ES 81 Math Methods in Engineering 1

(Differential Equations)

Lecture 3 Applications of First Order ODEs

First-order ODE Applications
 Growth and Decay Problems

 Temperature Problems

 Falling Body Problems

 Dilution Problems

 Electrical Circuits

 Orthogonal Trajectories
First-order ODE Applications
 Growth and Decay Problems

 Temperature Problems

 Falling Body Problems

 Dilution Problems

 Electrical Circuits

 Orthogonal Trajectories
Growth & Decay
Let N  t  denote the amount of substance (or population) that is either
growing or decaying.

dN  t 
Assume  N t  such that
dt
dN
 kN
dt
dN
 kN  0
dt

where k  constant of proportionality.

Growth & Decay EXAMPLE 1
A bacteria culture is known to grow at a rate proportional to the amount present.
After one hour, 1000 strands of the bacteria are observed in the culture; and after
four hours, 3000 strands. Find
(a) An expression for the approximate number of strands of the bacteria present in
the culture at any time t and
(b) the approximate number of strands of the bacteria originally in the culture.
Growth & Decay EXAMPLE 1
A bacteria culture is known to grow at a rate proportional to the amount present.
After one hour, 1000 strands of the bacteria are observed in the culture; and after
four hours, 3000 strands. Find
(a) An expression for the approximate number of strands of the bacteria present in
the culture at any time t and
(b) the approximate number of strands of the bacteria originally in the culture.

Solution:

Let N  t  denote the number of bacteria strands in the culture at time t.

dN  t  dN dN
Since  N t  such that  kN  0,  kN variable-separable
dt dt dt
dN
 kdt
N
ln N  kt  C
N  ce kt
Growth & Decay EXAMPLE 1
A bacteria culture is known to grow at a rate proportional to the amount present.
After one hour, 1000 strands of the bacteria are observed in the culture; and after
four hours, 3000 strands. Find
(a) An expression for the approximate number of strands of the bacteria present in
the culture at any time t and
(b) the approximate number of strands of the bacteria originally in the culture.

Solution:

Let N  t  denote the number of bacteria strands in the culture at time t.

N  ce kt 1
k  ln 3  0.366
At t  1 hr, N1  1000. 3

1000  ce k c  1000e 0.366  694

At t  4 hr, N 4  3000.
 The number of bacteria strands in the culture at time t is
3000  ce 4k

N  694e0.366 t
Growth & Decay EXAMPLE 1
A bacteria culture is known to grow at a rate proportional to the amount present.
After one hour, 1000 strands of the bacteria are observed in the culture; and after
four hours, 3000 strands. Find
(a) An expression for the approximate number of strands of the bacteria present in
the culture at any time t and
(b) the approximate number of strands of the bacteria originally in the culture.

Solution:

 The number of bacteria strands in the culture at time t is

N  694e0.366 t

 The number of bacteria strands in the culture at time t  0 is

N o  694e0.366 0
 694.
Growth & Decay EXAMPLE 2
A certain radioactive material is known to decay at a rate proportional to the amount
present. If initially there is 50 mg of the material present and after two hours it is
observed that the material has lost 10% of its original mass, find
(a) An expression for the mass of the material remaining at any time t and
(b) the mass of the material after 4 hours;
(c) The time at which the material has decayed to one-half of its initial mass.

Solution:

Let N  t  denote the mass of the radioactive material at time t.

dN  t  dN dN
Since  N t  such that  kN  0,  kN variable-separable
dt dt dt
dN
 kdt
N
ln N  kt  C
N  ce kt
Growth & Decay EXAMPLE 2
A certain radioactive material is known to decay at a rate proportional to the amount
present. If initially there is 50 mg of the material present and after two hours it is
observed that the material has lost 10% of its original mass, find
(a) An expression for the mass of the material remaining at any time t and
(b) the mass of the material after 4 hours;
(c) The time at which the material has decayed to one-half of its initial mass.

Solution:

Let N  t  denote the mass of the radioactive material at time t.

N  ce kt
At t  0, N 0  50mg
 The mass of material at any time t is
50  ce  c  50.
0

At t  2 hr, N 2  90% of N o . N  50e 0.053t

0.9  50   50e2 k
k  0.5ln  45 50   0.053
Growth & Decay EXAMPLE 2
A certain radioactive material is known to decay at a rate proportional to the amount
present. If initially there is 50 mg of the material present and after two hours it is
observed that the material has lost 10% of its original mass, find
(a) An expression for the mass of the material remaining at any time t and
(b) the mass of the material after 4 hours;
(c) The time at which the material has decayed to one-half of its initial mass.

