Engineering Mathematics II

KIX1002
Engineering applications of ODE

Adeeb Arif Kor

Week 5

Semester II - 2024/2025
Contents

1 Mechanical mass-spring-damper motional system

2 Electrical resistor-inductor-capacitor (RLC) circuit

3 Solution mixing and concentration

4 Radioactive decay and radiocarbon dating

5 Newton’s law of cooling

Mechanical mass-spring-damper motional system
A mechanical element is made up of three elements, the moving
object represented by a mass, m, the elasticity represented by the
sprint constant, k, the damper represented by the damping constant,
c. This is usually presented schematically as in figure 1.

Figure 1: Mass-spring-damper system.

Mechanical mass-spring-damper motional system
The equation of motion is given as

mẍ + c ẋ + kx = F (t), (1)

where x is the displacement, t is time, and F (t) is the forcing

function. This system is frequently used to represent vibrational and
oscillatory motions. Consider an electric motor with m = 10 kg that
is mounted to the ground via rubber mount with k = 80 N/m and
c = 40 Ns/m. The uneven shaft creates an unbalanced rotation with
F (t) = 20 cos 5t N that causes the motor to vibrate.

Solve for x(t).

Mechanical mass-spring-damper motional system
Substituting the parameter values into the differential equation gives

10ẍ + 40ẋ + 80x = 20 cos 5t. (2)

Solving for the homogeneous ODE, we obtain the characteristic

equation
10m2 + 40m + 80 = 0. (3)
Hence,
m1 = −2 + 2i and m2 = −2 − 2i. (4)
Thus, the general solution to the homogeneous ODE is

xc (t) = e −2t (A cos 2x + B sin 2t). (5)

Mechanical mass-spring-damper motional system
To solve the non-homogeneous ODE, we use the method of
undetermined coefficients, which is suitable since r (t) = 20 cos 5t.
Accordingly, a suitable choice for xp is

xp = K cos 5t + M sin 5t. (6)

Taking the first and second derivatives of xp yields

ẋp = −5K sin 5t + 5M cos 5t, (7)

ẍp = −25K cos 5t − 25M sin 5t. (8)
Mechanical mass-spring-damper motional system
Substituting into equation (2) gives

10(−25K cos 5t − 25M sin 5t) + 40(−5K sin 5t

+ 5M cos 5t) + 80(K cos 5t + M sin 5t) = 20 cos 5t. (9)

Factoring out the left-hand side in terms of cos 5t and sin 5t, we
obtain

(−170K + 200M) cos 5t + (−200K − 170M) sin 5t = 20 cos 5t. (10)

Mechanical mass-spring-damper motional system
Thus,

−170K + 200M = 20 (11)

−200K − 170M = 0. (12)

Solving for K and M yields

34 40
K =− , M= . (13)
689 689
Thus, the particular solution for the non-homogeneous ODE is
34 40
xp (x) = − cos 5t + sin 5t. (14)
689 689
Mechanical mass-spring-damper motional system
The total solution is
34 40
x(t) = e −2t (A cos 2x + B sin 2t) − cos 5t + sin 5t. (15)
689 689
Electrical resistor-inductor-capacitor (RLC) circuit
An RLC circuit is shown in figure 2, which consists of an inductor
L = 50 H, a resistor R = 5 Ω, and a capacitor C = 8 F. At t = 0,
the switch is closed.
A B
i(t)
R q(t)
C
E (t)
L
D C
Figure 2: RLC electrical circuit.
Electrical resistor-inductor-capacitor (RLC) circuit
The differential equation for the RLC circuit is given as
1
Lq̈ + R q̇ + q = E (t), (16)
C
where E (t) represents the battery. Solve for q(t) and i(t) for
E (t) = 40.
Electrical resistor-inductor-capacitor (RLC) circuit
Substituting the parameter values into the differential equation gives
1
50q̈ + 5q̇ + q = 40. (17)
8
Solving for the homogeneous ODE, we obtain the characteristic
equation
1
50m2 + 5m + = 0. (18)
8
Hence,
m1 = m2 = −0.05. (19)
Thus, the general solution to the homogeneous ODE is

qc (t) = c1 e −0.05t + c2 te −0.05t . (20)

