College of Engineering Pune

Question Bank on Partial Differential Equations

Questions on CO1
1. Identify the following equations by their name (if any), order, linear or non-
linear, homogeneous or non-homogeneous:
∂2y ∂2y s+t
∂t 2 + ∂s2 = e
Ans: 2-D Poisson equation, second order, linear, non-homogeneous differen-
tial equation.
∂y ∂2y
∂t = ∂t2
Ans: second order, linear, homogeneous differential equation that can be
solved as an ODE.
∂2u 2 ∂2u
∂t2 = c ∂x2
Ans: One dimensional wave equation, second order, linear, homogeneous
differential equation.
∂ 2y ∂y
( ∂x 2 )siny + ∂t = 0

Ans: second order, non-linear, homogeneous differential equation.

∂2u ∂2u
∂x2 + ∂y 2 = f (x, y) Ans: Same as first.

2. Write the general one dimensional heat equation and show that u = e−9tsinωx
is a solution for some suitable constant c.
3. State the ideal physical conditions which are assumed to model the Partial
Differential Equation of a vibrating string?
Ans: String is homogeneous i.e. density is uniform and perfectly elastic i.e.
no resistance to bending, tightly stretched so that tension is so large that
gravitational force can be neglected, motion of the particles is only in one
direction i.e. vertical so that deflection and slope at any point is always small
in absolute value.
Questions on CO2 and CO3
1. Find solutions u(x, y) of the following equations by separating variables.
2 2
(a) ux + uy = (x + y)u Ans: ce(x +y )/2+k(x−y) (b) y 2 ux − x2 uy = 0 Ans:
3 3
cem(x +y )
(c) ux = 2ut + u Ans: cekx+(k−1)y/2 (d) 2xzx − 3yzy = 0 Ans: cxk/2y k/3
2. Find the deflection u(x, t) of the string of length L = 1 when c = 1, the
initial velocity is zero, and the initial deflection is 2x − x2 , 0 < x < 1/2 and
is zero if 1/2 < x < 1 Express u(x, t) as superposition of two functions and
also draw figures of u(x, t) for various values of t.

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3. Find the deflection u(x, t) of the string of length L when c = 1, the initial
velocity is zero, and the initial deflection in the interval [0, L] is
(a) f (x) = kx(1 − x2) Ans:
∞ 12k(−1)n+1
u(x, t) = cos nπt sin nπx
X

n=1 n3 π 3
(b) f (x) = k(sin(πx) − 1/3 sin(3πx)) Ans:
u(x, t) = k cos πt sin πx − (k/3) cos 3πt sin 3πx
3b


 L

 x ; 0 ≤ x ≤ L/3
3b
(c) f (x) = L (L − 2x) ; L/3 ≤ x ≤ 2L/3 Ans:
 3b

L (x − L) ; 2L/3 ≤ x ≤ L



∞ 18b sin nπ/3

u(x, t) = Bn cos nπt sin nπx; Bn = (1 − 2 cos nπ/3)
X

n=1 n2 π 2
4. Find the deflection u(x, t) of the string of length L = π when c = 1, the
initial deflection is zero, and the initial velocity is
(a)g(x) = 0.01x if 0 ≤ x ≤ π/2, g(x) = 0.01(π − x) if π/2 ≤ x ≤ π.
(b)g(x) = b sin(3πx/L) cos(2πx/L) Ans:
b b
sin t sin x + sin 5t sin 5x
2 10
5. Find the temperature u(x, t) in a bar that is perfectly insulated laterally,
whose ends are kept at temperature 0 0 c and whose initial temperature is
f (x) where
(a) f (x) = k sin(0.2πx); L = 10cm, ρ = 10.6gm/cm3, thermal conductivity
= 1.04cal/(cmseco c), σ = 0.056cal/gm0c. Ans: B2 = k, all other coefficients
are 0.
(b) f (x) = x if 0 < x < 2.5; f (x) = 2.5 if 2.5 < x < 7.5; f (x) = 10 −
x if 7.5 < x < 10; L = 10cm, ρ = 10.6gm/cm3, thermal conductivity =
1.04cal/(cmseco c), σ = 0.056cal/gm0c. Ans:
(c) f (x) = 2 − 0.4|x − 5|; L = 10cm
6. Find the temperature u(x, t) in a bar that is perfectly insulated laterally,
whose ends are insulated and whose initial temperature is f (x) where
(a) f (x) = cos(2x), L = π, c = 1 (b) f (x) = 1 − (x/π), L = π, c = 1
(c) f (x) = (x − π/2)2, L = π, c = 1.Ans:
π2 X∞ 1 2
u(x, t) = + 2
cos 2kxe−4k t
12 k=1 k

