Mathematical Physics

Homework-4

1. Rate of melting of a spherical metal ball in fire is proportional to its surface area. Which
differential equation will govern the rate of change of volume of metal ball as a function
of time?
2. Let dx = f (x) be an autonomous first-order differential equation with an equilibrium
dt
point at x0 .
(a) Suppose f 0 (x0 ) = 0 and f 00 (x0 ) 6= 0. What can you say about the behaviour of
solutions near x0 ?
(b) Suppose f 0 (x0 ) = 0, f 00 (x0 ) = 0 but f 000 (x0 ) 6= 0. What can you now say about the
behaviour of solutions near x0 ?
3. Find the orthogonal trajectories of the family of parabolas,
x = cy 2 .
4. Let v(t) and w(t) be the horizontal and vertical components of the velocity of a ball.
Then, v and w satisfy the equations,
dv
= rv,
dt

dw
= g rw,
dt

with r as the coefficient of resistance. Determine v(t) and w(t).

5. Draw the phase line for,
dx
= ax(1 x).
dt
Plot the x(t) vs t for various regions found though phase line.

Oct 02, 2015

Shashi C. L. Srivastava

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