Journal for Research | Volume 03| Issue 01 | March 2017

ISSN: 2395-7549

Meteorite Shooting as a Diffusion Problem

Dr. Prof. Rashmi R. Keshvani Prof. Maulik S. joshi
Professor Assist Professor
Department of Mathematics Department of Mathematics
Sarvajanik College of Engineering & Technology, Surat, Aditya Silver oak Institute of Technology, Ahmedabad,
Gujarat, India Gujarat, India

Abstract
Diffusion problems have been problems of great interest with various initial and boundary conditions. Among those, infinite
domain problems have been more interesting. Many of such problems can be solved by various methods but those which can be
used for various initial functions with minor changes in the solution obtained are more attractive and efficient. Fourier transforms
method and methods obtaining Gauss- Weierstrass kernel play such role among various such methods. To show this feature here
in this paper, first the consequences of a local injection of heat to an infinite domain are being discussed. Solutions to such
problems at different time are discussed in terms of Gaussian distributions. The theory is then extended to a meteorite shooting
problem.
Keywords: Fourier Transform, Inverse Fourier Transform, Dirac Delta Function, Gaussian distribution, Mean and
variance of a probability distribution, Meteorites, Refraction index
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

I. INTRODUCTION
2 2
It is known and can be verified that satisfy heat equation = for all values of So using generalized
2
principle of super position, it can be shown that
2
(, ) = () (1)
2
is solution of heat equation, = where < < .
2

The initial condition (, 0) = (), will be satisfied, if (, 0) = () = () .

From definitions of Fourier transform and inverse Fourier transform [1], () = () implies that
1
() is inverse Fourier transform of () and () = ()
is the Fourier transform of initial
2
temperature function ().
1
Substituting () = () in (1), and changing dummy variable to in expression for (), now (1)
2
becomes

1 2
(, ) = ( ( ) )
2
1 2
(, ) = ( ) ( ( ) ) (2)
2
2 2
Also it is known that () = is inverse Fourier transform of ,
)2
(
2
(a Gaussian Curve). So, ( ) = ( ) = 4 .

Substituting this in (2), one gets
1 ( )2
1 ( )2
(, ) = ( ) ( 4 ) = ( ) 4
2 4
)2
(
1
It can be shown [1] that lim 4 = ( ), where () is the Dirac delta function (Impulse function).[1] The
0+ 4
Dirac delta function, [2] denoted by (), also known as impulse function, is defined as
0 if 0
() = { ensuring () = 1 .

if = 0
Also ()( ) = () where is any continuous function?

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 Meteorite Shooting as a Diffusion Problem
(J4R/ Volume 03 / Issue 01 / 007)

II. SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM

1) If () denote temperature in a bar in which the heat can flow only in the directions, then heat flow will be only

there, where gradient of temperature is. The amount of heat per second, , which can be urged along the bar , is

proportional to the temperature gradient and is inversely proportional to the thermal resistance of the material of the bar
per unit length.
1
That is =


The amount of heat accumulated in unit length per second is the difference between what flows in and what flows out, i.e. .

The temperature rise is inversely proportional to thermal capacitance per unit length. So
1 1 2
= =
2
So here diffusion problem, is as follows
2
= , >0, < < (4)
2
Suppose initial condition is given as (, 0) = (). Here A is some constant.
So (, 0) = () implies that it is case of local injection of heat at a point.[3]
1 2 1
If = , we have = , > 0 , < < with initial condition (, 0) = () = ()
2
For infinite domain diffusion problems, as discussed above, solution will be
()2
4
(, ) = () (5)
4
where () = (. 0) is initial function.
So, if, for a fixed , (, ), is denoted by (), then
()2
()2
4
() = () = () 4 (6)
4 4

As for any continuous function (), ()() = (0) ,
()2 2 1 2
2 1
() = () 4 = 4 = ( ) 4 as = .
4 4 4
Thus for fixed time t, the temperature function
1 2
2
() = ( ) 4 (7)
4
This implies () is a Gaussian distribution.
As Gaussian distribution with mean and standard deviation , is defined as
()2
1 2
(, , ) = 22 , the curve () has mean = 0 and variance 2 = . That is, the standard
2
2
deviation for this curve is = . So curves broaden as .[4]

The same discussion can be done for meteorite shooting also.
2) Meteorites are pieces of other bodies in our solar system that make it to the ground when a meteor or "shooting star" flashes
through earths atmosphere at speeds of 15 to 70 kilometers per second (roughly 32,000 to 150,000 miles per hour). The
majority originate from asteroids shattered by impacts with other asteroids. In a few cases they come from the Moon and,
presumably, comets and the planet Mars. Meteorites that are found after a meteoric event has been witnessed are called a
"fall," while those found by chance are called a "find." Meteorites are usually named after a town or a large geographic
landmark closest to the fall or find, collectively termed localities. The word "meteorite" can refer to an individual specimen,
to those collected within a strewn field, or to a specific locality. [5]
From mathematical point of view, a meteorite shooting through the earths atmosphere leaves a trail of electrons and
positive ions per meter, which diffuse away with a diffusion coefficient . [3]
To find electron density per cubic meter at a distance from a point on the meteor trail at a time after the meteor passes
the point, one may imagine the trail of ionization created as diffusing cylindrically as time elapses.[3]
2 2 2 1
The general three dimensional diffusion equation is + + = (8)
2 2 2
Converting to cylindrical co-ordinate system, equation will be
2 1 1 2 2 1
+ + 2 2+ 2= (9)
2

