KIX 1001: ENGINEERING MATHEMATICS 1

Tutorial 11: Differential Equations

1. Identify 5 physical laws/ theory that are frequently used in your field of study (i.e.
Mechanical/Electrical/Chemical/Civil/Environment/etc.) and show that they can be
transformed into the form of differential equation.

2. Identify the dependent & independent variables for each case. Classify each equation
according to its order, linearity/non-linearity, and homogeneity/non-homogeneity. Hence,
find its solutions except those ODE that only can be solved by 2nd order ODE and
nonhomogeneous dy = f ( x, y) methods.
dx g ( x, y )
2
d y 4 dy
(i) 5x - -sin 2 x = 0 , y(0) = 0 , y '(0) = 0
dx 2 x dx
d2y dy
(ii) x 2 2 -3x = 4 y , y(0) = 0 , y '(0) = 0
dx dx
dy 4
(iii) + y - x 3 y 2 = 0 , y(2) = -1
dx x
3 dx 3
(iv) e- t - 3t 2e-t x = 0 , x(1) = 2
dt
dv 2
(v) - 3t v + 3t 2 = 0 , v(0) = 2
dt
dy t 2 y3
(vi) - 3ty = , y(0) = 0
dt y +1
2 d2y dy
(vii) x 2 -3 y = 0 , y(0) = 1 , y(2) = 4
dx dx
dy
(viii) x + y = 8 , y(3) = 5
dx
dy y 2 + yt
(ix) = , y(1) = 4
dt t2

3. (a) Given the population of rabbit in human habitat (rabbit farm) grows at a rate proportional
to the number of rabbit at time t (year). It is observed that 200 and 800 rabbits are presented
at 3rd year and 6th year respectively. What was the initial number of the rabbit, y(0) = y0 ? How
long does it take the population to double to 2 y0 ?

(b) A person has bought 1000 rabbits from the farm and releases them to the jungle that is
full of predator (i.e. p = 50 snakes at the time he/she releases the rabbit). Given the governing
dy y
equation of the rabbit population is changed to = - p + 3 y(1- ) . How long does it take
dt 100
the rabbit population to decrease to half?
 4. A brine mixing problem is illustrated in the following figure where a tank contains a liquid of
g
volume V0 = 10m3 with concentration C0 = 0.5 3 initially and two valves (A & B) are
m
opened simultaneously. The rate of change for the amount of salt in the tank over time is
dx x(t )
given: = Q1C1 - Q2 . Let x(t ) = amount of salt; concentration of salt over
dt V0 + (Q1 - Q2 )t
x(t ) m3 g
time= C (t ) = Q
; 1 = Q2 = 2 ; C1 = 1 3 . What is the change of the amount of salt
V (t ) min m
and also the change of its concentration over time.

Valve A
Q1 , C1 Stir the mixture so that it is
homogeneous and the
Volume, V0 Concentration, C0 concentration of salt distribute
evenly in the liquid
Valve B
Q2 , C2

5. In the lecture note, mathematical modelling of engineering problem such as falling

parachutist problem and electrical circuit problem, using differential equation has been
demonstrated. Give an example for the mathematical modelling of an engineering problem
related to your field of study by using differential equation. Identify the dependent variable,
independent variable, parameters and forcing functions for your problem. You are required
to present that in the tutorial class. Credit will be given for those who provide example
involving calculation or illustration.

d 2 q(t ) dq(t ) 1
6. Given the governing equation for RLC electrical circuit: L 2 +R + q(t ) = E (t ) .
dt dt C
An inductor of L = 2 henrys and a resistor of R = 10 ohms are connected in series with an
emf of E volts. Note that in this case the capacitor has been removed. At t = 0, the switch
S is closed, thus no charge and current flow at that moment. Find the charge and current at
any time t > 0 if
a) E (t ) = 40 volts
-3t
b) E (t ) = 20e volts

A B

Switch C q(t )

L
D F