Differential Equations

Elementary Applications of Differential

Equations of the First Order
 Student Learning Outcomes
 Obtain the orthogonal trajectory function of a
geometric equation through its first order
differential equation.
 Demonstrate the use of differential equations of
the first order in commonly observed natural
phenomena.
 Illustrate the use of time rate analysis for time-
domain-based differential equations.
 Illustrate the significance of the obtained arbitrary
constant in the plotting of the solution through the
use of the initial value problem.
 Elementary Applications of Differential
Equations of the First Order
1. Orthogonal Trajectories
2. Growth, Decay and Investment
3. Newton’s Law of Cooling
4. Mixture Flow Problems
5. Chemical Reactions
6. Mechanics Problems
7. Electric Circuits
 Orthogonal Trajectories
It is found desirable to know what curves have
the property of intersecting a curve of the
family
f ( x, y , c ) = 0
at right angles whenever they do intersect.
 Orthogonal Trajectories
Procedure:
1. E l i m i n a t e t h e a r b i t r a r y c o n s t a n t b y
differentiating the given equation.
2. Change dy/dx into – dx/dy.
3. Integrate and add arbitrary constant C.
 Examples
Problems:
3
x
1. The cissoids y 2 =
a-x
2. y = C ( sec x + tan x )
3. The trisectrices of Maclaurin ( a + x ) y 2 = x 2 (3 a - x )
 Examples
Answers:
1. ( x + y
2
)
2 2
= C (2x + y
2 2
)
2. y 2 = 2 ( C - sin x )

3. ( x + y
2
)
2 5
= Cy 3 ( 5 x 2 + y 2 )
 Sample Solution
x3 2
1. The cissoids y =
a-x
Isolate a: a = x3 + x ® a = x 3 + xy 2
y2 y2
Derive to eliminate a:
2
( 2 2
)( )
y 3 x + y + 2 xyy ' - x 3 + xy 2 ( 2 yy ')
0= y4
2
( 3 3
Simplify: 3 x y + y dx - 2 x dy = 0)
Change dy
dx ® - dy
dx
( )
: 3 x 2 y + y 3 dy + 2 x 3 dx = 0 ¬ Homogeneous 3rd degree
x = vy, dx = vdy + ydv
(3v y + y ) dy + 2v y (vdy + ydv ) = 0
2 3 3 3 3

( 2v + 3v + 1) dy + 2v ydv = 0
4 2 3
y ( v + 1) = C ( 2 v 2 + 1)
2 2 2

ò + ò 2 v 4 2+v3v 2 +1 dv = ò 0
dy 3

(( ) + 1) = C (2 ( ) + 1)
2 2 2
y 2
y x x
Partial fractions: ò
dy
y +ò 2 vdv
-ò 2 vdv
= ò0
y y
v 2 +1 2 v 2 +1

( x 2 + y 2 ) = C ( 2x 2 + y 2 )
2
ln y + ln v 2 + 1 - 12 ln 2v 2 + 1 = ln C
 Interrupting Reminders
 The applications in the following slides involve closed-form
solutions.
 The arbitrary constant obtained is an initial value of the
dependent variable at zero condition of the independent
variable (IVP).
 Use of proper units must always part of the solution. Any
necessary conversions should be done before solving the
problem. An equation expressed as a final answer should
also exhibit the unit of the dependent variable.
 The use of GRS (Given-Required-Solution) or GFS (Given-
Find-Solution) format is highly-imperative to provide an
organized presentation of solution.
 Growth, Decay and Investment
Mathematical Model
± kt
dP = ± kPdt ® P = P0 e
where
P = population at a given time
t = time
k = constant of proportionality; rate of
growth (+) or decay (-); rate of
continuous compound interest
P0 = initial value of population
 Growth, Decay and Investment
Timeline Analysis

