Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2004/iii/paper-79/3/iv/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2004 iii Paper 79 3 iv Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
Let be either endpoint at which is prescribed, and put , and . Integrating the constant-coefficient velocity–traction system givesTaking the ratio yields the uniform-layer SH impedance update and its accompanying velocity:The initial value sets an arbitrary normalization; specifying impedance alone cannot specify the overall wave wave amplitude. Positive propagates data from , while negative propagates a specified load from , so the same expressions solve both requested initial-value problems.
Expanding sine and cosine givesAbsorbing the reference-point phases into the two constants gives the requested forward/backward exponential superposition. Equivalently, wherever the ratios are defined,The exceptional values give the pure directional solutions. If a denominator in the impedance formula vanishes, propagate the finite pair through that point; this is an impedance-chart pole, not a failure of the physical solution. The upper-half-plane assumptions ensure .
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