Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematical-methods-ii-course-of-the-university-of-oxford/2015-resit/11/b/solution

Seek a separated normal mode . Substitution in the wave equation gives . For an oscillatory mode choose the separation constant :
The fixed endpoints impose . In , the first condition gives , and the second requires . Nonzero displacement therefore requires
Each spatial shape has fixed nodes and an oscillating overall amplitude: a standing wave. A general lossless motion is a superposition of these standing normal modes, not necessarily one single-frequency standing wave. The solution is trivial under both fixed-end conditions and does not supply an additional vibrational mode.

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