Solving Simple PDEs for Beginners

  • Thread starter phonic
  • Start date
  • Tags
    Pde
In summary, the person is having trouble solving two simple-looking PDE's and is asking for hints. They propose a specific solution form but do not know how to solve it formally. The equations involve partial derivatives and there is a boundary condition given. Someone suggests differentiating one of the equations and integrating the other to simplify them and make them easier to solve. They also mention that the solution for y" + k^2y+b=0 can be extended to the case where y depends on v.
  • #1
phonic
28
0
Dear All,

I got some trobule in solving the following simple-looking PDE's. Can anyone give a hint about how to solve it? thanks a lot! I guess the solution is of the form [itex]y(u,v)=A[\cos(k(u-f(v))-B]\cosh(v)-C[/itex]. But I don't know a formal way to solve.
[itex]\frac{\partial^4y(u,v)}{\partial u^2 \partial v^2} +k^2 \frac{\partial^2y(u,v)}{\partial v^2}=0[/itex]

[itex]\frac{\partial^2y(u,v)}{\partial u^2} +k^2 y(u,v) +b=0[/itex]

Boundary condition:

[itex]\frac{\partial y(u,v)}{\partial v}|_{v=0}=0[/itex]
[itex]\frac{\partial y(u,v)}{\partial u}|_{u=0,v=0}=0[/itex]
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
If you differentiate the second equation twice with respect to v, you will see that it is basically the same equation as the first equation. Just integrate the first equation twice to get rid of the partial derivatives wrt v and you end up with two almost identical second order ODE's.

And in the second equation, the fact that y depends on v is not important, so to simplify things, you could start by solving y" + k^2y+b=0
When you have found the solution, it is trivial to extend it to the case where y depends on v.
 

FAQ: Solving Simple PDEs for Beginners

What is a PDE?

A PDE, or partial differential equation, is a type of mathematical equation that involves multiple variables and their partial derivatives. It is often used to model systems that change over time or space.

What are some examples of simple-looking PDEs?

Some examples include the heat equation, wave equation, and Laplace's equation. These equations have a simple structure and can be solved using basic techniques.

What are the steps to solve a simple-looking PDE?

The first step is to identify the type of PDE and its boundary conditions. Then, you can use separation of variables, Fourier series, or other techniques to solve for the unknown function. Finally, you can apply the boundary conditions to determine the specific solution.

What are some challenges in solving PDEs?

Some challenges include identifying the type of PDE, choosing the appropriate technique for solving it, and ensuring the solution satisfies the boundary conditions. PDEs can also have complex solutions that are difficult to interpret.

Why are PDEs important in science?

PDEs are used to model many physical phenomena in science, such as heat transfer, fluid dynamics, and electromagnetic fields. They allow scientists to make predictions and understand how these systems behave over time and space. PDEs also have applications in engineering, finance, and other fields.

Similar threads

Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
36
Views
1K
Replies
2
Views
1K
Replies
5
Views
851
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
1K
Back
Top