Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Oxford / 2023 / Prelims / Mathematics V / 6

Use the ideal transverse-motion model of the question: constant tension, small slopes, no bending stiffness, and no transverse body-force term. On a short segment away from $x=0$, the vertical components of the endpoint tensions are, to first order in $y_x$, $T{y}_x(x+\Delta x,t)$ and $-T{y}_x(x,t)$. Its mass is $\rho \Delta x$, since $\rho$ is linear mass density. Newton's second law givesDividing by $\Delta x$ and taking its limit proves the wave equation on a string on each side of the mass:The string on the right pulls the point mass with vertical component $T{y}_x(0^{+},t)$, while the string on the left contributes $-T{y}_x(0^{-},t)$. HenceThe fixed supports and attachment impose the boundary conditionsTogether with the mass equation, these are the endpoint and matching conditions. The slope can jump at $x=0$: the jump supplies the mass's vertical acceleration. Requiring the slope to be continuous would incorrectly remove its dynamics.

Use separation of variables to seek a normal mode $y(x,t)=X(x)\cos (\omega t+\delta )$, with angular frequency $\omega >0$ and wavenumber $k=\omega /c$. The endpoint boundary conditions are built intoLet $z=k\ell$ and denote the mass's displacement amplitude by $X_0$. Continuity and the mass equation becomeThe two possibilities must be separated before dividing by $\sin z$.

Antisymmetric modes. If $\sin z=0$, then $z=n\pi$, $n=1,2,\dots$, and $X_0=0$. The force equation gives $A+B=0$, since $\cos z\ne 0$. Thus $X(-x)=-X(x)$ and the mass stays at rest. These allowed angular frequencies satisfyThe restoring forces on the mass cancel even though the string vibrates.

Symmetric modes. If $\sin z\ne 0$, continuity forces $A=B$. Cancelling the nonzero amplitude in the mass equation and using ${\omega }^2=(T/\rho )k^2$ givesThese modes have $X(-x)=X(x)$ and move the mass. In dimensionless form their equation is $\cot z=\alpha z$, where $\alpha =m/(2\rho \ell )>0$. This is the spectral splitting for a string with a central point mass.

For the antisymmetric family, the graph of $\sin z$ crosses zero at every positive multiple of $\pi$. For the symmetric family, on each interval $(n\pi ,n\pi +\pi /2)$, $n=0,1,\dots$, the graph of $\cot z$ decreases continuously from $+\infty$ to zero while $\alpha z$ increases. By the intermediate value theorem and strict monotonicity, there is exactly one intersection in each interval. On the remaining half-intervals $\cot z<0<\alpha z$, so there are no further positive roots. This proves graphically and analytically that both families contain infinitely many normal modes. The figure uses $\alpha =1$ for illustration.

The algebraic case $k=0$ is not a mode: a zero-frequency profile would be linear on each half, continuous and zero at the endpoints; the zero-acceleration mass equation also makes its slopes agree, forcing the entire profile to be zero. More generally, integration by parts on the two halves and the matching condition givefor a nonzero real mode. Thus no nonzero static or exponentially growing mode has been omitted.

The lowest positive root belongs to the symmetric family and lies in $(0,\pi /2)$; all antisymmetric roots are at least $\pi$. Let $\alpha =m/(2\rho \ell )\gg 1$. The equation $\cot z=\alpha z$ forces its first root to tend to zero: for any fixed $\epsilon >0$, the right side eventually exceeds $\cot \epsilon$ at $z=\epsilon$, so the decreasing-minus-increasing difference has its zero below $\epsilon$.

The Taylor series $\cot z=z^{-1}-z/3+O(z^3)$ then givesSince $\omega =cz/\ell$ and $c=\sqrt{T/\rho }$, the lowest angular frequency isPhysically, at such a low frequency each half-string is nearly straight. If the mass moves up by $Y$, the two slopes are approximately $Y/\ell$ and $-Y/\ell$, so the restoring force is $-2TY/\ell$. The resulting harmonic oscillator equation, $m\ddot{Y}+(2T/\ell )Y=0$, has exactly the leading angular frequency above. The next correction from the same expansion is $\omega /{\omega }_0=1-\rho \ell /(3m)+O((\rho \ell /m{)}^2)$.