Physics 212, 2017: Lecture 24

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Back to Physics 212, 2017: Computational Modeling.

The heat diffusion equation -- one of many partial differential equations (differential equations involving partial derivatives).

• Fick's first law of diffusion $J=-D{\frac {d\phi }{dx}}$ or ${\vec {J}}=-D\nabla \phi$ (also known as Newton's law of cooling if $\phi =T$, or the Fourier law of heat conduction)
• Fick's second law of diffusion $\partial _{t}\phi =-D\nabla ^{2}\phi$.
• Finite difference form of the heat diffusion equation; need boundary conditions to complete the solution
• Boundary conditions (implemented with extending the grid matrix):
  • Absorbing
  • Reflecting
  • Peeriodic
• Solution of the equation using Python code.