Past exam of the physics A course of the University of Cambridge / 2018 / Paper 2 / Section B / B9 / a / Solution

The symbol $\rho$ here is linear mass density, with units $\mathrm{kg}{\mathrm{m}}^{-1}$. A short element $[x,x+\delta x]$ has transverse forcebecause small slopes give $\sin \theta \simeq \tan \theta ={\Psi }_x$. Its mass is $\rho \delta x$. Applying Newton's second law, dividing by $\delta x$, and taking the limit gives the wave equation on a string,The derivation assumes constant positive tension, small transverse displacements and slopes, a flexible string with negligible bending stiffness, and negligible damping. Variations of tension due to the motion enter beyond the linear approximation.