- #1
CoolDude420
- 201
- 9
Homework Statement
Hi,
So I have a perfectly insulated rectangular plate and I trying to use the 2D heat equation in conjunction with numerical finite diference methods and MATLAB to see how the temperature changes throughout the plate. My issue is with the heat source. I am supposed to decide on how to model this heat source. I have chosen it to be at the centre as a point heat source. Now I'm not sure how to set my Q value in the heat equation to mimic this point source? Apparently some people say I need to multiply by the dirac delta function but I feel that would make solving the PDE much harder.
I thought maybe I could set Q =0 and make an intiail conditions that sets the temperature at the centre, but didn't make much sense.
If I choose a constant Q, it would mean that this Q exists at all points in the plate. Any ideas on what I should do? How do I choose Q to mimic this point source?