Solution:

 The mass of material at any time t is N  50e 0.053t

0.053 4 
N 4  50e
 b  At t  4,  50  0.0809 
 40.5mg

 c  At t  ? , N  50% of N o .
0.5  50   50e0.053t  0.053t  ln  0.5   t  13hours
 The half  life of this radioactive material is 13 hours.
Growth & Decay EXERCISE 1
The population of a certain city is known to increase at a rate proportional to the
number of people presently living in the city. If after two years, the population has
doubled, and after three years the population is 20,000, estimate the number of
people initially living in the city.

Ans:
c  No
k  0.347
N o  7062.
First-order ODE Applications
 Growth and Decay Problems

 Temperature Problems

 Falling Body Problems

 Dilution Problems

 Electrical Circuits

 Orthogonal Trajectories
Temperature
Newton's Law of Cooling (or Heating) :
The time rate of change of the temperature of a body is proportional
to the temperature difference between the body and its surrounding
medium.

Let T  temperature of the body

Ta  temperature of the surrounding medium

dT
 k T  Tm 
dt
dT
 kT  kTm
dt

where k  positive constant of proportionality.

 Temperature EXAMPLE 1
A metal bar at a temperature of 100F is placed in a room at a constant temperature of
0F. If after 20 minutes the temperature of the bar is 50F, find  a  the time it will take
the bar to reach a temperature of 25F and  b  the temperature of the bar after 10 min.

Solution:
Let T  temperature of the bar at any time t; Ta  temperature of surrounding medium
From Newton's Law of Cooling,
dT
 k T  Tm 
dt
Since it is given that Ta  0,
dT
 kT  T  ce kt T  100e 0.035t
dt

Initially  at t  0  , T  100 F . 100  ce  k  0  c  100

At t  20 min, T  50 F .
50  100e k  20  k   1 20  ln 0.5  0.035.
 Temperature EXAMPLE 1
A metal bar at a temperature of 100F is placed in a room at a constant temperature of
0F. If after 20 minutes the temperature of the bar is 50F, find  a  the time it will take
the bar to reach a temperature of 25F and  b  the temperature of the bar after 10 min.

Solution:

T  100e 0.035t

 a  At t  ?, T  25 F .

25  100e0.035t  0.035t  ln  0.25   t  39.6 min

T  100e0.03510
 b  At t  10,  100  0.705 
 70.5 F
Temperature EXERCISE 1
A body at an unknown temperature is placed in a room which is held at constant
temperature of 30F. If after 10 minutes the temperature of the body is 0F and after
20 minutes the temperature of the body is 15F, find the initial unknown temperature.

Ans:

k  0.069
c  60
To  30 F
First-order ODE Applications
 Growth and Decay Problems

 Temperature Problems

 Falling Body Problems

 Dilution Problems

 Electrical Circuits

 Orthogonal Trajectories
Falling Bodies
Newton's Second Law of Motion :
The net force acting on a body is equal to the time rate of change
of the momentum of the body; or, for constant mass,
dv
F m
dt

where F is the net force on the

body and v is the velocity of
the body, both at time t .
Falling Bodies
Assumptions :
Two forces acting on the body:
 Air resistance, - kv  v
1 force due to gravity given by the  Gravity, g and mass, m are constant
weight w of the body  Positive direction downward
w  mg
 2  force due to air resistance given by
 kv where k  0.
The net force on the body, F , is
dv
W  kv  m
dt
dv k
 vg
dt m
Falling Bodies
1 if air resistance is negligible or nonexistent,
then k  0,
dv
g
dt
 2  when k  0, the limiting velocity vl
is defined by
mg
vl 
k

