Applications of First-Order DEs - Examples & Applications

Growth and Decay Problems

Population Growth Problem

A bacteria culture starts with 500 bacteria and doubles in size every hour. How many bacteria will there be after 3 hours?

Population Growth Solution

0 of 3 Steps Completed
1

Radioactive Decay Problem

Carbon-14 has a half-life of 5730 years. A fossil bone contains 20% of its original Carbon-14. Estimate the age of the fossil.

Radioactive Decay Solution

0 of 3 Steps Completed
1

Continuous Compound Interest Problem

An initial investment of $10,000 grows at an annual interest rate of 5% compounded continuously. How long will it take for the investment to double in value?

Continuous Compound Interest Solution

0 of 3 Steps Completed
1

Newton's Law of Cooling Problems

Newton's Law of Cooling Problem

A metal bar at 100°C is placed in a room at 20°C. After 10 minutes, the temperature of the bar is 80°C. Find the time it takes to cool to 40°C.

Newton's Law of Cooling Solution

0 of 4 Steps Completed
1

Heating Problem (Reverse Cooling)

A cold drink at 5°C is brought into a room at 25°C. After 15 minutes, its temperature rises to 12°C. What will its temperature be after 30 minutes?

Heating Problem Solution

0 of 3 Steps Completed
1

Mixing Problems

Mixing Problem (Constant Volume)

A tank initially contains 100 liters of pure water. Brine containing 0.2 kg of salt per liter enters the tank at a rate of 5 liters/minute. The well-mixed solution leaves the tank at the same rate. Find the amount of salt in the tank after 20 minutes.

Constant Volume Mixing Solution

0 of 4 Steps Completed
1

Mixing Problem (Changing Volume)

A tank initially contains 500 gallons of brine with 50 lbs of dissolved salt. Brine containing 2 lbs of salt per gallon flows in at 5 gal/min. The well-mixed solution flows out at 3 gal/min. Find the amount of salt in the tank after tt minutes.

Changing Volume Mixing Solution

0 of 4 Steps Completed
1

Electrical Circuits

RL Circuit Problem

A 12-volt battery is connected to a series circuit with a resistor of 10 ohms and an inductor of 2 henries. The initial current is zero. Find the current i(t)i(t).

RL Circuit Solution

0 of 3 Steps Completed
1

RC Circuit Problem

An RC series circuit has a resistance of 200 ohms, a capacitance of 10410^{-4} farads, and an applied voltage of 100V. If the initial charge on the capacitor is zero, find the charge q(t)q(t).

RC Circuit Solution

0 of 3 Steps Completed
1

Falling Bodies and Kinematics

Falling Body with Air Resistance

A skydiver of mass m=80m=80 kg jumps from an airplane. The air resistance is proportional to velocity, with a constant k=16k = 16 kg/s. If the initial velocity is zero, find the velocity function v(t)v(t) and the terminal velocity. Use g=9.8 m/s2g = 9.8 \text{ m/s}^2.

Falling Body Solution

0 of 3 Steps Completed
1

Orthogonal Trajectories

Orthogonal Trajectories Problem

Find the orthogonal trajectories for the family of parabolas y=cx2y = cx^2.

Orthogonal Trajectories Solution

0 of 3 Steps Completed
1

Orthogonal Trajectories (Circles)

Find the orthogonal trajectories of the family of concentric circles x2+y2=c2x^2 + y^2 = c^2.

Orthogonal Trajectories Solution 2

0 of 3 Steps Completed
1