P ( 0) P ( t1 ) P ( t2 ) P ( t3 )

t =0 t1 t2 t3
 Examples
Problems:
1. Compare the final amounts at the end of a year of
$100 invested at 5% in two ways: simple interest and
continuous compound interest.
2. A radioactive substance is known to have a half-life of
78 years. Calculate the number of years it would take
for this substance to decrease to 10% its original
amount.
3. A city has been found to have a population that triples
every four years. If the city’s population is one million
in 2010, how many people were there in 1990?
 Examples
Answers:
1. Final Amounts: Psimple = $105.00; Pcompound =
$105.13.
2. 259.11 years.
3. 4,116 people.
 Sample Solution
2. Given: thalf-life = 78 years
Required: t10%
Solution:
P ( t ) = P0 e - kt
Half-life: P (78 ) = 0.5 P0
0.5P0 = P0 e -78 k
k = - 781 ln 0.5
k = 0.00889
10% remaining: P ( t10% ) = 0.1P0
0.1P0 = P0 e -0.00889 t10%
t10% = - 0.00889
1
ln 0.1
t10% = 259.11 years
 Newton’s Law of Cooling
Mathematical Model
dT = -k (T - Ta ) dt ® T - Ta = Ce - kt

where T = Ta + (T0 - Ta ) e - kt

T = temperature of the object at a given time

t = time
k = constant of proportionality; rate of
cooling
T0 = initial temperature of the object
Ta = surrounding (ambient) temperature
 Newton’s Law of Cooling
Timeline Analysis
T ( 0)
T ( t1 )

T ( t2 ) T ( t3 )
Ta

t =0 t1 t2 t3
 Examples
Problems:
1. A cup of coffee mixed with water at boiling point
temperature is brought to a room at 20°C. After five
minutes, the temperature of coffee drops to half of its
original temperature. Find the time it takes for the cup
of coffee to cool down at
a. 30°C.
b. 15°C.
2. A bucket of ice maintained at a temperature of –10°C
is brought out. After 15 minutes, the temperature of
the bucket becomes 12°C. Calculate the ambient
temperature of the place where k = 0.15.
 Examples
Answers:
1. a. 10.6 minutes; b. Not possible.
2. 14.592 ºC
 Sample Solution
2. Given: T0 = -10°C,
k = 0.15
T (15 min ) = 12°C,
Required: Ta
Solution:
T ( t ) = Ta + (T0 - Ta ) e - kt
12 = Ta + ( -10 - Ta ) e-0.15(15)
-0.15(15)
Ta = 12 +10 e
1- e
-0.15(15)

Ta = 14.592°C
 Mixture Flow Problems
dS in
= Sin rin
dt
Mathematical Model
dSout
dS dSin dSout dt
= Sout rout
= -
dt dt dt Sout =
S
where Vol + rin t - rout t
S = amount of solute at a given time
t = time
Sin = amount of solute input in mass per volume
S(t)
Sout = amount of solute output in mass per volume
Sin rin = rate of input in volume per time
Vol rout = rate of output in volume per time
rin
Sout
Vol = initial volume of tank
rout
 Sample Problem
A tank, that initially contains 100 gal of water
with 5 kg of salt completely dissolved, is to be
filled by a pipe with water carrying 0.5 kg/gal of
salt at a rate of 2 gal/min. The mixture is then
stirred and the solution is being pumped out at
the same rate. Find the function of salt in the
tank at any given time.
 Sample Solution
Given: Vol = 100 gal,
Sin = 0.5 kg/gal, rin = 2 gal/min,
rout = 2 gal/min, S ( 0 ) = 5 kg,
Required: S ( t )
Solution: -t
S ( t ) = 50 - S0 e 50
kg
Sout = S
® S out = S
Vol + rin t - rout t 100
IVP: S ( 0 ) = 5 kg,
dSin dSout
dS
dt = dt - dt 5 = 50 - S 0 e
-
(0)
50
kg ® S0 = 45 kg
dS
dt = 1 - 50S S ( t ) = 50 - 45e
-t
50
kg
50 dS = ( 50 - S ) dt ¬ Variable-separable or Linear 1st order

