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For Students · Heat & Wave Fields

Heat & Wave Fields for a satellite orbit

Built for students learning it for a class or exam. See the concept move instead of memorizing formulas — and check your homework intuition. Simulate a satellite orbit live below — adjust the inputs and watch it respond, right in your browser.

Field — 2D Heat EquationLive

explicit finite difference · ∂u/∂t = α∇²u

Controls

Speed1×

Click the field to add heat.

Presets

Diffusivity α

▶ Run in Python

Data Inspector

Grid120×120

SchemeExplicit FD

Stabilitystable

Governing equation

\frac{\partial u}{\partial t} = 0.20 \nabla^{2} u

Reading this result: Diffusivity α = 0.20 spreads heat at a moderate rate while staying well under the 0.25 explicit-stability limit — hotspots smooth into a gentle gradient within a second or two.

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Frequently asked questions

Is this good for students?: Yes — this version of "Heat & Wave Fields for a satellite orbit" is framed for students learning it for a class or exam. See the concept move instead of memorizing formulas — and check your homework intuition.
Do I need to install anything?: No. It runs in any modern browser, free, with no account required.