Applications of Ordinary Differential Equations (Modelling Problems)
Modeling means setting up a mathematical model of a physical or other system. The
model may be a function to be evaluated or plotted or adifferential or other equation to be solved. In
this section, we consider systems that can be modelledin terms of aseparable differentialequation.
Definition:
Whenever aphysical law involves a rate of change of a function such as a velocity,acceleration, etc.
it will lead to a differential equation and that equation is known as the Mathematical model of that
physical process.
In this section we shallsolve the following four types of Modelling problems:
Type-l: Growth/Decay Problem
In this case the amount v() at timet is directly proportional to the rate of change of y().
av). ’'= hv()
dt
The sign ofk depends on the growth and decay of the physical process.
Problem Set-1.1
Q.1) Half-Life (Time in which half of the given amount of radioactive substance disappears)
What is the half-life of gg Ra°(in years)?
Solution: Let v(r) be the amount of radioactive substance at the time t.
The rate of change [Link] time is dy
dt
Bythephysical law governing the process of radiation
dy ’y'=ky(t)
dt
-ay().
The constant k<0is adefinite physical constant whose numericai vaiue is known for various
radioactive substances.
In the case of Radium ggRa0, the value ofk -14x10- secl
Let the initial amount of radioactive substance at timet=0be yo
Hence the initial condition is y(0)= Yo
The initialvalue problem is
dt
=ky(t), y0)= Yo
Solving the differential equation by separating variables we get
’ Iny =kt + C ’y()= Cekt
Using the initial condition, we find C=yO
Hence the solution is y(t) = yoe
We have to find out the time during which half of thesubstance disappeared i.e., y()= 2
o In2 In 2
x10'sec =1570years .
2 -k 1.4
Q.18) Radium gg Ra* has a half-life of about 3.6 days.
a. Given 1gram, how much willbe still present after Iday?
b. After 1 year?
Solution:
a. Initialamount is given I gram.
In this case the initial value problem is
dy kv(), v(0)=1
dt
Solving this we get v() = e
about 3.6 days.
It is given that the Radium ggRa*has a half-life of
That means in 3.6 days initial amount 1gram becomes 0.5 gram.
’(3.6) =0.5
- In 2
0.5 =ek(36) ’k=
3.6
Hence ()=e(In 2/3.6)r
gram.
After 1day it becomes v() =e "20=0.8248605943 gram.
3.01233465x 10' gram.
b. After Iyear=365 days it becomes v(365) = el-n3.6)%30
Q.20) The efficiency of the engine of subsonic airplanes depends on air pressure and usually is
maximum near about 35,000 ft. Find the air pressure v(x) at this height. The rate of change y() is
proportional to the pressure. At 18,000 ft. it is halfits value vo = y(0) at sea level.
Solution: Let y(x) be the air pressure. It is given that y'(x)a y(x).
’y'()=ky
Atsea level air pressure is y0, the given initial condition is yo = y(0).
Again, it is given that at 18,000 ft. the pressure is decreased to half its value yo.
Hence the 2nd initial condition is v(18000)= yo/2.
The initial value problem is
y'(r) = ky, V0)= yo and y(18000) = o/2
Solving the ODE, we get
v() =Cekr
Using the initial condition y(0) = , we find C = Y
Hence y(x) = yoe
Again using v(18000) = o/2 we get
I 8000k ’k=-ln 2/18000
2
-= yoe
’y(x)= Vhel-n2/18000).x
The pressure at 35,000 ft. height is
Y35000) = vael-ln2/18000)x35000 'o
4
Problem Set-1.3
Q.12) Ifthe growth rate of the number of bacteria at any timet is proportional to the number present
at t and doubles in I week, how many bacteria can be expected after 2 weeks? After 4 weeks?
Solution: Let y(t)be the number of bacteria present at timet.
It is given that the growth rate of the number of bacteria at any time t is proportional to the number
present att.
dy
dt-ay).
’y=ky)
Let V', be the nunmber of bacteria initially present at timet = 0. After 1
week it is doubled.
Hence initial conditions are y(0)= Yo ()= 2'0
Solving the ODE y'= ky we obtain
J() =Cekr
Using the initialcondition (0) = 'o we find C = 'o
The solution becomes v(t) = Voe.
Again using (l) = 2' we obtain
’ In 2 =k
Thus the number of bacteria present at timet is
v)=oe(ln 2)7
The expected number of bacteria after 2 weeks be
v(2) =yoe-(in2) =4y
After 4 weeks y(4) = Voein2) =16y.
Q.20) If the birth rate and death rate of the number of bacteria are proportional to the number of
bacteria present, what is the population as a function of time?
Solution: Let y() be the individual present at timet.
Let B(1) be the individual birth at time tandD(t) be the individual death at tine t.
It is given that
dB dD
ay(t) and -ay()
dt dt
dB dD
=ky and
dt dt
dB dD
dt dt
= (k -ky)y
dy
dt
= (ky - kz)y
Solving the ODE, we get v(t) = Celki-kz)!
Ifk, -k, >0then population increase and ifk -k, <0then population decrease.
Q.27) (Dryer) If awet sheet in a dryer loses its moisture at arate proportional to its moisture content
and if it loses half of its moisture during first 10 minutes, when will it have lost 99% of its moisture?
Solution: Let y(1) be the moisture content in the wet sheet.
