UNIVERSITY OF NUEVA CACERES COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

Week 6: Applications of First-Order DE

I. Introduction

Differential equations originate from mathematical formulation of various problems in science

and engineering. There are problems that give rise to some of the type of first order differential
equations previously discussed. Simple rules are applied. We formulate the problem mathematically,
thereby obtaining a differential equation. We then solve the equation and attempt to interpret the
solution in terms of the quantities involved in the original problem.

II. Objectives
At the end of the week, you should be able to:

1. Apply Ordinary Differential Equations in solving problems in physics, chemistry and other
fields of engineering.

III. Sample Problems

Example 6.1___________________________________________________________________________

Problem: If the population of a country doubles in 50 years, in how many years will it be trebled

under the assumption that the rate of increase is proportional to the number of inhabitants?

Solution:

Let y denote the population at time t years and y 0 the population at t=0

dy/dt = k y setting up the equation

or dy/y = k dt

where k is the proportionality factor separating the variables

ʃ dy/y = k ʃ dt integrating

ln y = kt + ln C

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UNIVERSITY OF NUEVA CACERES COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

y = C ekt GS applying log properties

and taking inverse log
at t = 0, y = y0 and C = y0 applying initial conditions

y = y0 ekt (1) substituting C into GS

at t = 50, y = 2y0 applying conditions given

from (1) 2y0 = y0 e50k substitute y=2y0 and t = 50

in (1)

or e50k = 2

when y = 3y0 , (1) gives 3 = ekt applying y = 3y0 into (1)

Then 350 = e50kt = ( e50k)t = 2t using e50k = 2

350 = 2t

50 ln 3 = t (ln 2) applying log properties

t =[ 50 ln 3]/[ln 2 ] solving for t

Answer: t = 79 years

Example 6.2_________________________________________________________________________

Problem: A tank of volume 0.5 m3 is filled with brine containing 30 kg of dissolved salt. Water
runs into the tank at the rate of 15 x 10-3 m3/s and the mixture, kept uniform by stirring, runs
out at the same rate. How much salt is in the tank after 1 hour?

Solution:

Let x be the number of kilograms of salt in the tank after t seconds,

at concentration of 2x kg/m3

during the interval dt, 15 x 10-3 dt cubic meters of water flow in

and 15 x 10-3 dt cubic meters of brine containing

(2x) ( 15 x 10-3 dt) = (3x) x 10-4 dt kilograms of salt flow out.

therefore, the change dx of the amount of salt in the tank is

dx = (-3x) x 10-4dt

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UNIVERSITY OF NUEVA CACERES COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

x = C eʌ(-3 x 10-4) t integrating

at t = 0, x = 30 : C = 30 using t=0 and x =30,

C = 30

x = 30 eʌ(-3 x 10-4) t Substitute C=30 into x equation

when t = 3600 seconds,

x = 30 eʌ(-108 x 10-2) at t = 3600 sec

x = 30 e-1.08

Answer: x = 10 kg

Example 6.3________________________________________________________________________

Problem: A body weighing 8 lb falls from rest toward the earth from a great height. As it falls,
air resistance acts upon it, and we shall assume that this resistance ( in lbs) is numerically equal
to 2v, where v is the velocity ( in feet per second). Find the velocity and distance fallen at time t
seconds.

Solution:

Choose the positive x axis vertically downward along the path of the body B, and the origin at
the point from which the body fell. The forces acting on the body are:

F1 , its weight, 8 lb, which acts downward and hence is positive.

F2 , the air resistance, numerically equal to 2v, which acts upward

and hence is the negative quantity -2v

Newton’s second law, F = ma, becomes

m (dv/dt) = F1 + F2

taking g = 32 and using m=w/g = 8/32 = ¼,

¼(dv/dt) = 8 – 2v (1) using m = 1/4

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UNIVERSITY OF NUEVA CACERES COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

Since the body was initially at rest, we have the initial condition v(0) = 0

Separating the variables of (1):

dv . = 4 dt

8 – 2v

Integrating we find ½ ln ( 8 – 2v ) = 4t + C

8 – 2v = C e-8t

Applying the condition, C = 8. The velocity at time t is given by

v = 4 ( 1 – e-8t )

to determine the distance fallen at time t, dx/dt = 4 ( 1 – e -8t) , x(0) = 0

integrating,

we obtain x = 4( t + 1/8 e-8t) + C ; since x=0 when t=0, C = -1/2

the distance fallen is given by x = 4 ( t + 1/8 e-8t – 1/8 )

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