Abstract
Numerical solutions to the mechanical and electromagnetic wave equations have been worked out. In terms of numerical solutions, we can evaluate the behavior of these waves under different view points, for the equation that governs these phenomena differ specifically in the propagation speed. Thus, the numerical implementation follows without changes for both the mechanical and electromagnetic waves. As we are interested in evaluating the behavior of the wave solutions in a single propagation medium, we shall make use of the finite difference method to discretize the wave equation. As one of the main goals of this contribution is to encourage readers to use numerical methods to find solutions for physical problems, we shall present in a very simple way the numerical procedures, as well as their applications under different conditions, taking care, however, of the precision of the method. To validate the methodology implemented in our paper, we compare the analytical solutions available in the literature with the results here obtained.
Keywords:
Mechanical waves; electromagnetic waves; finite difference method; wave propagation and vibration
