CONTENT

1.1

INTRODUCTION

1.2

OBJECTIVES

1.3

BODY
1.3.1

Newtons law of cooling

1.3.2

Falling body problems

1.3

CONCLUSION

1.4

REFERENCES

1.5

APPENDICES

INTRODUCTION

A differential equation is a mathematical equation that relates some function with

its derivatives. In applications, the functions usually represent physical quantities, the derivatives
represent their rates of change, and the equation defines a relationship between the two. Because
such relations are extremely common, differential equations play a prominent role in many
disciplines including engineering, physics, economics, and biology. Besides, a differential
equation is any equation which contains derivatives, either ordinary derivatives or partial
derivatives.
In pure mathematics, differential equations are studied from several different
perspectives, mostly concerned with their solution which is the set of functions that satisfy the
equation. Only the simplest differential equations are solvable by explicit formulas, however,
some properties of solutions of a given differential equation may be determined without finding
their exact form. If a self-contained formula for the solution is not available, the solution may be
numerically approximated using computers.
The theory of dynamical systems puts emphasis on qualitative analysis of systems
described by differential equations, while many numerical methods have been developed to
determine solutions with a given degree of accuracy. In learning a differential equation, there are
many types and we should know about the different of them like how to use them in appropriate

situation. Each of that type of differential equation have not a same way to calculate and to use
them. But these types of differential equations show the variety of ways how to solve a problem.

OBJECTIVES

During the process of setting up a group assignment, we have gained and learned a bit of
information about:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

The calculation method of differential equations and formulas involved.

The method of difference equations apply to a situation that often occurs around people.
The background and history of Newton's laws.
The Theory of Newtons law of cooling and falling body problems.
How to calculate and solving the problems relating Newtons law of cooling and falling body
problems.

BODY

1.3.1

Newtons law of cooling

Differential

equations

first

came

into

existence

with

the

invention

of calculus by Newton and Leibniz. In Chapter 2 of his 1671 work "Methodus fluxionum et
Serierum Infinitarum", Isaac Newton listed three kinds of differential equations:

He solves these examples and others using infinite series and discusses the non-uniqueness of
solutions.

There are some applications of First Order Differential Equation and one of them is using
for Newtons law of cooling. Newton's law of cooling states that the rate of heat loss of a body is
proportional to the difference in temperatures between the body and its surroundings. As such, it
is equivalent to a statement that the heat transfer coefficient, which mediates between heat losses
and temperature differences, is a constant. This condition is generally true in thermal
conduction (where it is guaranteed by Fourier's law), but it is often only approximately true in
conditions of convective heat transfer, where a number of physical processes make effective heat
transfer coefficients somewhat dependent on temperature differences. Finally, in the case of heat
transfer by thermal radiation, Newton's law of cooling is not true.

Isaac Newton did not originally state his law in the above form in 1701, when it was
originally formulated. Rather, using today's terms, Newton noted after some mathematical
manipulation that the rate of temperature change of a body is proportional to the difference in
temperatures between the body and its surroundings. This final simplest version of the law given
by Newton himself was partly due to confusion in Newton's time between the concepts of heat
and temperature, which would not be fully disentangled until much later.
When stated in terms of temperature differences, Newton's law (with several further
simplifying assumptions, such as a low Biot number and temperature-independent heat capacity)
results in a simple differential equation for temperature-difference as a function of time. This
equation has a solution that specifies a simple negative exponential rate of temperaturedifference decrease, over time. This characteristic time function for temperature-difference
behavior is also associated with Newton's law of cooling.
The graph drawn between the temperature of the body and time is known as cooling
curve. The slope of the tangent to the curve at any point gives the rate of fall of temperature.

Temperature

Time

Applications:

There are several applications of Newtons Law of cooling that almost related with our
daily life. The lists of them are:
1. To predict how long it takes for a hot object to cool down at a certain temperature.
2. To find the temperature of a soda placed in a refrigerator by a certain amount of time.
3. It helps to indicate the time of death given the probable body temperature at the time
of death and current body temperature.