Assumptions :
 Air resistance, - kv  v
 Gravity, g and mass, m are constant
 Positive direction downward
Falling Body Problems EXAMPLE 1
A body of mass 5 slugs is dropped from a height of 100 ft with zero velocity. Assuming
no air resistance, find  a  an expression for the velocity of the body at any time t ,
 b  an expression for the position of the body at any time t, and  c  the time required
for the body to reach the ground.
Falling Body Problems EXAMPLE 1
A body of mass 5 slugs is dropped from a height of 100 ft with zero velocity. Assuming
no air resistance, find  a  an expression for the velocity of the body at any time t ,
 b  an expression for the position of the body at any time t, and  c  the time required
for the body to reach the ground.
Solution:
Refer to the figure. Assume positive direction is downwards.
Since there is no air resistance,

dv
g
 dv   gdt
dt v  gt  c

Since there is no initial velocity, 0  g  0   c  c  0

v  gt
Assume g  32 ft sec2

 a  v  32t
Falling Body Problems EXAMPLE 1
A body of mass 5 slugs is dropped from a height of 100 ft with zero velocity. Assuming
no air resistance, find  a  an expression for the velocity of the body at any time t ,
 b  an expression for the position of the body at any time t, and  c  the time required
for the body to reach the ground.
Solution:
Since velocity is the time rate of displacement,

dx dx
v   32t
dt dt
 dx   32tdt
x  16t 2  c1

Since there is no initial displacement, 0  16  0   c1  c1  0

2

 b  x  16t 2
Falling Body Problems EXAMPLE 1
A body of mass 5 slugs is dropped from a height of 100 ft with zero velocity. Assuming
no air resistance, find  a  an expression for the velocity of the body at any time t ,
 b  an expression for the position of the body at any time t, and  c  the time required
for the body to reach the ground.
Solution:
From figure, the ground is at x  100 ft.

x
x  16t 2  t 
16

c t
100
16
 2.5sec
Falling Body Problems EXAMPLE 2
A steel ball weighing 2 lbs is dropped from a height of 3000 ft with no velocity. As it falls,
the ball encounters air resistance numerically equal to v 8  in lbs  , where v denotes the
velocity of the ball  in ft sec  . Find  a  the limiting velocity for the ball and  b  the
time required for the ball to hit the ground.
Falling Body Problems EXAMPLE 2
A steel ball weighing 2 lbs is dropped from a height of 3000 ft with no velocity. As it falls,
the ball encounters air resistance numerically equal to v 8  in lbs  , where v denotes the
velocity of the ball  in ft sec  . Find  a  the limiting velocity for the ball and  b  the
time required for the ball to hit the ground.

Solution: From given, W  2lbs  mg

W 2lbs 1
m   slugs
g 32 ft sec 16

Air resistance kv  v 8  k  1 8

dv
W  kv  m
dt
v 1 dv
2  dv
8 16 dt  2v  32
x  3000 ft dt
dv
32  2v  v  ce 2t  16
dt
Falling Body Problems EXAMPLE 2
A steel ball weighing 2 lbs is dropped from a height of 3000 ft with no velocity. As it falls,
the ball encounters air resistance numerically equal to v 8  in lbs  , where v denotes the
velocity of the ball  in ft sec  . Find  a  the limiting velocity for the ball and  b  the
time required for the ball to hit the ground.

Solution:
At t  0, v  0.
v  ce2t  16
0  c  16  c  16
v  16  16e 2t

When t  , v  16.
The limiting velocity is
x  3000 ft a vl  16 ft sec
Falling Body Problems EXAMPLE 2
A steel ball weighing 2 lbs is dropped from a height of 3000 ft with no velocity. As it falls,
the ball encounters air resistance numerically equal to v 8  in lbs  , where v denotes the
velocity of the ball  in ft sec  . Find  a  the limiting velocity for the ball and  b  the
time required for the ball to hit the ground.

Solution:
Note that v  dx dt , dx
 16  16e 2t
dt
dx  16dt  16e 2t dt
x  16t  8e 2t  c
When t  0, x  0
x  00c  c  0
x  16t  8e 2t
x  3000 ft When x  3000 ft
3000  16t  8e 2t
First-order ODE Applications
 Growth and Decay Problems

 Temperature Problems

 Falling Body Problems

 Dilution Problems

 Electrical Circuits

 Orthogonal Trajectories
Dilution/ Mixing

Consider a tank which initially holds

V0 gallons of brine that contains a lb
of salt.
Another brine solution, containing b lb
of salt per gallon is poured into the
tank at the rate of e gal min while,
simultaneously, the well-stirred solution
leaves the tank at the rate of f gal min .
Find the amount of salt in the tank at any
time t.
Dilution/ Mixing

Let Q be the amount  in lb  of salt in tank at any time t.

dQ
The time rate of change of Q, , equals
dt
the rate at which salt enters the tank
minus the rate at which salt leaves the tank .
Rate at which salt enters the tank  be lb/min
To determine the rate at which salt leaves the tank :
1 Volume of brine in the tank at any time t :
initial volume + volume of brine added - volume of brine removed
Volume of brine at any time t  V0  et  ft
 2  Concentration of brine in the tank at any time t :
Q  in lbs  Q lbs