Electrical resistor-inductor-capacitor (RLC) circuit
To solve the non-homogeneous ODE, we use the method of
undetermined coefficients, which is suitable since r (t) = 40.
Accordingly, a suitable choice for qp is

qp = A. (21)

Taking the first and second derivatives of qp yields

q̇p = 0, (22)
q̈p = 0. (23)
Electrical resistor-inductor-capacitor (RLC) circuit
Substituting into equation (17) gives
1
50(0) + 5(0) + A = 40. (24)
8
Thus,
A = 320. (25)
The particular solution for the non-homogeneous ODE is

qp (x) = 320. (26)

The total solution is

q(t) = c1 e −0.05t + c2 te −0.05t + 320. (27)

Electrical resistor-inductor-capacitor (RLC) circuit
Since the switch is closed at t = 0, the initial conditions are

q(0) = 0, q̇(0) = i(0) = 0. (28)

Applying q(0) = 0 on equation (27), we obtain

c1 + 320 = 0 ⇒ c1 = −320. (29)

To apply q̇(0) = 0, we take the derivative of equation (27) and

substitute t = 0, which gives

−0.05c1 + c2 = 0 ⇒ c2 = 16. (30)

Electrical resistor-inductor-capacitor (RLC) circuit
Thus, the actual charge solution is

q(t) = −320e −0.05t − 16te −0.05t + 320 (31)

and the actual current solution is

i(t) = 0.8te −0.05t . (32)

Solution mixing and concentration
A tank contains 40 L of a solution composed of 90% water and 10%
alcohol. A second solution containing 50% water and 50% alcohol is
added to the tank at a rate of 4 L min−1 . As the second solution is
being added, the tank is being drained at the rate of 4 L min−1 , as
shown in figure 3.

Figure 3: Mixture model.

Solution mixing and concentration
Assuming the solution in the tank is stirred constantly, how much
alcohol is in the tank after t minutes? Subsequently, determine how
much alcohol is in the tank after 10 minutes.
Solution mixing and concentration
Let y (t) be the amount of alcohol (in L) in the tank at any time t (in
minutes). Accordingly, the rate of change of the amount of alcohol in
the tank with respect to time is equal to the difference between the
alcohol inflow rate and the alcohol outflow rate such that
dy
= alcohol inflow rate − alcohol outflow rate
dt
−1

−1 y 
= (4L min × 50%) − 4L min × (33)
40
1
= 2 − y.
10
Solution mixing and concentration
Thus, rearranging the equation, we obtain a 1st order ODE
dy 1
+ y = 2. (34)
dt 10
To use the exact method for 1st order ODE, we convert the inexact
ODE of equation (34) using the integrating factor
1 1
R
dt
e 10 = e 10 t . (35)

Multiplying the integrating factor with equation (34) yields

1 dy 1 1 1
e 10 t + e 10 t y = 2e 10 t , (36)
dt 10
Solution mixing and concentration
which is an exact 1st order ODE, thus, can be written as
d 1t 1
[e 10 y ] = 2e 10 t . (37)
dt
Taking the integral, we obtain
Z Z
d 1t 1
[e y ] dt = 2e 10 t dt,
10 (38)
dt
resulting in
1 t 1
e 10 t y = 20e 10 + A ⇒ y = 20 + Ae − 10 t , (39)

where A is a constant.
Solution mixing and concentration
To determine A, we use the initial condition where
y (0) = 40 × 10% = 4. Applying the initial condition, we obtain

4 = 20 + A ⇒ A = −16. (40)

Accordingly, the complete solution is

1
y = −16e − 10 t + 20. (41)

