QUESTIONS

1. Find two methods (other than Undetermined Coefficients) that can be used to solve higher order ODE. For each method, solve one higher order ODE problem.

2. Find one applications (model) of higher order differential equations. Elaborate the application by giving one example of problem and show how you solve the problem.

ANSWERS Question 1: Eulers Method and The Method of Reduction of Order Eulers Method A ball at 1200K is allowed to cool down in air temperature of 300K. Assuming heat is lost only due to radiation, the differential equation for the temperature of the ball is given by ( ) ( )

Find the temperature at t = 480 seconds using Eulers method correct to 2DP. Assume h = 240 seconds. = temperature of the ball t = time (t) = temperature of the ball at time t ( ( ) ( ) ( ) ) Eulers formula

From the problem statement, we know that: 0 = 1200 t0 = 0 Solution: Step 1: ( [ ( ) ( ) ( ) )]

1 is the approximate temperature at

( Step 2: For i = 1, t1 = 240, 1 = 106.09 ( ) ( [ ( ) )

) ( )]

2 is the approximate temperature at

( ( )

( ) 1 2 240 480 106.09 110.32 110.322176

Thus, (

The exact solution of the ODE is: ( )

The solution of this equation at t= 480 seconds is

The Method of Reduction of Order As a first assumption we discuss the solution of the homogenous differential equation is ( ) ( ) (1.2) ( ) and only need to find the ( ) ( ). Differentiating ( )

On the assumption that we have know one solution, say ( ) second solution. We will look for a solution of the form ( ) using the product rule gives

If we substiute these expressions into (1.2) we obtain ( )( We can now collect terms to get ( ( ) ( ) ) ( ) ) ( )

Now, since

is a solution of (1.2), the term multiplying , and ,by defining ( )

is zero. We have therefore obtained a , have

differential equation for

Dividing through by

we have

Which can be integrated directly to yield

| | | | ( )

Where is a dummy variable, for some constant . Thus

( )

Where

. This can then be integrated to give

( )

( )

( )

For some constant . The solution is therefore

( )

( )

( )

( )

( )

We can recognize and

( ) as the part of the complementary function that we knew to start with,

( )

( )

( )

( )

(1.3)

As the second part of the complementary function. This is called the reduction of order of formula EXAMPLE: Determine the solution of the differential equation below ( Given that ( ) is a solution. )

SOLUTION Firstly, we write the equation in standard form as

Comparing this with (1.2), we have ( )

( )

. After noting that

We can express the integrand in term of its partial fractions as

This gives the second solution of (1.2) as ( ) { }

( ( )]

( (

[ And hence the general solution is

Question 2:

A 10-kilogram mass is attached to a spring which is thereby stretched 0.7 meters from its natural length. The mass is started in motion from the equilibrium position with an initial velocity of 1 meter /sec in the upward direction. Find the resulting motion if the force due to air resistance is -90 newtons.

Solution : The motion is damped (air resistance) and free (no external force). Our differential equation from Newtons second law is : = -90 Where Since .(a) is the spring constant.

= the mass (10 kg), and =

( )( )

{Note that a mass of 10 kg exerts a force or weight of (9.8)(10) = 98 newtons). Substituting into (a) we have 10 Or The characteristic equation is + 90 + 140 =0 ..(b)

 2 + 9 +14 = 0 or ( + 2) ( + 7) = 0

Thus the roots are = -2 and = -7 Our general solution is, thus ( ) Where ( ) And 0 t=0 = -1 and + ..(c) are arbitrary constants to be determined by the initial conditions which are

(the initial velocity is in the negative x-direction). Thus ( ) 0= And + + ,

..(d) + =1 ,

t=0 = -2 -1 = -2 + 7

Or

+7

= 1 (e) , (e) becomes

Since by (d) 2(- ) + 7 =1 = And -

Our final solution is

( )

).