Differential Equations

Their Origins
Dillon & Fadyn Spring 2000

In The Beginning
Newton invented differential equations to describe physical laws. Many of the general laws of nature are best expressed as differential equations.

Examples

Newtons Second Law of Motion

The force acting on a body is equal to the rate of change of the momentum of the body.

d (mv) = dt

dv = m dt

Population Growth
The Exponential Model
The rate at which a population grows is directly proportional to the size of the population itself.

dP= dt

kP

Notice
In the exponential model,

the relative growth rate is constant.

dP / dt = k P

Relative Growth Rate

dP / dt P
Absolute Growth Rate

dP dt

Population Growth
The Verhulst Model
The relative growth rate of a population is not a constant, but is a function of the size of the population.

dP / dt = f (P) P

In the Verhulst Model

dP / dt = P

f (P )

dP = dt
f (P )

f (P ) P

The function

can assume various forms leading to different models.

The Logistic Model

A Version of The Verhulst Model

f ( P) = a b P
As the population gets larger, the relative growth rate decreases.

dP / dt = a b P P

dP / dt P

Logistic Model

dP / dt = a b P P
P

a/b of the population.

Relative growth rate as a function

Population Growth The Predator-Prey Model

A nonlinear System of D.E.s Youre all experts on this now, yes?

dx / dt = x ( a by ) dy / dt = y ( c + dx )

Compare Relative Growth Rates

Exponential Logistic Predator-Prey

dP / dt = k P
dP / dt = a b P P
dx / dt x dy / dt y

= a by = c + dx

More Examples

LRC Circuits
C for capacitance
E(t) Electromotive force (battery)

L for inductance

R for resistance

Kirchoffs Law
In words: The sum of the voltage drops across the passive elements in the circuit equals the applied voltage. Passive elements: inductor, resistor, capacitor Applied voltage: what the battery supplies

Voltage Drops?
Across the inductor Across the resistor Across the capacitor

L dI / dt

R I
(1 / C ) Q

Here I is current, Q is the charge on the capacitor.

Special Notes
The current is the same at all points in the simple circuit we have here. The capacitor is the only element with a charge associated to it. The current is the first derivative of the charge on the capacitor.

The Model
A differential equation that describes the relationships in the circuit

E (t ) = L

dI dt

+ RI +
t

1 C

Independent variable Dependent variable

I ,Q

Theres A Problem
Two dependent variables are o.k. for a partial d.e. or for a system. This model should only have one dependent variable. Use

I = dQ / dt

to fix the problem.

Substituting

E (t ) = L
dI dt

dI dt

+ RI +
2

1 C

d 2Q dt

I=

dQ dt

E (t ) = L

d 2Q dt 2

+ R

dQ dt

1 C

The Model for an LRC Circuit

E (t ) = L

d 2Q dt 2

+ R

dQ dt

1 C

Spring-Mass Systems
Imagine a mass m suspended from a spring with a fixed support. Suppose the whole system is in a damping medium, like air, or water, or jello. Suppose further that there is a driving force, f(t), making the mass oscillate.

The Model

f (t ) = m

dx dt 2

+c

dx dt

+ kx

x is the displacement of the mass, measured from the resting position c is a constant depending on the damping medium k is the so-called spring constant (from Hookes Law) t is the independent, x the dependent variable

Compare
LRC Circuit Model

E (t ) = L

d 2Q dt 2

+ R

dQ dt

1 C

Spring-Mass System Model

f (t ) = m

dx 2 2 dt

+c

dx dt

+ kx

One Model
Two entirely different applications

Final Remarks
We still havent solved a differential equation, but now we know what they might be good for.