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Numerical Methods for ODEs Practice

The document contains practice questions for a Numerical Methods course focused on solving ordinary differential equations (ODEs) using various numerical methods such as Euler's method and the fourth-order Runge-Kutta method. It includes multiple questions requiring both analytical and numerical solutions for different types of ODEs, along with error calculations for each method. Additionally, it addresses a mass balance problem in a chemical reactor, requiring the use of the midpoint method for solving the corresponding ODE.

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3 views3 pages

Numerical Methods for ODEs Practice

The document contains practice questions for a Numerical Methods course focused on solving ordinary differential equations (ODEs) using various numerical methods such as Euler's method and the fourth-order Runge-Kutta method. It includes multiple questions requiring both analytical and numerical solutions for different types of ODEs, along with error calculations for each method. Additionally, it addresses a mass balance problem in a chemical reactor, requiring the use of the midpoint method for solving the corresponding ODE.

Uploaded by

luyandomuzovu64
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

THE COPPERBELT UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF MINES AND MINERAL SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

NUMERICAL METHODS: MA 311


ODES-IVP PRACTICE QUESTIONS
DATE: 24/07/2025

Question 1

d2y
Consider the following second-order ODE: 2
= e3 x − y from x = 0 to x = 1.5 with y (0) = 0
dx
dy
and =1
dx x =0

(i) Solve with Euler’s explicit method with h = 0.5 (ii) Solve with the classical fourth order Runge-
Kutta method using h = 0.5
The analytical solution of the ODE is y = ( e3 x − cos ( x ) + 7 sin ( x ) ) /10 . In each part, calculate the

error between the solution and the numerical solution at the points where the numerical solution is

determined.
Question 2

dy
Consider the following first-order ODE = x 2 / y from x = 0 to x = 2.1 with y (0) = 2.
dx

2 x3
(i) Show that the analytical solution is given by y = + 4 (ii) Solve with Euler’s method using
3

h = 0.7 (iii) solve using the classical fourth-order Runge-Kutta method with h = 0.7. (iv) For each

case calculate the error between the analytical solution and each respective numerical solution.

Question 3

dy xy
Consider the following first-order ODE: = x− from x = 1 to x = 3.4 with y (1) =1
dx 2

(i) Solve with Euler’s explicit method (ii) Solve with the modified Euler method (iii) Solve with

the classical fourth-order Runge–Kutta method. For All the cases h = 0.8.

Question 4

Assuming that drag is proportional to the square of velocity, we can model the velocity of a falling

object like a parachutist with the following differential equation:

dv c
= g − d v2
dt m

where υ is velocity (m/s), t = time (s), g is the acceleration due to gravity (9.81 m/s2), cd = a second-

order drag coefficient (kg/m), and m = mass (kg). Solve for the velocity and distance fallen by a

90-kg object with a drag coefficient of 0.25 kg/m. If the initial height is 1 km, determine when the

object hits the ground. Obtain your solution with (i) Euler’s method (ii) fourth order RK method.
Question 5

A mass balance for a chemical in a completely mixed reactor can be written as

dc
V = F − Qc − kVc 2
dt

where V = volume (12 m3), c = concentration (g/m3), F = feed rate (175 g/min), Q = flow rate (1

m3/min), and k = a second-order reaction rate (0.15 m3/g/min). If c (0) = 0, solve the ODE until

the concentration reaches a stable level. Use the midpoint method (h = 0.5) and plot your results.

THE END

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