Michael L. Oelze
Dept. of Phys., Harding Univ., 900 East Ctr., Searcy, AR 72149-0001
The classical wave equation used to describe acoustic phenomena was converted to a finite difference equation. This was done by constraining a sound packet to be in a box of finite length. By using certain mathematical techniques, recursion relations were found which enabled the amplitude of sound to be measured at every point in the box. This form of the equation is useful in modeling certain acoustic phenomena. The finite difference equation is especially useful in calculating wave reflection/transmission phenomena. The classical way of calculating reflection/transmission was by calculating a separate wave for each reflected or transmitted wave. The finite difference equation method cancels the need for many different waves and encompasses all interference from these waves.