Chapter-3

Application of First order differential equation

Problem 1:A resistor of 𝑅𝑅 = 10 𝑜𝑜ℎ𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚, an inductor of 𝑙𝑙 = 2 ℎ𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 and a battery of 𝐸𝐸 volts are
connected in series with a switch 𝑆𝑆. At 𝑡𝑡 = 0 the switch is closed and the current 𝐼𝐼 = 0. Find 𝐼𝐼
for 𝑡𝑡 > 0 if (a) 𝐸𝐸 = 40 (b) 𝐸𝐸 = 20𝑒𝑒 −3𝑡𝑡 , (c) 𝐸𝐸 = 50𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠.
Solution: By Kirchhoff’s laws,
Potential drop across 𝑅𝑅+ Potential drop across 𝐿𝐿+ Potential drop across 𝐸𝐸 = 0
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
10 𝐼𝐼 + 2 − 𝐸𝐸 = 0
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝐸𝐸
or, + 5𝐼𝐼 =
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 2

which is liner in 𝐼𝐼.

The integrating factor is I.F.=𝑒𝑒 ∫ 5𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 𝑒𝑒 5𝑡𝑡 , we get
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝐸𝐸
𝑒𝑒 5𝑡𝑡 + 𝑒𝑒 5𝑡𝑡 5𝐼𝐼 = 𝑒𝑒 5𝑡𝑡
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 2
𝑑𝑑 𝐸𝐸
or, (𝑒𝑒 5𝑡𝑡 𝐼𝐼) = 𝑒𝑒 5𝑡𝑡
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 2

Integrating, we get
𝐸𝐸
𝑒𝑒 5𝑡𝑡 𝐼𝐼 = 𝑒𝑒 5𝑡𝑡 + 𝑐𝑐
10
𝐸𝐸
or, 𝐼𝐼 = + 𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑒 −5𝑡𝑡
10

(a) If 𝐸𝐸 = 40, 𝐼𝐼 = 4 + 𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑒 −5𝑡𝑡

Solving this subject to 𝐼𝐼 = 0 at 𝑡𝑡 = 0, we have 𝐼𝐼 = 4(1 − 𝑒𝑒 −5𝑡𝑡 ).
(b) If 𝐸𝐸 = 20𝑒𝑒 −3𝑡𝑡 , 𝐼𝐼 = 5(𝑒𝑒 −3𝑡𝑡 − 𝑒𝑒 −5𝑡𝑡 ).
(c) If 𝐸𝐸 = 50𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠5𝑡𝑡,
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
+ 5𝐼𝐼 = 25 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠5𝑡𝑡
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
𝑑𝑑
or, (𝑒𝑒 5𝑡𝑡 𝐼𝐼) = 25 𝑒𝑒 5𝑡𝑡 sin 5𝑡𝑡,
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
5𝑒𝑒 5𝑡𝑡
Integrating, 𝐼𝐼𝑒𝑒 5𝑡𝑡 = 25 ∫ 𝑒𝑒 5𝑡𝑡 sin 5𝑡𝑡 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = (𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠5𝑡𝑡 − 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐5𝑡𝑡) + 𝑐𝑐
2
5 5 5
Since 𝐼𝐼 = 0 at 𝑡𝑡 = 0, 𝑐𝑐 = and so , 𝐼𝐼 = (𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠5𝑡𝑡 − 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐5𝑡𝑡) + 𝑒𝑒 −5𝑡𝑡 .
2 2 2
1
The term 𝑒𝑒 −5𝑡𝑡 , which approaches zero at 𝑡𝑡 increasing is called the transient current. the
2
5
remaining terms (𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠5𝑡𝑡 − 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐5𝑡𝑡) comprise the steady-state current.
2

