity of
propagation.
Wave characterization

Definition (Wave)
A wave is any recognizable signal that is transferred from one part
of a medium to another with a recognizable velocity of
propagation.

Question
What do medium, signal, and transferred mean?
Wave characterization

Definition (Wave)
A wave is any recognizable signal that is transferred from one part
of a medium to another with a recognizable velocity of
propagation.

Question
What do medium, signal, and transferred mean?

Answer
The above terms are left sufficiently broad to encapsulate many
different situations i.e. their definitions depend on the

Example
Sound waves: Signal → amplitude/frequency, medium → air,
transferred → physical distance via compression.
Mathematical Representation

Question
How are waves modeled or represented mathematically?
Mathematical Representation

Question
How are waves modeled or represented mathematically?
I Let’s start with one-dimensional waves.
Mathematical Representation

Question
How are waves modeled or represented mathematically?
I Let’s start with one-dimensional waves.
I One dimensional waves are functions of two variables: u(x, t).
Mathematical Representation

Question
How are waves modeled or represented mathematically?
I Let’s start with one-dimensional waves.
I One dimensional waves are functions of two variables: u(x, t).
I For fixed t0 , we can think of u(x, t0 ) as a function of x
describing a disturbance in a medium.
Mathematical Representation

Question
How are waves modeled or represented mathematically?
I Let’s start with one-dimensional waves.
I One dimensional waves are functions of two variables: u(x, t).
I For fixed t0 , we can think of u(x, t0 ) as a function of x
describing a disturbance in a medium.
Example
A vibrating guitar string. u(x, t) represents the displacement of the
sting at position x on the guitar neck after t seconds.
Guitar string

Example
(Mathematica)
Example

Figure : u(x, 0) Figure : u(x, 1)

Figure : u(x, 2) Figure : u(x, 3)

Example
I Supposed that at time t, the displacement of some medium is
given by u(x, t) = f (x − ct) for c 6= 0.
Example
I Supposed that at time t, the displacement of some medium is
given by u(x, t) = f (x − ct) for c 6= 0.
I This wave has an initial measurement u(x, 0) = f (x) and then
translates to either the right ( c > 0) or left (c < 0).
Example
I Supposed that at time t, the displacement of some medium is
given by u(x, t) = f (x − ct) for c 6= 0.
I This wave has an initial measurement u(x, 0) = f (x) and then
translates to either the right ( c > 0) or left (c < 0).
I This form represents a large class of waves.
Example
Suppose that u(x, t) = sin(x − t). What will this look like as time
moves forward?
Example
Suppose that u(x, t) = sin(x − t). What will this look like as time
moves forward?

Figure : u(x, 0) = sin(x) Figure : u(x, 1) = sin(x − 1)

Figure : u(x, 2) = sin(x − 2) Figure : u(x, 3) = sin(x − 3)

Example
I Let u(x, t) = sech(x − ct). Don’t panic! I would give you the
definition of a hyperbolic trig function on an exam.
Example
I Let u(x, t) = sech(x − ct). Don’t panic! I would give you the
definition of a hyperbolic trig function on an exam.
I Recall that sech(x) = 1/ cosh(x).
Example
I Let u(x, t) = sech(x − ct). Don’t panic! I would give you the
definition of a hyperbolic trig function on an exam.
I Recall that sech(x) = 1/ cosh(x).
e x +e −x
I cosh(x) = 2
Example
I Let u(x, t) = sech(x − ct). Don’t panic! I would give you the
definition of a hyperbolic trig function on an exam.
I Recall that sech(x) = 1/ cosh(x).
e x +e −x
I cosh(x) = 2

Figure : f (x) = cosh(x) Figure : f (x) = sech(x)

For u(x, t) = sech(x − ct) and c = 1,

Figure :
Figure : u(x, 0) = sech(x) u(x, 1) = sech(x − 1)

Figure : Figure :
u(x, 2) = sech(x − 2) u(x, 3) = sech(x − 3)
I Suppose we want to track the “peak” of the wave
u(x, t) = sech(x − ct).
I Suppose we want to track the “peak” of the wave
u(x, t) = sech(x − ct).

I Since the peak occurs at sech(0), x − ct = 0 ⇒ x = ct.

I Suppose we want to track the “peak” of the wave
u(x, t) = sech(x − ct).

I Since the peak occurs at sech(0), x − ct = 0 ⇒ x = ct.

I
dx
∴ =c
dt
I The function sech translates with velocity c.
Example
Let u(x, t) = H(x + 7t), where H(x) is the Heaviside step function

1 x ≥0
H(x) =
0 x <0

What does this wave look like?

Example
Let u(x, t) = H(x + 7t), where H(x) is the Heaviside step function

1 x ≥0
H(x) =
0 x <0

What does this wave look like?

Figure : Figure : Figure :

u(x, 0) = H(x) u(x, 1) = H(x + 7) u(x, 2) = H(x + 14)
Non-uniform speed

Figure : u(x, 0) Figure : u(x, 1)

Figure : u(x, 1.5) Figure : u(x, 2.3)

Visualizing functions of two variables
2
Let u(x, t) = e −(x−t) . Here are several ways to visualize u(x, t):
I Animation (Mathematica)
Visualizing functions of two variables
2
Let u(x, t) = e −(x−t) . Here are several ways to visualize u(x, t):
I Animation (Mathematica)
I Slice plots

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
6
10
4
5
2 0
-5
0 -10
Visualizing functions of two variables
I Surface plots

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
6
10
4
5
2 0
-5
0 -10
Visualizing functions of two variables
I Heat maps / Density Maps

0
-10 -5 0 5 10
Summary

I Waves phenomena are described as quantifiable disturbances

traveling through a given medium.
Summary

I Waves phenomena are described as quantifiable disturbances

traveling through a given medium.
I In one dimension, waves are described as functions of two
variables u(x, t), spacial x and temporal t.
Summary

I Waves phenomena are described as quantifiable disturbances

traveling through a given medium.
I In one dimension, waves are described as functions of two
variables u(x, t), spacial x and temporal t.
I The function u(x, t) can be viewed as successive snapshots for
a monotonic sequence {tn }Nn=1 , u(x, tn ).
Summary

I Waves phenomena are described as quantifiable disturbances

traveling through a given medium.
I In one dimension, waves are described as functions of two
variables u(x, t), spacial x and temporal t.
I The function u(x, t) can be viewed as successive snapshots for
a monotonic sequence {tn }Nn=1 , u(x, tn ).
I Functions of the form u(x, t) = f (x − ct) transmit the initial
information with velocity c.
Summary

I Waves phenomena are described as quantifiable disturbances

traveling through a given medium.
I In one dimension, waves are described as functions of two
variables u(x, t), spacial x and temporal t.
I The function u(x, t) can be viewed as successive snapshots for
a monotonic sequence {tn }Nn=1 , u(x, tn ).
I Functions of the form u(x, t) = f (x − ct) transmit the initial
information with velocity c.
I Visualization techniques include, but are not limited to,
animation, snapshots, slice plots, surface plots, and heat
maps.
Homework

Assignment 1 is posted.