Engineering Mathematics I Lecture 12: Applications Prof. Dr.

Emad Al-Hemiary
Second Year, First Semester
2022-2023

Modeling and Application of ODE

Vibrations
An object of mass 𝑚 is suspended from the spring and stretches it a
length 𝑠 when the spring comes to rest in an equilibrium position.
According to Hooke’s law:
• the tension force in the spring is 𝑘𝑠 (𝑘 is the spring constant)
• The force due to gravity pulling down on the spring is 𝑚𝑔
and equilibrium requires that:
𝑘𝑠 = 𝑚𝑔 (1)
Suppose that the object is pulled down an additional amount 𝑦0 beyond
the equilibrium position and then released. We want to study the
object’s motion, that is, the vertical position of its center of mass at any
future time.
Let 𝑦, with positive direction downward, denote the displacement
position of the object away from the equilibrium position 𝑦 = 0 at any
time 𝑡 after the motion has started. Then the forces acting on the object
are:
𝐹𝑝 = 𝑚𝑔, the propulsion force due to gravity

𝐹𝑠 = 𝑘(𝑠 + 𝑦), the restoring force of the spring’s tension

𝑑𝑦
𝐹𝑟 = 𝛿 𝑑𝑡 a frictional force assumed proportional to velocity.

The frictional force tends to retard the motion of the object. The resultant of these forces is:
𝐹 = 𝐹𝑝 − 𝐹𝑠 − 𝐹𝑟

and by Newton’s second law: 𝐹 = 𝑚𝑎 (𝑎 is the acceleration):

𝑑2𝑦 𝑑𝑦
𝑚 2
= 𝑚𝑔 − 𝑘𝑠 − 𝑘𝑦 − 𝛿
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
Since, 𝑚𝑔 − 𝑘𝑠 = 0, then:

𝑑2 𝑦 𝑑𝑦
𝑚 2 +𝛿 + 𝑘𝑦 = 0 (2)
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
subject to the initial conditions 𝑦(0) = 𝑦0 , 𝑦 ′ (0) = 0

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 Engineering Mathematics I Lecture 12: Applications Prof. Dr. Emad Al-Hemiary
Second Year, First Semester
2022-2023

Simple Harmonic Motion

Suppose first that there is no retarding frictional force. Then 𝛿 = 0 and there is no damping.
Then:
𝑑2𝑦
𝑚 2 + 𝑘𝑦 = 0
𝑑𝑡
Assume that 𝜔 = √𝑘/𝑚:

𝑦 ′′ + 𝜔2 𝑦 = 0 𝑦(0) = 𝑦0 , 𝑦 ′ (0) = 0
Which has the general solution:
𝑦(𝑡) = 𝑐1 cos 𝜔𝑡 + 𝑐1 sin 𝜔𝑡 (3)
𝑦(0) = 𝑦0 → 𝑐1 = 𝑦0
{
𝑦 ′ (0) = 0 → 𝑐2 = 0
𝑦(𝑡) = 𝑦0 cos 𝜔𝑡 (4)
Represents simple harmonic motion of amplitude 𝑦0 and period 𝑇 = 2𝜋/𝜔.
The general solution given by Equation (3) can be combined into a single term by using the
trigonometric identity:
sin(𝜔𝑡 + 𝜑) = cos 𝜔𝑡 sin 𝜑 + sin 𝜔𝑡 cos 𝜑
To apply the identity, we take 𝑐1 = 𝐶 sin 𝜑 and 𝑐2 = 𝐶 cos 𝜑 where
𝑐
𝐶 = √𝑐12 + 𝑐22 and 𝜑 = tan−1 𝑐1
2

Then the general solution in Equation (3) can be written in the

alternative form:
𝑦(𝑡) = 𝐶 sin(𝜔𝑡 + 𝜑) (5)
𝐶 and 𝜑 may be taken as two new arbitrary constants replacing 𝑐1 and 𝑐2 . Equation 5 represents
simple harmonic motion of amplitude 𝐶 and period 𝑇.

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 Engineering Mathematics I Lecture 12: Applications Prof. Dr. Emad Al-Hemiary
Second Year, First Semester
2022-2023

Damped Motion (𝜹 ≠ 𝟎)
𝑦 ′′ + 2𝑏𝑦 ′ + 𝜔2 𝑦 = 0 (6)
𝛿
In equation 6, 2𝑏 = 𝑚 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝜔 = √𝑘/𝑚

The two roots of equation 6 are 𝜆1,2 = −𝑏 ± √𝑏 2 − 𝜔 2

We have three cases:

CASE 1: 𝑏 = 𝜔 → 𝜆1,2 = −𝑏 𝑑𝑜𝑢𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙 𝑟𝑜𝑜𝑡𝑠

𝑦(𝑡) = (𝑐1 + 𝑐2 𝑡)𝑒 −𝜔𝑡 (7)

The motion here is called critical damping and it is not oscillatory.