When t = 10 minutes, the amount of alcohol in the tank is

10
y (10) = 20 − 16e − 10 = 20 − 16e −1 = 14.114 L. (42)
Radioactive decay and radiocarbon dating
The governing equation for radioactive decay is given as
dy
= ky , (43)
dt
where y represents the amount of radioactive material, k is a
constant of proportionality that depends on the material. An
ubiquitous application of the radioactive decay equation is for
estimating the age of discovered fossils, known as radiocarbon dating,
which relates to the decay of radioactive carbon-14. In living
organisms, the ratio of carbon-14 to ordinary carbon-12 (representing
the amount of radioactive material) is constant.
Radioactive decay and radiocarbon dating
When an organism dies, absorption of carbon-14 stops, so the
amount (the carbon-14 to carbon-12 ratio) reduces due to
radioactive decay. It is also known that the half-life of carbon-14 is
5715 years, which is the time taken for certain amount of carbon-14
to reduce to half (50%) of the original amount.
Consider a scenario where a discovered fossil is measured to have
carbon-14 to carbon-12 ratio of 52.5%. Determine what is the age of
the fossil?
Radioactive decay and radiocarbon dating
Rearranging the equation of radioactive decay, we obtain a 1st order
ODE
dy
− ky = 0. (44)
dt
To use the exact method for 1st order ODE, we convert the inexact
ODE equation (44) using the integrating factor
R
−k dt
e = e −kt . (45)

Multiplying the integrating factor with equation (44) yields

dy
e −kt − e −kt ky = 0, (46)
dt
Radioactive decay and radiocarbon dating
which is an exact 1st order ODE, thus, can be written as
d −kt
[e y ] = 0. (47)
dt
Taking the integral, we obtain
Z Z
d −kt
[e y ] dt = 0 dt. (48)
dt
resulting in
e −kt y = A ⇒ y = Ae kt , (49)
where A is a constant.
Radioactive decay and radiocarbon dating
Applying the initial condition y (0) = y0 , we obtain A = y0 . Thus,

y = y0 e kt . (50)

To determine k, we use the information that the half-life of carbon-14

is 5715 years, which is represented as y (5715) = 0.5y0 . Hence,

ln 0.5
0.5y0 = y0 e 5715k ⇒ k = = −0.0001213. (51)
5715
The complete solution is

y (t) = y0 e −0.0001213t . (52)

Radioactive decay and radiocarbon dating
When y = 0.525y0 , the age is
ln 0.525
0.525y0 = y0 e −0.0001213t ⇒ t = ≈ 5312 years. (53)
−0.0001213
Newton’s law of cooling
Based on the principle of thermal conduction, the rate of change of
temperature T of an object is proportional to the difference between
T and the surrounding temperature Tm . In particular,
dT
= k(T − Tm ), (54)
dt
where k is a constant of proportionality.
Newton’s law of cooling
Suppose that during winter the daytime indoor temperature in a
certain office building is maintained at 25°C. The heating is turned
off at 10 PM (t = 0) and turned on again at 6 AM the following day
(t = 8 h). At 2 AM (t = 4 h), the indoor temperature was measured
to be 20°C. The surrounding temperature has been more or less
constant at 10°C. So, when the heating is turned on again at 6 AM
the following day, what is the indoor temperature of the building?
Newton’s law of cooling
To solve equation (54), we use the separable method. Accordingly,
we rearrange equation (54) such that
1
dT = k dt. (55)
T − Tm
Integrating both sides, we obtain
Z Z
1
dT = k dt
T − Tm
ln |T − Tm | = kt + A,
Newton’s law of cooling
where A is a constant. Expressing T in terms of t yields

ln |T − Tm | = kt + A
T − Tm = Be kt
T = Be kt + Tm ,

where B = e A . Using Tm = 10 gives

T = Be kt + 10. (56)
Newton’s law of cooling
To determine B, we apply the initial condition T (0) = 25, thus

T (0) = B + 10 = 25 ⇒ B = 15. (57)

Hence,
T (t) = 15e kt + 10. (58)
To determine k, use T (4) = 20,

4k ln 23
T (4) = 15e + 10 = 20 ⇒ k = = −0.1014. (59)
4
Plugging k into the solution, we obtain

T (t) = 15e −0.1014t + 10. (60)

Newton’s law of cooling
At 6 AM (t = 8 h), the indoor temperature is

T (8) = 15e −0.1014(8) + 10 = 16.67. (61)

Thus, the indoor temperature at 6 AM is 16.67°C.

Summary
• In this lecture, we discussed several engineering applications of
1st and 2nd order ODEs.
• These examples highlight the importance of differential
equations in modelling physical systems.
• However, the topic of mathematical modelling (derivation of the
governing equation) is out of the scope of this course.
• For now, our primary objective is to develop the understanding
of, and ability to solve, 1st and 2nd order ODEs.