Wave equation
Article
The wave equation is a partial differential equation that describes the propagation of waves through space and time. It relates the second time derivative of a field to its spatial curvature.
Its solutions include travelling waves, standing waves, pulses, and superpositions of these forms. The propagation speed depends on the physical medium or field being modelled.
Boundary and initial conditions determine the permitted solutions. On strings, membranes, pipes, and cavities, these conditions produce normal modes and characteristic resonance frequencies.
The wave equation is used in acoustics, electromagnetism, elasticity, water waves, seismology, quantum theory, and general relativity. Numerical methods are often required for complex geometries and varying media.
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- Source / publisher: Wikipedia
- URL type: WWW
- Credits: Wikipedia
- URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wave_equation