Numerical Solution of Second Order Differential Equations©
Theresa Julia Zielinski Department of Chemistry, Medical Technology, and Physics Monmouth University West Long Branch, NJ 07764-1898 United States mail to: tzielins@monmouth.edu
Danny G. Miles, Jr. Mount St. Mary's University Department of Science Emmitsburg, MD 21727 United States mail to: miles@msmary.edu
Abstract
In this document students can explore using numerical methods for solving second order differential equations. After a background discussion the document leads students to the solution of the equation of motion for the classical harmonic oscillator. Each step of the numerical algorithm is carefully explained. Questions embedded in the document help students to focus on the method and the links between the method, the solutions, and the physical model for the oscillator. Students are expected to apply the method to the quantum mechanical oscillator and explore the properties of the resulting solutions.Students are also requested to compare and contrast the solutions obtained by the numerical method to those obtained by the analytical method. References are included inthe document.
Keywords
Audiences: Upper-Division Undergraduate Pedagogies: Computer-Based Learning Domains: Physical Chemistry Topics: Chemometrics, Mathematics / Symbolic Mathematics, Quantum Chemistry
Documents
File Name Description Software Type Software Version numer1.mcd Instructional and Computational Mathcad Document numer1.pdf Read-Only Document
Comments to: Theresa Julia Zielinski tzielins@monmouth.edu or Danny G. Miles, Jr. miles@msmary.edu
©Copyright Theresa Julia Zielinski and Danny G. Miles, Jr., 1997. All rights reserved. You are welcome to use this document in your own classes but commercial use is not allowed without the permission of the authors.