What are the limitations of the Explicit Finite Difference Model?

[t0mm02]

Homework Statement:: Discuss the limitation of the Explicit Finite Difference Model.
Relevant Equations:: no formula

Hello there, I have to discuss the limitations of using the Explicit Finite Difference model to calculate a 2D Heat Diffusion through an aluminium place, however, I really don't understand what exactly it is asking me fore but I am guessing it has something to do with the stability criterion and I wanted seconds opinions.

[Moderator's note: moved from a homework forum.]

 

[Frodo]

Ask yourself:

What do you think can go wrong if you use it? Will always go right?

Will it always converge to a solution? Why? Or why not?

How quickly does it converge towards a solution?

How much computing resource does it use?

If you speed it up using an accelerating factor what may happen (IIRC you add, say, 1.2x the average of the adjacent points instead of just the average, where 1.2 is the accelerating factor)?

How does it handle boundary conditions?

Against which other methods are you comparing its limitations? - eg the finite element method?

What advantage do other methods have over the Explicit Finite Difference method - the EFD method has these as limitations.

Did you read the paper I pointed you to in your post Matlab report help please (Finite Difference Method)?

A web search will find answers to all these questions. A search in this forum will also find much useful information.