Module 3 – Differential Equations with Applications

Applications of first order ODEs

Week: 9
 Applications of first order equations
Growth and decay problems

• 𝑁 = 𝑁 𝑡 − the population number at a certain time t

• Law of natural growth - the rate of increase of population is

proportional to the current population at that time:

𝑑𝑁 𝑑𝑁
∝N so that = 𝑘𝑁
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡

• 𝑘 is a positive constant

• In the absence of factors such as wars, famine etc., this equation

has been found to model population growth, but only over
limited time frame.
RMIT University©20I6 2
Example:
The population of a certain city increases at a rate proportional
to the current population. In 1970 the population was half a
million and in 1980 the population was one million, express the
population number 𝑁 in terms of 𝑡 (time in years), after 1970.
i. What is the predicted population in 2000?
ii. When does the population reach five million?

RMIT University©20I6 3
Solution:

• If N represents the population number t years after 1970 then

𝑑𝑁
= 𝑘𝑁 the particular solution is 𝑁 = 𝑁0 𝑒 𝑘𝑡 where 𝑁0 and 𝑘
𝑑𝑡
are constants to be found.
• In 1970, 𝑡 = 0, 𝑁 = 500,000, 𝑁 0 = 𝑁0 = 500,000
• To find the value of 𝑘 in 1980, 𝑡 = 10, 𝑁 10 = 1,000,000

𝑁 𝑡 = 500,000𝑒10𝑘
1
2= 𝑒10𝑘⇒𝑘= ln(2)≈0.0693 thus
10
0.0693𝑡
𝑁 𝑡 = 500,000𝑒

RMIT University©20I6 4
i. In the year 2000, t = 30 so 𝑁 30 = 500,000𝑒 30∙0.0693 =
4,000,000 there are 4 million people in 2000
ii. To find t when N = 5 million
5,000,000 = 500,000𝑒 30∙0.0693 ⇒ 10 = 𝑒 0.0693𝑡
1
0.0693𝑡 = ln 10 ⇒ 𝑡 = ln(10) ≈ 33.22
0.0693

• This works out to be in 2003 late February.

• The model predicts that the population will double every 10
years.

RMIT University©20I6 5
The law of natural decay
• In the mass of a radioactive substance, atoms disintegrate
spontaneously, although the process is not a continuous one
but averaged over the large number of atoms in a specimen
• It is found that the time rate of decay is proportional to the
mass of the radioactive substance present at that time.
• If we let 𝑚 = 𝑚(𝑡) be the mass of the radioactive substance at a
time 𝑡, then:
𝑑𝑚
∝ −𝑚
𝑑𝑡

𝑑𝑚
⇒ = −𝑘𝑚
𝑑𝑡

RMIT University©20I6 6
Example:
The rate of disintegration of a radioactive substance is
proportional to the amount of the substance remaining at that
time. If it takes three years for 20% to disintegrate, find the half-
life of the substance.
Solution:
• Let 𝑚 = 𝑚(𝑡) denote the mass present after t years
0.0693t

𝑑𝑚
= −𝑘𝑚 so that 𝑚 = 𝑚0 𝑒 −𝑘𝑡 where 𝑚0 = 𝑚(0) is the initial
𝑑𝑡
mass present.

RMIT University©20I6 7
• Now when t = 3, 20% disintegrates so 80% remains, then
𝑚 = 0.8𝑚0
0.8𝑚0 = 𝑚0 𝑒 −3𝑘
⇒ 0.8 = 𝑒 −3𝑘
⇒−3𝑘 = ln(0.8)
1
⇒𝑘 = − ln(0.8) ≈ 0.0744
3

1 ln(2)
• So the half life 𝑇= ln(2) = = 9.32 years
𝑘 0.0744

RMIT University©20I6 8
Example:
The rate of decay of a radioactive substance is proportional to
the amount of the substance present at that time. Initially 50
milligrams of a radioactive substance is present and after one
hour it is observed that 10% has disintegrated. Find the amount
remaining after a further two hours.
Solution:
Let 𝑚 = 𝑚(𝑡) denote the mass present after t years
𝑑𝑚
= - 𝑘𝑚 so that 𝑚 = 𝑚0 𝑒 −𝑘𝑡 where 𝑚0 = 𝑚(0) = 50mg is the
𝑑𝑡
initial mass present.

