MathLivePoisson's equation
Poisson's equation relates the Laplacian of an unknown scalar field phi to a known source term f. It is used to find electrostatic potentials, gravitational potentials, steady heat distributions and similar fields produced by a given source.
\nabla^2 \phi = fWhat the symbols mean
| unknown scalar field, such as electric potential | |
| Laplace operator (Laplacian), equal to \Delta, the sum of second spatial partial derivatives | |
| known source function, such as charge density up to a constant factor |
About this formula
- FieldMathematics
- TopicPartial differential equations
- LevelUniversity
- Also calledPoisson differential equation, Poisson partial differential equation, Laplacian of potential equals source, laplace operator potential equation, elliptic pde source term
- SourceWikidata Q827688
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