ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Finite difference time-domain method

Okay kiddo, so you know how we use computers to make cool pictures and play fun games, right? Well, scientists and engineers also use computers to study how waves move through things like air, water, or even our bodies.

One way they do this is with something called the finite difference time-domain method. That's a big name, but it's just a fancy way of saying they break down waves into tiny bits and see how they change over time.

Think of it like a movie. When you watch a movie, you see lots of pictures that change really quickly to make it look like things are moving. The finite difference time-domain method is kind of like that, but instead of pictures, it looks at tiny parts of waves and how they change over time.

Scientists and engineers use this method to study all kinds of things, like how radio waves travel through space or how sound waves bounce off walls. They can even use it to design things like car antennas or medical imaging devices.

So, in short, the finite difference time-domain method is a way for really smart people to use computers to study how waves move through stuff, and it helps them design cool things that we use every day.