Partial Differential Equations

  • How does a PDE differ from an ODE?
  • How is the order of a PDE defined?
  • How is a linear PDE defined?
  • Write down the PDEs for the Laplace, Poisson, Diffusion, and first order wave equations.
  • What do $f_t$, $f_{xx}$, and $f_{xy}$ mean in the context of PDEs?
  • Write out the gradient, divergence, and Laplacian operators in terms of their components in two dimensions:
    • $\vec{\nabla}f$
    • $\vec{\nabla}\cdot f$
    • $\nabla^2 f$
  • Classify the following problems as elliptic, parabolic, or hyperbolic
    • Steady diffusion
    • Unsteady diffusion
    • Unsteady advection
    • Steady advection and diffusion
    • Unsteady advection and diffusion
  • What order derivatives are associated with diffusive phenomena?
  • What order derivatives are associated with advective phenomena?
  • Review and understand the domain of dependence figures.
  • (Note, the physical characteristics of advection and diffusion will significantly impact our numerical treatment of such terms.)