CASE 2: 𝑏 > 𝜔 → 𝜆1,2 = −𝑏 ± √𝑏 2 − 𝜔 2 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙 𝑟𝑜𝑜𝑡𝑠

2 −𝜔2 2 −𝜔2
𝑦(𝑡) = 𝑐1 𝑒 −𝑏−√𝑏 + 𝑐2 𝑒 −𝑏+√𝑏
The motion here is called overdamping and it is not oscillatory.

CASE 3: 𝑏 < 𝜔 → 𝜆1,2 = −𝑏 ± 𝑗√𝜔 2 − 𝑏 2 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑗𝑢𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑟𝑜𝑜𝑡𝑠

𝑦(𝑡) = 𝑒 −𝑏𝑡 (𝑐1 cos √𝜔 2 − 𝑏 2 𝑡 + 𝑐2 sin √𝜔 2 − 𝑏 2 𝑡)

This motion is called underdamping or damped oscillation. It is analogous to simple harmonic

motion of period 𝑇 = 2𝜋/√𝜔 2 − 𝑏 2 .

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 Engineering Mathematics I Lecture 12: Applications Prof. Dr. Emad Al-Hemiary
Second Year, First Semester
2022-2023

Electrical Circuits
An RLC circuit can be modeled using 2nd ODE as follows:
𝑉𝐿 + 𝑉𝑅 + 𝑉𝑐 = 𝐸 (𝐾𝑉𝐿)
Since:
𝑖(𝑡)
𝑑𝑖 1
𝑉𝐿 = 𝐿 , 𝑉𝑅 = 𝑅𝑖, 𝑉𝑐 = ∫ 𝑖𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑡 𝐶
Then:
𝑑𝑖 1 𝑑
𝐿 + 𝑅𝑖 + ∫ 𝑖𝑑𝑡 = 𝐸 ( 𝑏𝑜𝑡ℎ 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑠)
𝑑𝑡 𝐶 𝑑𝑡
𝑑2𝑖 𝑑𝑖 1 𝑑𝐸
𝐿 2+𝑅 + 𝑖 =
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝐶 𝑑𝑡
𝑅 ′ 1 1
𝑖 ′′ + 𝑖 + 𝑖 = 𝐸′ (8)
𝐿 𝐿𝐶 𝐿
Example: A 16 − 𝑙𝑏 weight is attached to the lower end of a coil spring suspended from the
ceiling and having a spring constant of 1 𝑙𝑏 𝑓𝑡. The resistance in the spring-mass system is
numerically equal to the instantaneous velocity. At 𝑡 = 0 the weight is set in motion from a
position 2 𝑓𝑡 below its equilibrium position by giving it a downward velocity of 2 𝑓𝑡 𝑠𝑒𝑐. Write
an initial value problem that models the given situation.
Solution:
In the general equation given in 2, three constants exists: 𝑚, 𝛿, and 𝑘. We need to find the mass
of object 𝑚 and damping constant 𝛿:
1𝑚 = 3.28 𝑓𝑡
16 1
𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 = 𝑚𝑔 → 𝑚 = = 𝑔 = 9.808 𝑚/𝑠 2 = 32.17 𝑓𝑡/𝑠 2
32 2
Since the resistance in the spring-mass system is numerically 1𝑘𝑔 ≅ 2.2 𝑙𝑏
equal to the instantaneous velocity, then 𝛿 = 1.
From equation 2:
1 𝑑 2 𝑦 𝑑𝑦
+ + 𝑦 = 0 → 𝑦 ′′ + 2𝑦 ′ + 2𝑦 = 0 𝑦(0) = 2 𝑓𝑡, 𝑦 ′ (0) = 2 𝑓𝑡 𝑠𝑒𝑐
2 𝑑𝑡 2 𝑑𝑡
Solving:

𝜆1,2 = −𝑏 ± √𝑏 2 − 𝜔 2 = −1 ± √12 − 2 = −1 ± 𝑗1

𝑦(𝑡) = 𝑒 −𝑡 (𝑐1 cos 𝑡 + 𝑐2 sin 𝑡)

𝑦(0) = 2 → 𝑐1 = 2

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 Engineering Mathematics I Lecture 12: Applications Prof. Dr. Emad Al-Hemiary
Second Year, First Semester
2022-2023

𝑦 ′ (𝑡) = 𝑒 −𝑡 (−𝑐1 sin 𝑡 + 𝑐2 cos 𝑡) − 𝑒 −𝑡 (𝑐1 cos 𝑡 + 𝑐2 sin 𝑡) → 𝑦 ′ (0) = 2 = 𝑐2 − 𝑐1 → 𝑐2 = 4

𝑦(𝑡) = 𝑒 −𝑡 (2 cos 𝑡 + 4 sin 𝑡)