RMIT University©20I6 9
• Now when 𝑡 = 1, 10% is lost so 𝑚 = 45𝑚𝑔 remains
45 50
45 = 50𝑒 −𝑘 ⇒ = 𝑒 −𝑘 ⇒ 𝑘 = ln( ) ≈ 0.1053
50 45

• So, 𝑚 = 𝑚 𝑡 = 50𝑒 −0.1053𝑡

Now after a further two hours, means when 𝑡 = 3:

𝑚 3 = 50𝑒 −0.1053∙3 = 36.457

• So 36.46 mg remains.

RMIT University©20I6 10
Newton’s law of cooling
• Newton's Law of cooling - the time rate of change of the
temperature of a body is proportional to the difference
between the temperature of the body and the surrounding
medium.
• 𝑇 - the temperature of a body after a time 𝑡
• T𝑚 - the temperature of the surrounding medium
• Then Newton's Law of cooling can be written as:
𝑑𝑇 𝑑𝑇
∝ (𝑇 − 𝑇𝑚 ) or = 𝑘(𝑇 − 𝑇𝑚 )
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡

• 𝑘 is a constant of proportionality.
• If we let θ be the difference in the temperature, so that
𝑑𝜃
θ = 𝑇 − 𝑇𝑚 then = 𝑘θ.
𝑑𝑡
RMIT University©20I6 11
Example:

A metal ball is heated to a temperature of 200°C and is then

placed in a room, which is maintained at a constant temperature
of 30°C. After five minutes the temperature of the ball has
dropped to 150°C, assuming Newton's law of cooling,

i. Find the temperature of the ball after a further 10 minutes?

ii. How long before the temperature of the ball reaches 40°C?

RMIT University©20I6 12
Solution:

𝑑𝑇
• =𝑘(𝑇 − 𝑇𝑚 )
𝑑𝑡

• the surrounding room temperature is constant at 𝑇𝑚 = 30° 𝐶

𝑑𝜃
• Let θ = 𝑇 − 30 then = 𝑘𝜃 the general solution is θ = 𝜃0 𝑒 𝑘𝑡
𝑑𝑡

• We need two sets of conditions, to find the two constants, now

𝑡 = 0, 𝑇0 = 200° 𝐶 so 𝜃0 = 170, and when
𝑡 = 5, 𝑇 = 150° 𝐶 so θ = 120 substituting gives:
5𝑘
120 5𝑘
12
120 = 170𝑒 ⇒ = 𝑒 ⇒ 5𝑘 = ln( )
170 17
1 12
𝑘= ln( )≈-0.0696, so 𝜃 = 170𝑒 −0.0696𝑡
5 17

RMIT University©20I6 13
i. After a further ten minutes means we are required to find 𝑇
when 5𝑘 = t = 15, θ 15 = 170𝑒 −0.0696∙15 = 59.79
so the temperature of the ball is 𝑇 = 𝜃 +30 or 89.79° C.
ii. We are required to find the value of t when T = 40 that is θ
=10:
10
10 = 170𝑒 −0.0696∙15 ⇒ −0.0696𝑡 = ln
170
0.0693t

1 10
⇒𝑡=− ln
0.0696 170
10
⇒ −0.0696𝑡 = ln
170

1 10
⇒𝑡= − ln = 40.67
0.0696 170

• After 40.67 minutes the temperature of the ball reaches 40°C

RMIT University©20I6 14
Electrical problems
Example:

The charge 𝑄 coulombs at a time 𝑡 seconds in a capacitor of

capacitance 𝐶 Farads when discharging through a resistance of 𝑅
ohms, satisfies, the differential equation:
𝑑𝑄
𝑅𝐶 +𝑄 =0
𝑑𝑡

i. Assuming an initial charge of Q0 solve the differential

equation to obtain the charge Q at any time t after
discharging commences.
ii. A circuit contains a resistance of 400𝑘Ω and a capacitance of
7.3µF and after 225 milliseconds, the charge falls to 7.0
Coulombs, find the initial charge.

