Point sources represent a useful mathematical abstraction in the analysis of many engineering situations. How energy, momentum, or field strength behaves in the presence of a point source is a...

Point sources represent a useful mathematical abstraction in the analysis of many engineering situations. How energy, momentum, or field strength behaves in the presence of a point source is a fundamental building block. Here we will determine the temperature field associated with a point heat source of strength, Qo (W) and extend it to other systems. The simplest way of calculating the potential is to surround the point source with a hypothetical sphere of radius, r, as shown in Figure 2.9, calculate the heat flow, and then use Fourier’s Law of Conduction to determine the potential.