It is given that -
di
ayl), >y=kyt)
Let yobe the initial moisture present at timet = 0. Again, it is given that the wet sheet loses halfof its
moisture during 1t 10 minutes.
Hence initial conditions are y(0) = Yo y(10) =yo/2
Solving the ODE y' = ky(t) we find:
v() =Cek
Using v(0) = yo we getC = yo
y() =Voet
Again using y(10) = Yo/2 we get
In 2
-= ’k=
2 10
In 2
10
’ y()= Voe
We bave tocalculate the time in which 99% of moisture will be lost that means 0.0l yo moisture will
be present.
’0.0lyo = Yoe
(
10
t= In(0.01) xIn 2 66min.
Problems For Practice
Q.21 (Problem Set-1.3)
y() present at timet, and if
Q. If in a culture of yeast, the rate of growth is proportional to the amount
rate of growth? After 1
v() doubles in I day, how much can be expected after 3 days at the same
week?
number of bacteria present and after
Q. If the growth rate of a culture of bacteria is proportional to the bacteria
will the number of
Iday is 1.25 times the original number, within what interval of time
(a) double, (b) triple?
Type-II: Newton's Law of Cooling
surrounding medium. By
Let T(/) be the temperature in a body and T, be the temperature in the
Newton's law of cooling
dT dT
-a (T-T), = k(T-T,)
dt dt
Problem Set-1.3
temperature is 22°C. One minute
Q.25)A thermometer, reading 5° C, is brought into a room whose
reading is practically 22°C,
later the thermometer reading is 12°C. How long does it take until the
say 21.9°C?
temperature room temperature.
Solution: Let T(t)be the temperature in the thermometer and 1 be the
By Newton's law of cooling
dT dT
-a(T-1;). = k(T- T,)
dt dt
The room temperature is given 22°Ci.e. T, = 22°C
dT
Hence the ODE is = k(T-22)
dt
Initiallythermometer reading was 5°C.
First initial condition is T(0) =5
=12.
After one minute reading is 12°C,the second initial condition is T(1)
The initial value problem is
dT
= k(T - 22), T(0) =5, T(1) =12.
dt
Solution of ODE:
dT
= k(T- 22)
dt
dT
’ InT -2 =kt +C
>T)= 22 + Cekr
Using the initial condition T(0) =5 we get
5=22 + C ’C=-17
Hence the solution becomes T() = 22-17ek
Again using T(1) = 12 we find
12 = 22--17ek
(10 -0.5306
’ T ) = 22-17-0.5306)r
Now we have to calculate t so that T(t) =21.9° C
’21.9 = 22-17el-0.5306)1 ’e-0.5306)
0.1
0.0059
17
’t=
In(0.0059) 9.7minute.
-0.5306
Problems For Practice
Q. Ametal bar whose temperature is 20°C is placed in boiling water. How long does it take to heat
the bar to practically 100°C say, to 99.9 °C , if the temperature of the bar after I min of heating is
51.5°C?
Type-IIl: Mixing Problem
In a mixture (well stirring) if we add and remove salt quantity, then the changes occur. In this case the
rate of change of salt quantity is equal to the difference between salt inflowand outflow rate.
If v(t) be the amount of salt then mathematical formulation of this kind of problem is
dy =Salt inflow rate-Salt outflow rate
dt
Problem Set-1.3
0.24) A tank contains 400 gal of brine in which 100 lb. of salt are dissolved. Fresh water runs into the
tank at a rate of 2gal/min. The mixture, kept practically uniform by stirring, runs out at the same rate.
How much salt willthere be in the tank at the end of Ihour?
Solution: Let y(t) be the amount of salt present in the tank at timet.
We have
dy = Salt inflow rate -Salt outflow rate
dt
Salt inflow rate:
Since fresh water is coming to the tank at a rate of 2gal/min, so there is no salt present.
Hence, Salt inflow rate-0
Salt outflow rate:
Since 400 gal contains y() amount of salt, so I gal contains 400 lb. salt.
Hence 2 gal contains Ib. of salt.
200
Thus, salt outflow rate =y/200
Hence the differential equation is
dy
dt 200
Solving this ODE, we get In y= +C ’ y()= Ce-t/200
200
Initially there is 100lb salt was present in the brine.
The initial condition is y(0) = 100.
Using the initial condition y(0) =100 in the general solution we get C = 100
100e-/200
Hence the solution becomes v(t) =
At the end of 1hour i.e., after 60 min. the amount of salt will be
v(60)= 100e 0200 = 74.08 Ib
Problems For Practice
0) The tankcontains 200 gal of water in which 40lb of salt are dissolved. Five gal of brine, each
containing 2lb of dissolved salt, run into the tank per minute, and the mixture kept uniform by stirring.
timet
runs out at the same rate. Find the amount of salt v(t) in the tank at any
o.2) The tank contains 1000 galof water in which 200lb of salt are dissolved. Fifty gal of brine., each
containing (l + cost) lb. of dissolved salt, run into the tank per minute. The mixture, kept uniform by
tank at any timet
stirring. runs out at the same rate. Find the amount of salt v()in the
0.3)The tank contains 80 lb. of salt dissolved in 500 gal of water. The inflow
per minute is 20 1b. of
uniform mixture. Find the time
salt dissolved in 20 gal of water. The outflow is 20 gal/min of the
0).
when the salt content in the tank reaches 95% of its limiting value (ast ’
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