# [SOLVED]Shock wave

#### evinda

##### Well-known member
MHB Site Helper
Hello!!!

I want to solve the equation $u_t+uu_x=0$ with the initial condition $u(x,0)=1$ for $x \leq 0$, $1-x$ for $0 \leq x \leq 1$ and $0$ for $x \geq 1$. I want to solve it for all $t \geq 0$, allowing for a shock wave. I also want to find exactly where the shock is and show that it satisfies the entropy condition.

I have tried the following.

We get that $u(x(t),t)=c$.

The characteristic line that passes through the points $(x,t)$ and $(x_0,0)$ has slope

$\frac{x-x_0}{t-0}=\frac{dx}{dt}=u(x,t)=u(x_0,0)=\left\{\begin{matrix} 1, & \text{ if } x_0 \leq 0,\\ 1-x_0, & \text{ if } 0 \leq x_0 \leq 1,\\ 0, & \text{ if } x_0 \geq 1. \end{matrix}\right.$

$\Rightarrow x-x_0=\left\{\begin{matrix} t, & \text{ if } x_0 \leq 0,\\ t(1-x_0), & \text{ if } 0 \leq x_0 \leq 1,\\ 0, & \text{ if } x_0 \geq 1. \end{matrix}\right.$

$\Rightarrow u(x,t)=\left\{\begin{matrix} 1, & \text{ if } x \leq t,\\ \frac{1-x}{1-t}, & \text{ if } t \leq x \leq 1,\\ 0, & \text{ if } x \geq 1. \end{matrix}\right.$

Do we have a shock at the time when $u$ is not continuous? But how can we find such a time?

Last edited:

#### Klaas van Aarsen

##### MHB Seeker
Staff member
Hello!!!

I want to solve the equation $u_t+uu_x=0$ with the initial condition $u(x,0)=1$ for $x \leq 0$, $1-x$ for $0 \leq x \leq 1$ and $0$ for $x \geq 1$. I want to solve it for all $t \geq 0$, allowing for a shock wave. I also want to find exactly where the shock is and show that it satisfies the entropy condition.

I have tried the following.

We get that $u(x(t),t)=c$.

The characteristic line that passes through the points $(x,t)$ and $(x_0,0)$ has slope

$\frac{x-x_0}{t-0}=\frac{dx}{dt}=u(x,t)=u(x_0,0)=\left\{\begin{matrix} 1, & \text{ if } x_0 \leq 0,\\ 1-x_0, & \text{ if } 0 \leq x_0 \leq 1,\\ 0, & \text{ if } x_0 \geq 1. \end{matrix}\right.$

$\Rightarrow x-x_0=\left\{\begin{matrix} t, & \text{ if } x_0 \leq 0,\\ t(1-x_0), & \text{ if } 0 \leq x_0 \leq 1,\\ 0, & \text{ if } x_0 \geq 1. \end{matrix}\right.$

$\Rightarrow u(x,t)=\left\{\begin{matrix} 1, & \text{ if } x \leq t,\\ \frac{1-x}{1-t}, & \text{ if } t \leq x \leq 1,\\ 0, & \text{ if } x \geq 1. \end{matrix}\right.$

Do we have a shock at the time when $u$ is not continuous? But how can we find such a time?
Hey evinda !!

What will happen to $u$ when $t$ reaches $1$?

Btw, your solution doesn't cover $t>1$ does it?
The second condition breaks down, and the first and third condition will overlap.

#### evinda

##### Well-known member
MHB Site Helper
The shock wave happens when $t=1$.

Which is the entropy condition?

#### Klaas van Aarsen

##### MHB Seeker
Staff member
The shock wave happens when $t=1$.

Which is the entropy condition?
I don't know what an entropy condition is.

Do you have a definition?

MHB Site Helper

Staff member

MHB Site Helper