Differentiable Manifolds (geom)

A fundamental second-order linear parabolic partial differential equation describing heat distribution or other diffusion processes. Its canonical form is \(\frac{partial u}{partial t} = \alpha \nabla^2 u\), where \(u(\vec{x},t)\) is temperature, \(t\) is time, and \(\alpha\) is thermal diffusivity. Solutions model how an initial temperature distribution evolves, smoothing out irregularities over time and approaching a steady state.

A fundamental principle stating that the total energy of an isolated system remains constant over time. Energy can neither be created nor destroyed, only transformed from one form to another, such as from potential to kinetic energy. In classical mechanics, for systems with only conservative forces, the total mechanical energy \(E = T + V\) is conserved.

Viscoelasticity is the property of materials that exhibit both viscous and elastic characteristics when undergoing deformation. Viscous materials, like honey, resist shear flow and strain linearly with time when a stress is applied. Elastic materials, like a rubber band, strain when stretched and quickly return to their original state once the stress is removed. Viscoelastic materials have elements of both.

A differentiable manifold is a topological space that is locally similar to Euclidean space, allowing calculus to be applied. Each point has a neighborhood that is homeomorphic to an open subset of \(\mathbb{R}^n\). These local coordinate systems, called charts, are related by smooth transition functions, forming an atlas that defines the manifold's differentiable structure.

The Boltzmann distribution describes the probability that a system in thermal equilibrium at temperature T will be in a specific microstate with energy E. This probability is proportional to the Boltzmann factor, \(e^{-E / k_B T}\). It implies that states with lower energy are exponentially more likely to be occupied than states with higher energy, with temperature modulating this preference.

The Reynolds number (\(\text{Re}\)) is a dimensionless quantity in fluid mechanics used to predict flow patterns by representing the ratio of inertial forces to viscous forces. Low Reynolds numbers characterize smooth, orderly laminar flow, while high Reynolds numbers indicate chaotic, eddy-filled turbulent flow. It is crucial for determining the dynamic behavior of a fluid and for scaling experiments.

The Mach number (M) is a dimensionless quantity representing the ratio of flow velocity past a boundary to the local speed of sound: \(M = v/a\), where v is the flow velocity and a is the speed of sound. It is the primary indicator of compressibility effects. As Mach number approaches and exceeds 1, the density of the air changes significantly, altering aerodynamic forces.

The Cauchy stress tensor, denoted \(\boldsymbol{\sigma}\), is a second-order tensor that completely defines the state of stress at a point inside a material. It relates the traction vector (force per unit area) \(\mathbf{T}\) on any surface passing through that point to the surface's normal vector \(\mathbf{n}\) via the linear relationship \(\mathbf{T} = \boldsymbol{\sigma} \cdot \mathbf{n}\).

A reformulation of classical mechanics that uses generalized coordinates and their conjugate momenta. It is based on the Hamiltonian function, \(H(q, p, t)\), representing the system's total energy. The dynamics are described by Hamilton's equations: \(\dot{q}_i = \frac{\partial H}{\partial p_i}\) and \(\dot{p}_i = -\frac{\partial H}{\partial q_i}\). This framework is central to quantum mechanics and statistical mechanics.

For a Newtonian fluid, viscosity is a function of temperature and pressure but not shear rate. In liquids, viscosity decreases significantly as temperature increases because higher thermal energy allows molecules to overcome cohesive intermolecular forces more easily. Conversely, in gases, viscosity increases with temperature as more frequent molecular collisions at higher speeds lead to greater momentum transfer.

De Morgan's laws are a pair of transformation rules in Boolean algebra that are fundamental to digital circuit design. The first law states that the negation of a conjunction is the disjunction of the negations: \(\neg(P \land Q) \iff (\neg P) \lor (\neg Q)\). The second states that the negation of a disjunction is the conjunction of the negations: \(\neg(P \lor Q) \iff (\neg P) \land (\neg Q)\).

Riemannian geometry is the branch of differential geometry that studies Riemannian manifolds—smooth manifolds equipped with a Riemannian metric. This metric is a collection of inner products on the tangent spaces, varying smoothly from point to point. It allows for the definition of local geometric notions like angle, length of curves, surface area, and volume, leading to a generalized notion of curvature.

A fundamental existence and uniqueness theorem for partial differential equations associated with Cauchy initial value problems. It states that if the PDE and the initial conditions are 'analytic' (can be represented by convergent power series), then a unique analytic solution exists in a neighborhood of the initial surface. It provides a local existence guarantee but does not address global behavior or well-posedness.

Shear-thickening, or dilatancy, is a non-Newtonian behavior where viscosity increases with the rate of shear stress. A classic example is a suspension of cornstarch in water (oobleck), which feels liquid when stirred slowly but becomes almost solid when struck or stirred rapidly. This phenomenon is caused by the jamming of suspended particles under high shear.

The Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations are time-averaged equations of motion for turbulent fluid flow. This approach, called Reynolds decomposition, separates flow variables into a mean and a fluctuating component. The averaging process introduces an additional term, the Reynolds stress tensor, which represents the effect of turbulence and must be modeled to achieve closure, making simulations computationally tractable.