Volume of brine at any time t  in gal  V0  et  ft gal
Dilution/ Mixing

Let Q gallons amount  in lb  of salt in tank at any time t.

dQ
The time rate of change of Q, , equals
dt
the rate at which salt enters the tank
minus the rate at which salt leaves the tank .
Rate at which salt enters the tank  be lb/min

gal Q lbs
 3 Rate at which salt leaves the tank = f 
min V0  et  ft gal
Q l bs
 f
V0  et  ft min
Dilution/ Mixing

Let Q gallons amount  in lb  of salt in tank at any time t.

dQ
The time rate of change of Q, , equals
dt
the rate at which salt enters the tank
minus the rate at which salt leaves the tank .

dQ fQ lbs
= be -
dt V0  et  ft min

where
dQ fQ
  be f  rate at which solution leaves the tank
dt V0  et  ft
V0 = initial volume
et  volume of brine added
ft  volume of brine removed
be = Rate at which salt enters the tank
Dilution Problems EXAMPLE 1
A tank initially holds 100 gal of a brine solution containing 20 lb of salt. At t  0, fresh
water is poured into the tank at the rate of 5 gal min , while the well-stirred mixture leaves
the tank at the same rate. Find the amount of salt in the tank at any time t.
 Dilution Problems EXAMPLE 1
A tank initially holds 100 gal of a brine solution containing 20 lb of salt. At t  0, fresh
water is poured into the tank at the rate of 5 gal min , while the well-stirred mixture leaves
the tank at the same rate. Find the amount of salt in the tank at any time t.
Solution:
dQ fQ
From the given,   be
dt V0  et  ft
a  initial amount of salt  20 lb
b  amount of salt in the added solution = 0  fresh water 
e  rate at which solution enters the tank = 5 gal min dQ 5Q
 0
dt 100
f  rate at which solution leaves the tank = 5 gal min
dQ 1
V0 = initial volume = 100 gal  Q0
dt 20
dQ dt
At t  0, Q  20lb  20  c  Q  20
 

ln Q  0.05t  c
 Q  20e0.05t
Q  ce 0.05t
 Dilution Problems EXAMPLE 2
A tank initially holds 100 gal of a brine solution containing 1 lb of salt. At t  0, another
brine solution containing 1 lb of salt per gal is poured into the tank at the rate of 3 gal min ,
while the well-stirred mixture leaves the tank at the same rate. Find  a  the amount of salt in
the tank at any time t and  b  the time at which the mixture in the tank contains 2 lbs of salt.
 Dilution Problems EXAMPLE 2
A tank initially holds 100 gal of a brine solution containing 1 lb of salt. At t  0, another
brine solution containing 1 lb of salt per gal is poured into the tank at the rate of 3 gal min ,
while the well-stirred mixture leaves the tank at the same rate. Find  a  the amount of salt in
the tank at any time t and  b  the time at which the mixture in the tank contains 2 lbs of salt.

Solution: dQ fQ
  be
From the given, dt V0  et  ft
a  initial amount of salt  1 lb
dQ 3Q
 3
b  amount of salt in the added solution = 1lb gal dt 100
e  rate at which solution enters the tank = 3 gal min dQ
 0.03Q  3
dt
f  rate at which solution leaves the tank = 3 gal min Linear with p  0.03, q  3.
V0 = initial volume = 100 gal u  exp   pdt   e 0.03t

Qu   qudt
At t  0, Q  1lb  1  100  c  c  99 Qe0.03t   3e0.03t  c

a Q  100  99e 0.03t Qe0.03t 

3 0.03t
e c
Q  100  ce 0.03t 0.03
Qe0.03t  100e0.03t  c
 Dilution Problems EXAMPLE 2
A tank initially holds 100 gal of a brine solution containing 1 lb of salt. At t  0, another
brine solution containing 1 lb of salt per gal is poured into the tank at the rate of 3 gal min ,
while the well-stirred mixture leaves the tank at the same rate. Find  a  the amount of salt in
the tank at any time t and  b  the time at which the mixture in the tank contains 2 lbs of salt.

