Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2022 / ib / Paper 1 / 13B / a / Solution

Take positive $y$ vertically downward. For a short string element, the transverse tension resultant is $T{y}_{xx}dx$, while gravity and linear drag contribute $\mu gdx$ and $-2k\mu y_{t}dx$. Newton's second law givesSince $T=\mu c^2$, the damped wave equation isChoosing upward displacement reverses the sign of the gravity term.