1
Problem 2: A body weighing 8 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 falls from rest towards the earth from a great height. As it
falls, air resistance acts upon it, and we shall assume that this resistance is numerically equal to
2𝑣𝑣, where 𝑣𝑣 is the velocity in feet per second. Find the velocity and distance fallen at time 𝑡𝑡
second.
Solution: According to newton’s low of motion for fallen body, the differential equation of the
above problem is
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
𝑚𝑚 = 𝐹𝐹1 + 𝐹𝐹2
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
𝑊𝑊 8 1
where𝑚𝑚 = = = , 𝐹𝐹1 = 8 and 𝐹𝐹2 = −2𝑣𝑣
𝑔𝑔 32 4

Therefore
1 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
= 8 − 2𝑣𝑣 (1)
4 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
Since the body was initially at rest, we have the initial condition 𝑣𝑣(0) = 0.
The equation (1) is variable separable, separating the variables, we have
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
= 4𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
8 − 2𝑣𝑣
Integrating we get
1
− ln(8 − 2𝑣𝑣) = 4𝑡𝑡 + 𝑐𝑐
2
⇒ ln(8 − 2𝑣𝑣) = −8𝑡𝑡 − 2𝑐𝑐
⇒ ln(8 − 2𝑣𝑣) = ln 𝑒𝑒 −8𝑡𝑡 +ln 𝑒𝑒 −2𝑐𝑐 = ln 𝑒𝑒 −2𝑐𝑐 𝑒𝑒 −8𝑡𝑡
⇒ 8 − 2𝑣𝑣 = 𝑒𝑒 −2𝑐𝑐 𝑒𝑒 −8𝑡𝑡
⇒ 8 − 2𝑣𝑣 = 𝐶𝐶𝑒𝑒 −8𝑡𝑡
Appling initial condition we have
8 − 0 = 𝐶𝐶. 1 ⇒ C = 1
∴ 8 − 2𝑣𝑣 = 8𝑒𝑒 −8𝑡𝑡
⇒ 𝑣𝑣 = 4(1 − 𝑒𝑒 −8𝑡𝑡
Which is the velocity at any time 𝑡𝑡.
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
= 4(1 − 𝑒𝑒 −8𝑡𝑡 )
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
Integrating then we obtained
1
𝑥𝑥 = 4 �𝑡𝑡 + 𝑒𝑒 −8𝑡𝑡 � + 𝑎𝑎
8
Using initial condition 𝑥𝑥(0) = 0 we get
2
 1 1
0 = 4 �0 + � + 𝑎𝑎 ⇒ a = −
8 2
1 1
∴ 𝑥𝑥 = 4 �𝑡𝑡 + 𝑒𝑒 −8𝑡𝑡 � −
8 2
Which is the fallen distance at time 𝑡𝑡.

Problem 3: A body of temperature 80℉ is placed in a room of constant temperature 50℉ at

time 𝑡𝑡 = 0; and at the end of 5 minutes, the body has cooled to a temperature of 70℉ .
Determine the temperature of the body as a function of time for 𝑡𝑡 > 0according to newton’s law
of cooling.In particular answer the following questions;
1. What is the temperature of the body at the end of 10 minutes?
2. When will the temperature of the body be 60℉ ?
3. After how many minutes will the temperature of the body be within 1℉ of the constant 50℉
temperature of the room?
Solution: Let 𝑥𝑥 be the Fahrenheit temperature of the body at time 𝑡𝑡. By newton’s law of cooling
we have the differential equation
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
= 𝑘𝑘(𝑥𝑥 − 50) (1)
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
with initial condition 𝑥𝑥(0) = 80 and 70℉ temperature at the end of 5 minutes gives the
additional condition 𝑥𝑥(5) = 70.
The equation (1) is variable separable, separating the variables, we have
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
= 𝑘𝑘𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
𝑥𝑥 − 50
Integrating, we find
ln(𝑥𝑥 − 50) = 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 + ln 𝑐𝑐
⇒ 𝑥𝑥 − 50 = 𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑒 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
⇒ 𝑥𝑥 = 50 + 𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑒 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
Appling initial condition 𝑥𝑥(0) = 80we have
80 = 50 + 𝑐𝑐 ⇒ c = 30
∴ 𝑥𝑥 = 50 + 30𝑒𝑒 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
Now applying additional condition 𝑥𝑥(5) = 70 we have
70 = 50 + 30𝑒𝑒 5𝑘𝑘
1
2 2 5
⇒ 𝑒𝑒 5𝑘𝑘 = ⇒ 𝑒𝑒 𝑘𝑘 = � �
3 3
3
 𝑡𝑡
2 5
∴ 𝑥𝑥 = 50 + 30 � �
3
Which is the temperature at any time 𝑡𝑡.
After 𝑡𝑡 = 10 minutes the temperature will
2 2
𝑥𝑥(10) = 50 + 30 � � = 63.33℉
3
The temperature will 60℉ after
𝑡𝑡
2 5
60 = 50 + 30 � �
3
𝑡𝑡 1
1 2 5 1 𝑡𝑡 2 ln3
⇒ = � � ⇒ ln = ln � � ⇒ t = 5 2 = 13.55 (minutes)
3 3 3 5 3 ln�3�

The temperature will 51℉ for 1℉ difference of the room temperature after
𝑡𝑡
2 5
51 = 50 + 30 � �
3
𝑡𝑡 1
1 2 5 1 𝑡𝑡 2 ln30
⇒ = � � ⇒ ln = ln � � ⇒ t = 5 2 = 41.94 (minutes)
30 3 30 5 3 ln�3�

So in approximately 42 minutes the temperature of the body will be within 1℉ of the room.

𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 1 1
Problem 4: The population𝑥𝑥 of a certain city satisfies the logistic law = 𝑥𝑥 − 𝑥𝑥 2 where
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 100 108

time 𝑡𝑡 is measured in years. Given that the population of this city is 100000 in 1980, determine
the population as a function of time for 𝑡𝑡 > 1980. In particular answer the following questions;
a. What will be the population in 2000?
b. In what year does the 1980 population double ?
c. How large will the population ultimately be?
Solution: We must solve the equation
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 1 1
= 𝑥𝑥 − 8 𝑥𝑥 2 (1)
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 100 10
with initial condition 𝑥𝑥(1980). The equation (1) is variable separable, separating the variables,
we have
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
= 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
10−2 𝑥𝑥
− 10−8 𝑥𝑥 2
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
⇒ −2 = 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
10 𝑥𝑥(1 − 10−6 𝑥𝑥)

4
Using partial fractions, this becomes
1 10−6
100[ + ]𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
𝑥𝑥 1 − 10−6 𝑥𝑥
Integrating, we find
𝑥𝑥 1
ln −6
= 𝑡𝑡 + ln 𝑐𝑐
1 − 10 𝑥𝑥 100
𝑥𝑥 𝑡𝑡
⇒ = 𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑒 100
1 − 10−6 𝑥𝑥
𝑡𝑡 𝑡𝑡
⇒ 𝑥𝑥 = 𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑒 100 − 10−6 𝑥𝑥 𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑒 100
𝑡𝑡 𝑡𝑡
⇒ 𝑥𝑥(1 + 10−6 𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑒 100 ) = 𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑒 100
𝑡𝑡
𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑒 100
⇒ 𝑥𝑥 = 𝑡𝑡
1 + 10−6 𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑒 100
Appling initial condition 𝑥𝑥(1980) = 100000 we have
𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑒19.8 105 106
100000 = ⇒ c = =
1 + 10−6 𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑒19.8 𝑒𝑒19.8 [1 − 105 10−6 ] 9𝑒𝑒19.8
106
∴ 𝑥𝑥 = 𝑡𝑡 (2)
1 + 9𝑒𝑒19.8−100
Which is the population at any time 𝑡𝑡 > 1980.
a) Let𝑡𝑡 = 2000in equation (2)and obtain
106
𝑥𝑥 = ≈ 119495
1 + 9𝑒𝑒 −0.2
b) For double population 𝑥𝑥 = 200000
106
∴ 200000 = 𝑡𝑡
1 + 9𝑒𝑒19.8−100
5
106
⇒ 2(10) = 𝑡𝑡
1 + 9𝑒𝑒19.8−100
10
⇒2= 𝑡𝑡
1 + 9𝑒𝑒19.8−100
2 1
⇒ = 𝑡𝑡
10 1 + 9𝑒𝑒19.8−100

