1

Assignment 2
1. Consider the thin, glass-wall, mercury thermometer system shown in Figure 1.
Assume that the thermometer is at a uniform temperature (ambient temperature)
and that at t=0 it is immersed in a bath of temperature + , where is the bath
temperature (which may be constant or changing) measured from the ambient
temperature . Define the instantaneous thermometer temperature by + so that
is the change in the thermometer temperature satisfying the condition that (0) =
0. A) Obtain a mathematical model for the system. B) Determine the temp measured
by the thermometer as a function of time if there is a step change in the temp of the
bath by 80 degree centigrade. C) Determine the temp measured by the thermometer
as a function of time if the bath temp increases linearly with time.

Fig.1. Thin, glass-wall, mercury thermometer system

2. Consider the liquid level system shown in Figure 2. At steady state the inflow rate is
and the outflow rate is also . Assume that at t=0 the inflow rate is changed from
to + , where is a small quantity. The disturbance input is , which is also a
small quantity. A) Draw a block diagram of the system. B) Determine the transfer
function 2 () by () . where 2 () = [2 ()], () = [ ()], and () =
[ ()]. The, capacitances of tanks 1 and 2 are 1 and 2 , respectively.
 2

+
+

+

+

Fig. 2. Liquid level system

3. Consider the system described by

+ 3 + 2 =
Derive a state-space representation of the system.

4. Derive the transfer function of the electrical circuit shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 3. Electrical circuit

 3

Problems for practice 2

5. Obtain a state space representation of the system shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 4. Mechanical system

6. Consider the conical water tank system shown in Fig. 5; The flow through the valve is
turbulent and is related to the head H by
= 0.005
Where Q is the flow rate measured in m3/sec and H is in meters.
Suppose that the head is 2m at t=0. What will be the head at t=60 sec?
 4

Fig. 5. Conical water tank system

7. Derive the transfer function of op amp circuit shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 6. Op amp circuit