Wave Equations: From Vibrating Strings to Light

Wave equations describe how vibrations and disturbances move through space and time.
The simplest wave equation models a vibrating string fixed at both ends.
Sound waves in air follow wave equations that explain pitch, volume, and resonance.
Light itself is an electromagnetic wave governed by Maxwell’s wave equations.
Seismic waves traveling through Earth are predicted with wave equations.
Solutions often involve sine and cosine functions—nature’s pure waveforms.
Standing waves form when waves reflect and interfere, creating stable patterns.
Quantum mechanics uses wave equations like Schrödinger’s to describe particles.
Wave equations also apply to water waves, radio signals, and gravitational waves.
At their core, wave equations reveal the universal rhythm of motion across physics.