ò dS
50 - S = ò 50
dt
+ S0
- ln 50 - S = 501 t + S0
 Examples
Problems:
1. A tank that contains 20 gal of water in which 3 kg of salt
has been dissolved completely is to be filled by a hose
with water carrying 0.25 kg/gal of salt at a rate of 4
gal/min. The mixture is then stirred and the solution is
being pumped out at the same rate. Find the function of
salt in the tank at any given time.
2. A container that has 5 L of water with 1 kg salt dissolved is
to be filled by pure water at a rate of 0.5 L/min. The
mixture is kept homogeneous by stirring and the solution
is being pumped out at twice the rate of input. Find the
function of salt in the container at any given time. When
will the remaining salt in the container be a quarter of its
original amount?
 Examples
Answers:
1. Function: S(t) = 5–2e–0.2t kg
2. Function: S(t) = 0.01(10 – t)2 kg; t = 5 mins
 Chemical Reactions
Mathematical Model
dx
= k ( m1 - r1 x )( m2 - r2 x)
dt
where
x = amount of final product in mass units
t = time
m1 = amount of reactant 1 in mass units
m2 = amount of reactant 2 in mass units
r1 = ratio of composition of reactant 1 to final
product
r2 = ratio of composition of reactant 2 to final
product
 Sample Problem
Two substances X and Y are combined to form a product Z. The
formation of the product is proportional to the time the reactants
are combined. The final product is composed of three parts of Y
for every part of X. If initially X is 20 kg and Y is 10 kg, and 2 kg
of the product is formed after 1 hour, find the function of product
formed at any given time.
 Sample Solution
Given: mX = 20 kg, mY = 10 kg,
Z ( 0 ) = 0 kg, Z (1) = 2 kg,
rX = 14 , rY = 34 ,
Required: Z ( t )
Solution:
dZ
dt = k ( 20 - 14 Z ) (10 - 34 Z ) ¬ Variable-separable
16 dZ
(80 - Z )( 40 - 3 Z ) = kdt ¬ Partial fraction expansion
6
25 ò dZ
40 -3 Z - 256 ò 80dZ- Z = ò kdt + Z 0
Z (1) = 2 kg, ® 4080--3(22) = 2e kg
k (1)

- 252 ln 40 - 3Z + 252 ln 80 - Z = kt + Z 0
25 kt
k= 2
25 ln 1
2 ( 80 - 2
40 - 3( 2 ) ) ® k = 0.011
80 - Z
40 - 3 Z = Z0 e 2
kg
IVP: If Z ( 0 ) = 0 kg, then Z 0 = 2 kg.
80 - Z
40 - 3 Z = 2e 0.138kt kg
 Examples
Problems:
1. Two substances A and B are combined to form a product C. The
formation of the product is proportional to the time the reactants
are combined. The final product is composed of two parts of B
for every part of A. If initially A is 30 kg and B is 20 kg, and 5
kg of the product is formed after 30 mins., find the function of
product formed at any given time.
2. Two substances A and B are combined to form a product C. The
formation of the product is proportional to the time the reactants
are combined. The final product is composed of three parts of A
for every part of B. If initially A is 50 lbs and B is 60 lbs, and 10
lbs of the product is formed after 45 mins., find the time it takes
for the reaction to form 25 lbs.
 Examples
Answers:
0.0125t
C - 90
1. C -30 = 3e 3
kg
2. 135 mins.
 Mechanics Problems
Mathematical Models
ds dv d 2s
v= , a= = 2 , ads = vdv ,
dt dt dt
Fspring = ks , Fresultant = Fapplied - Fresistance
where
s = displacement
t = time
v = velocity
a = acceleration
F = force
k = spring constant
 Sample Problem
The baggage truck A shown in the photo has a weight of 900 lb
and tows a 550-lb cart B and a 325-lb cart C. For a short time
the driving frictional force developed at the wheels of the truck
is FA = (40t) lb, where t is in seconds. If the truck starts from
rest, determine its speed in 2 seconds. Also, what is the
horizontal force acting on the coupling between the truck and
cart B at this instant? Neglect the size of the truck and carts.

.
 Sample Solution
Given: WA = 900 lb, WB = 550 lb, WC = 325 lb,
F f = ( 40t ) lb,
Required: v (2 ) , FAB
Solution:
F f = ma
40t = ( 900 +32.2
550 + 325
) a ® a = 0.7256t +
Assuming ¬¾¾ (direction of the truck )
Since a = dv
dt , then dv = 0.7256tdt
Fresult = Fapplied - Fresist
Integrating about the given limits v (0 ) k ® v (2 )
v 2 FAB = mtruck atruck - F f
ò0
dv = ò 0.7256tdt
0 FAB = ( 32.2
900
) (0.7256 ( 2 ) ) - 40 (2 )
v ( 2 ) = 1.45 ft/s
FAB = -39.4 lb ® FAB = 39.4 lb, to the right
 Examples
Problems:
1. A boat is being towed at the rate of 12 mi/hr. At the instant that the
towing line is cast off, a man in the boat begins to row in the direction
of the motion, exerting a force of 20 lbs. If the combined weight of
the man and the boat is 480 lbs and the resistance is equal to 1.75v lbs,
where v is measured to ft/s, find the speed of the boat after half a
minute.
2. A particle travels along a straight line with a velocity v = (12 – 3t2)
m/s, where t is in seconds. When t = 1 s, the particle is located 10 m to
the left of the origin. Determine the acceleration when t = 4 s, the
displacement from t = 0 to t = 10 s, and the distance the particle
travels during this time period.
 Examples
Answers:
1. Final velocity: v(30 s) = 11.61 ft/s
2. Final acceleration: a(4) = –24 m/s2,
displacement: s(0 < t < 10) = –880 m, total
distance: sT = 922 m
 Electric Circuits
First order circuits
Componen Current
Symbol Voltage Drop
t Dissipated
Resistor iR v
R
L di 1
ò
Inductor
dt vdt
L
1
Capacitor
ò idt C dv
C dt
i = dq
¥ ¥

