Today in Physics 217: Separation of Variables
Today in Physics 217: separation of variables Introduction to the method, in Cartesian coordinates. y Example solution for the potential in an infinite V=0 slot, arbitrary V at the a bottom, in which we V(y) x introduce two common V=0 features of separation z solutions: • Completeness and orthogonality of sines • Fourier’s trick 11 October 2002 Physics 217, Fall 2002 1 Introduction to separation of variables If the method of images can’t be used on a problem you must solve that involves conductors, the next thing to try is direct solution of the Laplace equation, subject to boundary conditions on V and/or ∂∂Vn. Separation of variables is the easiest direct solution technique. It works best with conductors for which the surfaces are well behaved (planes, spheres, cylinders, etc.). Here’s how it works, in Cartesian coordinates, in which the Laplace equation is ∂∂∂222VVV ∇=2V + + =0 ∂∂∂xyz222 which can’t be integrated directly like the 1-D case. 11 October 2002 Physics 217, Fall 2002 2 Introduction to separation of variables (continued) Consider solutions of the form Vxyz(),, = XxYyZz() () () Then, the Laplace equation is dX222 dY dZ YZ++= XZ XY 0 dx222 dy dz or, dividing through by XYZ, 111dX222 dY dZ ++=0 XYZdx222 dy dz i.e. fx()++= gy() hz() 0 11 October 2002 Physics 217, Fall 2002 3 Introduction to separation of variables (continued) The only way for this to be true for all x,y,z is for each term to be a constant, and for the three constants to add up to zero: 111dX222 dY dZ ++=+−+=AB() AB 0 XYZdx222 dy dz So this is a way to trade one partial differential equation for three ordinary differential equations, which can often be solved much more easily: dX222 dY dZ −=AX00 −= BY ++=() A B Z 0 dx222 dy dz 11 October 2002 Physics 217, Fall 2002 4 Introduction to separation of variables (continued) Nothing guarantees that V will always factor into functions of x, y, and z alone.
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