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candice_84
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Hi Everyone, on page 238 of lamarsh, section 5.5, first paragraph, it says "flux must also be finite". What does it mean?
What is the context.candice_84 said:Hi Everyone, on page 238 of lamarsh, section 5.5, first paragraph, it says "flux must also be finite". What does it mean?
candice_84 said:Hi Everyone, on page 238 of lamarsh, section 5.5, first paragraph, it says "flux must also be finite". What does it mean?
The diffusion equation is a mathematical model that describes the process of diffusion, which is the movement of particles from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration. It is important because it can be applied to various fields such as chemistry, physics, and biology to understand the behavior of particles and their movement.
Flux is a measure of the flow rate of particles through a specific area. In the diffusion equation, flux must be finite because it represents the rate of change of concentration of particles, and if the flux is infinite, it would mean an infinite number of particles are moving through the area, which is physically impossible.
The diffusion equation is derived from Fick's laws of diffusion, which describe the movement of particles in a system based on the concentration gradient. By applying Fick's first law, which states that the flux is proportional to the concentration gradient, and Fick's second law, which states that the flux is also proportional to the rate of change of concentration, we can arrive at the diffusion equation.
There are a few assumptions made in the diffusion equation, such as the particles being in random motion, the concentration gradient being constant, and the system being in a steady-state. These assumptions may not always hold true in real-life scenarios, but they provide a simplified model for understanding diffusion.
The diffusion equation has a wide range of applications in various fields. In chemistry, it is used to study the diffusion of molecules in a liquid or gas. In physics, it is used to model the diffusion of heat and the movement of particles in a medium. In biology, it is used to understand the diffusion of gases in the respiratory system and the movement of molecules across cell membranes.