A Simple Classroom Simulation of Heat Energy Diffusing Through a Metal Bar

摘要

We present an iterative procedure that does not rely on calculus to model heat flow through a uniform bar of metal and thus avoids the use of the partial differential equation typically needed to describe heat diffusion. The procedure is based on first principles and can be done with students at the blackboard. It results in a plot that illustrates several principles of thermodynamics and can be easily implemented with a spreadsheet program on the computer.