Considering particular value of , and applying circular symmetry, (9) becomes
2 1 1
+ = (10)
2

as = 0 and =0

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 Meteorite Shooting as a Diffusion Problem
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As meteor enters earths atmosphere suddenly, here again situation is of point injection, so solution must be of the form =
2

4where is distance from a point on the meteor trail at a particular time . and are constants, which can be
determined depending upon the differential equation (10) and the situations.
2 2 2
2
As = 4 , = 4 ( ) = 4 ( ) ,
4 2
2 2
4
2 1
= ( )
2 4 2 2 2
2 2 2
2 2
and = ( 4 ( 2) + 4 ( 1 )) = 4 ( 2 + )
4 4
Substituting these expressions in (10), one gets
2 2 2 2 1 1 2
4 ( 2
+ ) = 4 ( 2 2
) + ( 4 ( )
4 4 2 2
2 2 1 1 1
( 2
+ ) = ( 2
) = = 1
4 4 2 2
2
That is = 1 4

The central electron density will be (0, ) = 1 , obtained on substituting = 0 , must be some constant times of , so

1
say (0, ) = where is some constant. No harm, if is selected as = 4 (0, ) = will be central
4
electron density.
2

That is, the solution of (10) is, (, ) = 4 (11)
4
2

For constant , say = 0 (, 0 ) = 40 is function of only and it is Gaussian with variance 20 , that is with
40
standard deviation 20 . So curves broaden as . Larger the value of , broader the curve will be. For a fixed , peak

density, that is central ordinate will be = , for that particular value of . That is the peak density, for family of curves for
4
1
different values of , diminishes as . Larger the value of , smaller the peak density.
While observing such showers, refractive index of air also play vital role. The refractive index of air, denoted by ,
81 1
containing electrons per cubic meter, is given by = (1 )2 ,
2
where denotes frequency of radio waves. [2]
One would be interested to find surface of zero refractive index.
1
2 2
81 1 81 4
As = (1 2 ) =(1 ) ,
2 4 2

2
2 81 4
will be zero if = , that is if = 1.
81 4 2
2 2
2 81 4 81 4 1
= 0 = = 0 if radio frequency = ( )2
4 4
So to find maximum value of at which = 0, one should differentiate
1
2 2 2
81 4 81 4
=(1 ) =0 1 = 0, with respect to , and should equate to zero.
4 2 4 2

2 2
81 4 81 4 2 2 1
Upon differentiating, =1 with respect to , one gets ( + )=0
4 2 4 2 4 4 2
2
81 4 2 2 1 2 1
( 0 + )=0 =0 2 = 4 .
4 2 4 4 2 4 2
This means maximum value of , at which is zero, is = 4.
2
81 4 1
Upon substituting = 4, in = ( )2 , one gets
4
1
81 1 1 81 0.36778 1 29.79018 2 1
= ( )2 = ( )2 = ( ) = 1.53968 ( ) 2
4 4 3.14159 12.56636
1
So maximum radius is obtained if radio frequency is = 1.53968 ( ) 2

2

Upon substituting = 4 , in = 4 , one gets = ,
4 4

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 Meteorite Shooting as a Diffusion Problem
(J4R/ Volume 03 / Issue 01 / 007)

which implies at time = , radius , will be maximum as = 4 = in general.
4
1
2 81 81 2
When = , = and = = 2 = 3.0798
81 4 2

III. CONCLUSION

1) Family of curves for temperature () and electron density (, ) for different constant values of consist of Gaussian
curves, which broaden as . Hence for larger values of , curves become flatter and central ordinate become smaller to
have constant area under the curve for that specific value of .
1
3.0798 2
2) The cylinder of zero refractive index can have maximum radius = .

3) Radius of cylinder of zero refractive index, will shrink to zero, when the central electron density
2 81 6.445
= falls to = = . That is, when = = .
4 81 4 4 2 2
6.445
So after time = , the column of electrons ceases to act as a sharply bounded reflector.
2

REFERENCES
[1] Richard Habberman, Elementary Applied Partial Differential Equations with Fourier series and Boundary value problems, Prentice Hall Inc.
[2] G.F.Roach, Greens functions: Introductory Theory with Applications, Van Nostrand Reinhold Company.
[3] Ronald N. Bracewell, The Fourier Transform and its applications, International edition 2000, McGraw-Hill Education.
[4] Richard A. Johnson, Miller & Freunds Probability and Statistics For Engineers, sixth edition
[5] www.meteorlab.com/METEORLAB2001dev/whatmeteorites.htm

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