Example: An 8 − 𝑙𝑏 weight stretches a spring 4 𝑓𝑡. The spring–mass system resides in a medium
offering a resistance to the motion that is numerically equal to 1.5 times the instantaneous
velocity. If the weight is released at a position 2 𝑓𝑡 above its equilibrium position with a
downward velocity of 3 𝑓𝑡 𝑠𝑒𝑐, write an initial value problem modeling the given situation.
Solution:
𝑃𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑣𝑒 → 𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒
8 1
𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 = 𝑚𝑔 → 𝑚 = = 𝑃𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑤 → 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒
32 4
𝐷𝑜𝑤𝑛𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 → 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒
𝑚𝑔 = 𝑘𝑠 → 8 = 𝑘 ∙ 4 → 𝑘 = 2
𝑈𝑝𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 → 𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒
3
𝛿 = 1.5 =
2
Therefore:
1 ′′ 3 ′
𝑦 + 𝑦 + 𝑦 = 0 → 𝑦 ′′ + 6𝑦 ′ + 4𝑦 = 0 𝑦(0) = −2 𝑓𝑡, 𝑦 ′ (0) = 3 𝑓𝑡 𝑠𝑒𝑐
4 2
Solving:

𝜆1,2 = −𝑏 ± √𝑏 2 − 𝜔 2 = −3 ± √32 − 4 = −3 ± √5 → 𝜆1 = −5.24, 𝜆2 = −0.76

𝑦(𝑡) = 𝑐1 𝑒 −5.24𝑡 + 𝑐2 𝑒 −0.76𝑡

𝑦(0) = −2 → 𝑐1 + 𝑐2 = −2
𝑦 ′ (𝑡) = −5.24𝑐1 𝑒 −5.24𝑡 − 0.76𝑐2 𝑒 −0.76𝑡 → 𝑦 ′ (0) = 3 = −5.24𝑐1 − 0.76𝑐2
𝑐1 + 𝑐2 = −2 𝑐2 = −2 − 𝑐1 𝑐 = −2 − 𝑐1 𝑐 = −1.7
{ →{ →{ 2 →{ 2
−5.24𝑐1 − 0.76𝑐2 = 3 −5.24𝑐1 − 0.76(−2 − 𝑐1 ) = 3 −4.48𝑐1 = 1.48 𝑐1 = −0.33
𝑦(𝑡) = −0.33𝑒 −5.24𝑡 − 1.7𝑒 −0.76𝑡

Example: Write an initial value problem modeling the current circulating inside a series RLC
circuit with 𝑅 = 11Ω, 𝐿 = 0.1𝐻, 𝐶 = 10−2 𝐹, 𝐸(𝑡) = 110 sin 377𝑡.
Solution:
𝑅 ′ 1 1
𝑖 ′′ + 𝑖 + 𝑖 = 𝐸 ′ → 𝑖 ′′ + 110𝑖 ′ + 1000𝑖 = 414700 cos 377𝑡
𝐿 𝐿𝐶 𝐿
𝜆2 + 110𝜆 + 1000 = 0 → (𝜆 + 10)(𝜆 + 100) = 0 → 𝑖ℎ (𝑡) = 𝑐1 𝑒 −10𝑡 + 𝑐2 𝑒 −100𝑡

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 Engineering Mathematics I Lecture 12: Applications Prof. Dr. Emad Al-Hemiary
Second Year, First Semester
2022-2023

Assume 𝑖𝑝 (𝑡) = 𝐴 cos 377𝑡 + 𝐵 sin 377𝑡

𝑖𝑝′ (𝑡) = −377𝐴 sin 377𝑡 + 377𝐵 cos 377𝑡

𝑖𝑝′′ (𝑡) = −(377)2 𝐴 cos 377𝑡 − (377)2 𝐵 sin 377𝑡

−(377)2 𝐴 cos 377𝑡 − (377)2 𝐵 sin 377𝑡 + 110(−377𝐴 sin 377𝑡 + 377𝐵 cos 377𝑡)
+ 1000(𝐴 cos 377𝑡 + 𝐵 sin 377𝑡) = 414700 cos 377𝑡
−(377)2 𝐴 + 41470𝐵 + 1000𝐴 = 414700 −3.4𝐴 + 𝐵 = 10
{ →{ → {−3.4(−3.4𝐵) + 𝐵 = 10
−(377)2 𝐵 − 41470𝐴 + 1000𝐵 = 414700 −𝐴 − 3.4𝐵 = 0 𝐴 = −3.4𝐵
𝐵 = 0.796
→{
𝐴 = −2.707
∴ 𝑖𝑝 (𝑡) = −2.707 cos 377𝑡 + 0.796 sin 377𝑡

𝑖(𝑡) = 𝑐1 𝑒 −10𝑡 + 𝑐2 𝑒 −100𝑡 − 2.707 cos 377𝑡 + 0.796 sin 377𝑡