dt
, Energy w = 1
R ò
0
v 2
RL ( t ) dt = R ò0 iRC
2
( t ) dt
Summations
Series: Ohm's Law:
Rtotal = R1 + R2 +  + Rn V = IR
V = voltage or electromotive force
Ltotal = L1 + L2 +  + Ln
I = current or flow rate of charges
Ctotal = 1
C1 + C12 +  + C1n R = resistance
Parallel: Total voltage in a circuit loop:

Rtotal = 1
+ 1
++ 1 åV sources = åVloads
R1 R2 Rn
Total current in a circuit branch connection:
Ltotal = 1
L1 + 1
L2 ++ 1
Ln åI sources = å I loads

Ctotal = C1 + C 2 +  + C n
 Sample Problem
Find i 1 (t), i 2 (t), i 3 (t), and the energies w 1 , w 2
stored in L1, L2 in steady state (t → ∞).
Given: L1 = 5 H, L2 = 20 H,
Find: i1 ( t ) , i2 ( t ) , i3 ( t ) , w1 , w2
in steady state ( t ® ¥ )
Solution: L1 , L2 are short-circuited and
no current through the resistors
i1 ( 0- ) = -8 A, i2 ( 0- ) = -4 A, i3 ( 0- ) = 0

w1 ( 0 -
)= ( 5 H )( 8 A )2
2 = 160 J,w2 ( 0 -
)= ( 20 H )( 4 A ) 2
2 = 160 J,
 Leq
4
t= = = 0.5 s,
Req 8
i ( t ) = I0e - tt
= 12e-2t A
v ( t ) = Ri ( t ) = 96e-2t V
 t t
i1 ( t ) = i1 ( 0 ) + 1
L1 ò v ( t ) dt = -8 + 1
5 ò 96e-2t dt
0 0

= 1.6 - 9.6e -2t A

t t
i2 ( t ) = i2 ( 0 ) + 1
L2 ò v ( t ) dt = -4 + 1
20 ò 96e-2t dt
0 0

= -1.6 - 2.4e -2t A

Since
i1 ( t ) = 1.6 - 9.6e-2t ® 1.6 A,
i2 ( t ) = -1.6 - 2.4e-2t ® -1.6 A,
the two inductors form a closed loop.
The energies stored in the two inductors are
1
w1 ( t ® ¥ ) = ( 5 H )(1.6 A ) = 6.4 J,
2

2
1
w2 ( t ® ¥ ) = ( 20 H )( -1.6 A ) = 25.6 J,
2

2
which is ~10% of the total energy in total.
By current division, i3(t) = 0.6i4Ω(t), while i4Ω(t)
can be calculated by v(t):
 Examples
Problems:
1. A source-free RC circuit has the following values: R = 1
kΩ, and C = 1 μF. If v(0) = 10 V, find v(1 ms), i(1 ms),
and w(1 ms).
2. An RL circuit has the following values: R = 550 ohms, L =
4 henrys, and E0 = 110 volts. If i(0) = 0 in the circuit, when
does the current reach 90% of its limiting value?
3. If the circuit is in dc steady state at t = 0, find v across the
capacitor for t > 0.
t =0

.
 Examples
Answers:
1. 3.68 V, 3.68 mA, 6.8 μJ
2. 16.75 ms
3. 40–15e–2t volts
 Summary
 The orthogonal trajectory function of a geometric
equation has a slope equivalent to the negative
reciprocal of the given equation.
 The use of differential equations of the first order
in commonly observed natural phenomena mostly
involve time-domain analysis.
 The use of time rate analysis shows the changes in
the dependent variable with respect to time.
 The obtained arbitrary constant specifies the
particular solution and becomes the starting point
of the plot of the solution.