Product Information
Block 3 contains units 9 - 11 which look at a class of differential equations typified by the wave equation, the diffusion equation and Laplace's equation, which arise frequently in fluid mechanics and in other branches of applied mathematics. Unit 9 Second-order partial differential equations shows how a second-order partial differential equation can be classified as one of three standard types, and how to reduce an equation to its standard form. Some general solutions (including d'Alembert's solution to the wave equation) are found. Unit 10 Fourier series reviews and develops an important method of approximating a function. The early sections refer to trigonometric Fourier series, and it is shown how these series, together with separation of variables, can be used to represent the solutions of initial-boundary value problems involving the diffusion equation and the wave equation. Later sections generalise to the Fourier series that arise from Sturm-Liouville problems (eigenvalue problems with the differential equation put into a certain standard format), including Legendre series. Unit 11 Laplace's equation is a particular second-order partial differential equation that can be used to model the flow of an irrotational, inviscid fluid past a rigid boundary. Solutions to Laplace's equation are found and interpreted in the context of fluid flow problems, for example, the flow of a fluid past a cylinder and past a sphere.Product Identifiers
PublisherOpen University Worldwide
ISBN-139780749223151
eBay Product ID (ePID)92550880
Product Key Features
Publication Year2009
SubjectPhysics
Number of Pages184 Pages
LanguageEnglish
Publication NameMathematical Methods and Fluid Mechanics: Block 3: Block 3
TypeTextbook
AuthorOpen University Course Team
FormatPaperback
Additional Product Features
Country/Region of ManufactureUnited Kingdom
Title_AuthorOpen University Course Team