Formula:

Newtons law of cooling state that the rate of change of the temperature,

dT
dt

is,

T T
dT
=k
dt

Where,
TS = temperature of the surrounding medium
T = temperature of the body
T-TS = temperature difference between the body and surrounding medium
t = time
k = positive constant

Example of question:

Example:
The thermometer is taken from a room that is 20C to the outdoors where the temperature is 5C.
After one minute, the thermometer reads 12C. Use Newtons Law of Cooling to answer the
following questions.
a) What will the reading on the thermometer be after one more minutes?
b) When will the thermometer read 6C?

Solution:

a)

TS = 5C

T(0) = 20C
T(1) = 12C
t = 2 minutes

So, by using,
T T
dT
=k
dt

dT
=k ( T5)
dt

Separating the variables,

1
T 5

dT = -k dt

ln |T-5| = - kt + A
T 5 = Be-kt
T = Be-kt + 5
20 = Be-k(0) + 5
20 = B + 5
B = 15

;since T(0) = 20C

Thus,
T = 15e-kt + 5
12 = 15e-k(1) + 5
125
15

= e-k

0.467 = e-k
ln 0.467 = ln e-k
ln 0.467 = -k ln e
k=

ln 0.467
1

k = 0.761

Therefore,
T = 15e-0.761t + 5
T = 15e-0.761(2) + 5
T = 15e-1.522 + 5
T = 8.274C

b)

T = 15e-0.761t + 5
6 = 15e-0.761t + 5

;since ln e = 1

65
15

= e-0.761t

ln 0.067 = ln e-0.761t
ln 0.067 = -0.761t ln e
t=

;since ln e = 1

ln 0.067
0.761

t = 3.552 min

1.3.2

Falling body problems

Consider a vertically falling body of mass m that is being influenced only by gravity g
and an air resistance that is proportional to the velocity of the body. Assume that both gravity and
mass remain constant and, for convenience, choose the downward direction as the positive
direction.

Newton's second law of motion: The net force acting on a body is equal to the time rate
dv
of change of the momentum of the body; or, for constant mass, F = m dt
For the problem at hand, there are two forces acting on the body: the force due to gravity
given by the weight w of the body, which equals mg, and the force due to air resistance given by
kv, where k > 0 is a constant of proportionality. The minus sign is required because this force
opposes the velocity; that is, it acts in the upward, or negative, direction. The net force F on the
body is, therefore, F = mg-kv.

dv
Substituting this result we obtain mgkv = m dt

or

dv
dt

k
m v = g as the

equation of motion for the body.

If air resistance is negligible or nonexistent, then k = 0 and equation simplifies to

When k > 0, the limiting velocity v1 is defined by vl =

mg
k

dv
dt

= g.

Given differential equation is valid only if the given conditions are satisfied. This
equation is not valid if, for example, air resistance is not proportional to velocity but to the
velocity squared, or if the upward direction is taken to be the positive direction.
Example of question:

Example:
A body weighing 64 lb is dropped form a height of 100 ft with an initial velocity of 10 ft/sec.
Assume that the air resistance is proportional to the velocity of the body. If the limiting velocity
is known to be 128 ft/sec, find
a) An expression for the velocity of the body at any time t
b) An expression for the position of the body at any time t
Solution:a)

Falling body
X=
0

+v
e

Given w = 64 = mg

m = 64/32 = 2

Where g = 32 ft/sec2
Given vt = 128 where vt =
k = 64/128 = 1/2
The equation involved:
2

dv 1
+ v=2(32)
dt 2

dv 1
+ v =32
dt 4

mg
k

X=10
0

dv
1
128v
=32 v =
dt
4
4
4
dvdt
128v
4 ln (128v)=t+c
t
+C
4

t
4

A=ec

ln ( 128v )=

128v= A e

v =128 A e

C=

c
4

t
4

(1)

At t=0, v=10 A=118

Substitute

A=118

v=128118 e

b) Since

v=

dx
dt

dx
=128118 e
dt

into eq. (1)

t
4

where

t
4

x is displacement, then v =128118 e 4

(3)

By using separable method

(2)

dx= 128118 e 4 dt

can be written as

 dx= [ 128118 e

t
4

] dt

x=128 t+ 472 e 4 + c
At t=0 , we have

(4)
x=0

c=472

The displacement at any time t is given by

t

x=128 t +472 e 4 472

REFERENCE
http://science.kennesaw.edu/~sellerme/sfehtml/classes/math2202/newtonslawofcoolingsolutions.
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