Event detection enables differential
equations to be solved differently in different regions, with
boundaries between regions determined dynamically by features of the
solutions obtained. This feature's flexibility is a unique
capability of Mathematica.
Typical applications include:
- Modeling hybrid systems with physical constraints where an event triggers swapping between different regimes
- Solving only until some logical or functional condition is satisfied
- Collecting samples of solutions at particular events, or for Poincaré sections
This animation shows a ball
bouncing down a nonlinear slope. When the ball hits the slope,
NDSolve automatically stops the
computation, resets the conditions for bouncing off, and
restarts.