Differential Equations

Elementary Applications of Differential

Equations of the First Order
 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. Eliminate the arbitrary constant by
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 ( 3a − x )
 Examples
Answers:
1. ( x + y
2
)
2 2
= C ( 2x2 + y2 )
2. y 2 = 2 ( C − sin x )

3. ( x + y
2
)
2 5
= Cy 3 ( 5 x 2 + y 2 )
 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
 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:
 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
 Examples
Problems:
1. A cup of coffee 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.
 Examples
Answers:
 Mixture Flow Problems
dSin
= Sin rin
Mathematical Model dt
dS dSin dSout dSout
= Sout rout
= − dt
dt dt dt S
where Sout =
Vol + rint − rout t
S = amount of solute at a given time
t = time
Sin = amount of solute input in mass per volume
Sout = amount of solute output in mass per volume
rin = rate of input in volume per time
rout = rate of output in volume per time
Vol = initial volume of tank
 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 salt in the container be half its original amount?
Examples
 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
 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.
 Mechanics Problems
Mathematical Models

where
s = displacement
t = time
v = velocity
a = acceleration
F = force
k = spring constant
Electric Circuits