RMIT University©20I6 15
iii. After how long is the charge half its initial value?
Solution:

𝑑𝑄 𝑑𝑄
i. 𝑅𝐶
𝑑𝑡
+ 𝑄 = 0 transposing gives RC 𝑑𝑡 =-𝑄

• Now 𝑅 and 𝐶 are constants, the variables here are Q and 𝑡,

inverting both sides gives :
1 𝑑𝑡 1
= - separating the variables and integrating gives
𝑅𝐶 𝑑𝑄 𝑄
1 𝑑𝑄
∫𝑑𝑡 = − ∫ so that
𝑅𝐶 𝑄
𝑡
𝑅𝐶
= − ln 𝑄 + 𝐾 where K is the contant of integration
• To find 𝐾 use 𝑄 = 𝑄0 when 𝑡 = 0, 0 = − ln 𝑄0 + 𝐾 so
that 𝐾 = ln 𝑄0 substituting gives:
𝑡
= − ln 𝑄 + ln 𝑄0
𝑅𝐶

RMIT University©20I6 16
 𝑡 −𝑡
𝑡 𝑄0 𝑄0
• Using log laws: = ln ⇒𝑒 𝑅𝐶 = ⇒ 𝑄 = 𝑄 t = 𝑄0 𝑒 𝑅𝐶
𝑅𝐶 𝑄 𝑄

𝑡
𝑄0
ii. Given 𝑒 𝑅𝐶 = ,𝐶 = 7.3μF and R = 400𝑘Ω , the product
𝑄
RC=2.92 , to find Q0 use t = 0.225s when Q = 7.0C substituting
gives
7.0 = 𝑄0 𝑒 −0.077 ⇒ 𝑄0 = 7.0𝑒 0.077 = 7.56 𝐶
⇒ 𝑄 = 𝑄 𝑡 = 7.56𝑒 −0.34𝑡 , 𝑡 ≥ 0
1
iii. To find 𝑡 =? when 𝑄 = 𝑄0 = 3.78
2
1 −0.34𝑡 1
=𝑒 ⇒ −0.34𝑡 = ln( )
2 2
1
⇒𝑡 = ln 2 = 2.023𝑠
0.34
RMIT University©20I6 17
Example: The basic equation governing the amount of current 𝑖
Amperes in an 𝑅𝐿 series circuit consisting of a resistance R ohms
and an inductance 𝐿 Henries connected to a voltage source of 𝐸
volts after a time 𝑡 seconds satisfies the differential equation
𝑑𝑖
L + R𝑖 = E 𝑑𝑡

Assuming the initial current is zero, find the current at any time 𝑡.
Solution:
𝑑𝑖 𝑑𝑖
L 𝑑𝑡 + R 𝑖 = E transposing gives L 𝑑𝑡 = E - R𝑖

Now R, L and E are constants while 𝑖 and 𝑡 are the variables,

inverting:
1 𝑑𝑡 1
=
𝐿 𝑑𝑖 𝐸 −𝑅𝑖
1 𝑑𝑖
separating the variables gives: ∫ 𝑑𝑡 =∫
𝐿 𝐸 −𝑅𝑖
RMIT University©20I6 18
• integrating gives:
𝑡 1
= - ln 𝐸 − 𝑅𝑖 + 𝐶, 𝐶 is the constant of integration
𝐿 𝑅

• to find C use 𝑖 = 0 when t = 0 substituting gives :

1 1
0 = - ln 𝐸 + 𝐶⇒ 𝐶 = ln(𝐸)
𝑅 𝑅
𝑡 1 1
= - ln(𝐸 − 𝑅𝑖)+ ln(𝐸)
𝐿 𝑅
-0.34t 𝑅

1 1 𝐸
= [ln(𝐸) - ln(𝐸 − 𝑅𝑖)] = ln
𝑅 𝑅 𝐸 −𝑅𝑖
𝑅𝑡
𝑅𝑡 𝐸 E
By log laws transposing: = ln so that =𝑒 𝐿
𝐿 𝐸 −𝑅𝑖 𝐸 −𝑅𝑖
−𝑅𝑡 −𝑅𝑡
𝐸−𝑅𝑖
Inverting to 𝑖 make the subject: =𝑒 𝐿 so E - 𝑅𝑖 = 𝐸𝑒 𝐿
𝐸

- RMIT University©20I6 19
 −𝑅𝑡 −𝑅𝑡 −𝑅𝑡
𝐸
• 𝑅𝑖 = E – E𝑒 𝐿 = E 1 −𝑒 𝐿 ⇒ 𝑖(𝑡) = 1−𝑒 𝐿
𝑅

RMIT University©20I6

20