Wave equation

<p>The wave equation is a second-order linear <a href="/facts/Partial_differential_equation/DyPsBlv7">partial differential equation</a> for the description of <a href="/facts/Wave/fU0HH6St">waves</a> or <a href="/facts/Standing_wave/n134E8TC">standing wave</a> fields such as <a href="/facts/Mechanical_waves/UeWkUcCQ">mechanical waves</a> (e.g. <a href="/facts/Water/0lkXnJPK">water</a> waves, <a href="/facts/Sound_waves/DlKXlPuF">sound waves</a> and <a href="/facts/Seismic_waves/1JTeLfac">seismic waves</a>) or <a href="/facts/Electromagnetic_radiation/Ynx7ujCW">electromagnetic waves</a> (including <a href="/facts/Light/jeofpMn4">light</a> waves). It arises in fields like <a href="/facts/Acoustics/2GpQUymy">acoustics</a>, <a href="/facts/Electromagnetism/oAkmALHT">electromagnetism</a>, and <a href="/facts/Fluid_dynamics/y7uzSCfg">fluid dynamics</a>. 
</p><p>This article focuses on waves in <a href="/facts/Classical_physics/gGnINVPE">classical physics</a>. Quantum physics uses an operator-based <a href="/facts/Schrodinger_equation/3csgSIWF">wave equation</a> often as a <a href="/facts/Relativistic_wave_equation/UVF8oBjd">relativistic wave equation</a>.
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Wave equation open-in-new

Wave equation