From which
𝑡𝑡 4
𝑒𝑒19.8−100 = ⇒ t ≈ 2061
9
c) As 𝑡𝑡 → ∞ we find
5
 106 106
𝑥𝑥 = lim ∞ = = 106 = 1000000
𝑡𝑡→∞
1 + 9𝑒𝑒19.8−100 1 + 9𝑒𝑒 −∞

Problem 5: A tank initially contains 50 gal of pure water. Starting at time 𝑡𝑡 = 0 a brine
containing 2 lb of dissolved salt per gallon flows into the tank at the rate of 3 gal/min. The
mixture is kept uniformly by stirring and the well-stirred mixture simultaneously flows out of the
tank at the same rate.
a. How much salt is in the tank at any time 𝑡𝑡 > 0?
b. How much salt is present at the end of 25 min?
c. How much salt is present after a long time?
Solution: Let 𝑥𝑥 denote the amount of salt in the tank at time 𝑡𝑡. We apply the mixture equation
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
= IN − OUT (1)
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
with initial condition 𝑥𝑥(1980). The equation (1) is variable separable, separating the variables,
we have
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
= 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
10−2 𝑥𝑥
− 10−8 𝑥𝑥 2
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
⇒ −2 = 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
10 𝑥𝑥(1 − 10−6 𝑥𝑥)
Using partial fractions, this becomes
1 10−6
100[ + ]𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 𝑑𝑑𝑡𝑡
𝑥𝑥 1 − 10−6 𝑥𝑥
Integrating, we find
𝑥𝑥 1
ln −6
= 𝑡𝑡 + ln 𝑐𝑐
1 − 10 𝑥𝑥 100
𝑥𝑥 𝑡𝑡
⇒ = 𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑒 100
1 − 10−6 𝑥𝑥
𝑡𝑡 𝑡𝑡
⇒ 𝑥𝑥 = 𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑒 100 − 10−6 𝑥𝑥 𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑒 100
𝑡𝑡 𝑡𝑡
⇒ 𝑥𝑥(1 + 10−6 𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑒 100 ) = 𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑒 100
𝑡𝑡
𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑒 100
⇒ 𝑥𝑥 = 𝑡𝑡
1 + 10−6 𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑒 100
Appling initial condition 𝑥𝑥(1980) = 100000 we have
𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑒19.8 105 106
100000 = ⇒ c = =
1 + 10−6 𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑒19.8 𝑒𝑒19.8 [1 − 105 10−6 ] 9𝑒𝑒19.8
6
 106
∴ 𝑥𝑥 = 𝑡𝑡 (2)
19.8−100
1 + 9𝑒𝑒
Which is the population at any time 𝑡𝑡 > 1980.
a) Let 𝑡𝑡 = 2000 in equation (2) and obtain
106
𝑥𝑥 = ≈ 119495
1 + 9𝑒𝑒 −0.2
b) For double population 𝑥𝑥 = 200000
106
∴ 200000 = 𝑡𝑡
1 + 9𝑒𝑒19.8−100
106
⇒ 2(10)5 = 𝑡𝑡
1 + 9𝑒𝑒19.8−100
10
⇒2= 𝑡𝑡
1 + 9𝑒𝑒19.8−100
2 1
⇒ = 𝑡𝑡
10 1 + 9𝑒𝑒19.8−100

From which
𝑡𝑡 4
𝑒𝑒19.8−100 = ⇒ t ≈ 2061
9
c) As 𝑡𝑡 → ∞ we find
106 106
𝑥𝑥 = lim ∞ = = 106 = 1000000
𝑡𝑡→∞
1 + 9𝑒𝑒19.8−100 1 + 9𝑒𝑒 −∞