Solution:

From  a  , Q  100  99e 0.03t

t  ? when Q  2lbs
2  100  99e 0.03t
e 0.03t   2  100  99
t  ln 0.9899 0.03
 b  t  0.3384 min
First-order ODE Applications
 Growth and Decay Problems

 Temperature Problems

 Falling Body Problems

 Dilution Problems

 Electrical Circuits

 Orthogonal Trajectories
Basic RL/RC Circuits
For a basic RL circuit, E  VL  VR
di
EL  iR
dt
di R E
 i
dt L L

For a basic RC circuit,

dq q
R  E
dt C
dq q E
 
dt RC R C
dq
where i 
dt
RL/RC Circuits EXAMPLE 1
An RL circuit has an emf of 5 volts, a resistance of 50 ohms, an inductance of 1 henry, and
no initial current. Find the current in the circuit at any time t.
RL/RC Circuits EXAMPLE 1
An RL circuit has an emf of 5 volts, a resistance of 50 ohms, an inductance of 1 henry, and
no initial current. Find the current in the circuit at any time t.
Solution:
di R E
 i
dt L L
di
 50i  5  DE is linear with p  50, q  5.
dt
u  exp   pdt 
 exp   50dt 
 e50t At t  0, i  0  no initial current 

I  u   u  qdt  c 0  0.1  c  c  0.1

5
Ie   5e dt  c  e50t  c
50 t 50 t I  0.1  0.1e 50t
50
I  0.1  ce 50t
RL/RC Circuits EXAMPLE 2
An RC circuit has an emf given  in volts  by 400 cos 2t , a resistance of 100 ohms,
a capacitance of 102 farad. Initally there is no charge on the capactor. Find the
current in the circuit at any time t.
 RL/RC Circuits EXAMPLE 2
An RC circuit has an emf given  in volts  by 400 cos 2t , a resistance of 100 ohms,
a capacitance of 102 farad. Initally there is no charge on the capactor. Find the
current in the circuit at any time t.
Solution: dq q E dq q 400 cos 2t
    
dt RC R dt 100  0.01 100
dq
  q  4 cos 2t  DE is linear with
dt
P  1, Q  4 cos 2t.
u  exp   dt   e t

C
q  u   u  Qdt  c

qet   et  4 cos 2tdt  c

q  ce  t  1.6sin 2t  0.8cos 2t
At t  0, q  0  no initial charge 
q  1.6sin 2t  0.8cos 2t  0.8e  t
0  c  4 5  c  0.8
RL/RC Circuits EXAMPLE 2
An RC circuit has an emf given  in volts  by 400 cos 2t , a resistance of 100 ohms,
a capacitance of 102 farad. Initally there is no charge on the capactor. Find the
current in the circuit at any time t.
Solution:
q  1.6sin 2t  0.8cos 2t  0.8e  t

dq
Since i 
dt
i  1.6  2  cos 2t  0.8  2  sin 2t  0.8e  t
i  3.2 cos 2t  1.6sin 2t  0.8e  t
C
First-order ODE Applications
 Growth and Decay Problems

 Temperature Problems

 Falling Body Problems

 Dilution Problems

 Electrical Circuits

 Orthogonal Trajectories
Orthogonal Trajectories
Consider a one-parameter family of curves in the xy  plane defined by

F  x, y , c   0
where c denotes a parameter.

The problem is to find another one-parameter family of curves, called orthogonal

trajectories of the family given analytically by

G  x, y , k   0

such that every curve in G is perpendicular to every curve in F .

Orthogonal Trajectories
First, implicitly differentiate F wrt x & eliminate c using the original equation such
that
dy
 f  x, y 
dx

The orthogonal trajectories are the solutions of

dy 1

dx f  x, y 
Orthogonal Trajectories EXAMPLE 1
Find the orthogonal trajectories of the family of curves x 2  y 2  cx.
Orthogonal Trajectories EXAMPLE 1
Find the orthogonal trajectories of the family of curves x 2  y 2  cx.

Solution:
dy
2x  2 y c
F  x, y, c   x 2  y 2  cx  0
dx
dy x 2  y 2 x
 
Differentiating F implicitly with respect to x dx 2 yx y
dy x 2  y 2  2 x 2
2 xdx  2 ydy  c  0 
dx 2 yx
dy
2x  2 y c 1 dy y 2  x 2
dx 
dx 2 xy
Eliminating c using 1 and F  x, y, c  ,
 For the orthogonal trajectories
dy
2x  2 y c dy 2 xy
dx  2
dx y  x 2
dy x 2  y 2
2x  2 y  x 2  y 2  ky
dx x