Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Oxford / 2015 / Prelims / Mathematics V / 5 / b / i

Substitute the separated solution $y=e^{-\alpha t}F(t)\sin (nx)$ into the damped wave equation. Its time derivatives givewhereas $y_{xx}=-n^2{e}^{-\alpha t}F\sin (nx)$. ThusThe last two conditions follow from $y(x,0)=0$ and $y_t(x,0)=\sin (nx)$. For $0<\alpha <n$, let $\nu =\sqrt{n^2-{\alpha }^2}>0$. The simple harmonic motion equation has solution of a differential equationThis is an underdamped normal mode: its oscillations have the decaying factor $e^{-\alpha t}$.