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 7. If the ends x = 0 and x = L of laterally insulated bar of length L are kept at
constant temperatures 10 0 c and 50 0 c respectively, what is the temperature
u(x) in the bar after a long time ( t → ∞). Ans: u(x, t) = 10 + 40x/L
8. A bar of 10 cm long with ends A and B kept at 20 0 c and 40 0c respec-
tively until steady state conditions prevail. The temperature at A is then
suddenly raised to 50 0 c and at the same time at B lowered to 10 0 c and
these are maintained. Find the subsequent temperature distribution. Show
that the temperature at the middle point of the bar remains unaltered for
all time.Ans:
60 X∞ 1 kπx −tk2 π2 /25
u(x, t) = −4x + 50 − sin e ; u(5, t) = 300C
π k=1 k 5

9. A rod of 100 cm. length has its ends kept at 0 0 c and 100 0 c until the
steady state conditions prevail. The two ends are then suddenly insulated
and maintained so. Find the temperature in the rod. Show that the sum
of the temperatures at any two points equidistant from the centre is always
100 0 c.Ans:
∞
400 X 1 (2k − 1)πx −t(2k−1)2π2 c2 /100
u(x, t) = 50 − 2 cos e
π k=1 (2k − 1)2 100

10. Obtain the temperature in a bar of length 1, and with lateral surface insu-
lated where, ux (1, t) = 0, u(0, t) = 10, u(x, 0) = 10 − x, 0 < x < 1.Ans:
∞
8 X (−1)n (2n − 1)πx −t(2n−1)2c2 π2 /4
10 + 2 sin e
π n=1 (2n − 1)2 2
11. The heat flow in a bar of length π with c = 1 which is laterally insulated and
whose one end x = 0 is kept at 0 0c and at the another end heat is flowing
into air of constant temperature 0 0 c is governed by the one dimensional heat
equation with boundary conditions u(0, t) = 0; ux (π, t) = −u(π, t). Find a
solution u(x, t). Can you find infinitely many solutions? If so, what are
they?Ans:
2
u(x, t) = A sin pxe−p t where p = − tan pπ
12. Show that the problem consisting of ut − c2 uxx = N e−αx subject to
u(0, t) = 0 = u(L, t); u(x, o) = f (x)
can be reduced to a problem for the homogeneous heat equation by setting
u(x, t) = v(x, t)+w(x) and determining w so that v satisfies the homogeneous
equation and the conditions v(0, t) = v(L, t) = 0; v(x, 0) = f (x) − w(x).

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13. The faces of a thin square copper plate of side 24 cm. are perfectly insulated.
The right side is kept at 20 0c and the other sides are kept at 0 0 c. Find the
steady state temperature u(x, y) in the plate. Ans:
80 X 1 nπx nπy
sinh sin
π nodd n sinh nπ 24 24

14. Find the steady state temperature distribution in a thin rectangular metal
plate 0 < x < a, 0 < y < b with its two faces insulated with the follow-
ing boundary conditions prescribed on the four edges - u(0, y) = u(a, y) =
u(x, 0) = 0; u(x, b) = sin(nπx/a).Ans:
nπb nπx nπy
u(x, y) = cosech sin sinh
a a a
15. Find a suitable equation to model the two dimensional vibration problem for
(i) a circular membrane
(ii) rectangular membrane.
Derive (i) from (ii) and vice versa.
16. For radial symmetry show that ∇2u = uxx + uyy reduces to ∇2u = urr +
(1/r)ur . Hence solve ∇2 u = 0
Questions on CO4 and CO5
1. Write a general second order homogeneous partial differential equation in
two independent variables. For this prove the fundamental theorem of su-
perposition of solutions.
2. Derive the one-dimensional wave equation which governs the transverse vi-
brations of an elastic string of length L with standard assumptions stated
in question 3 of CO1. Discuss what will happen if some of the assump-
tions are not satisfied. Also, what additional assumption will simplify the
calculations?
3. Obtain the deflection of a vibrating elastic string u(x, t) at any point x and at
∂ 2u 2
2∂ u
any time t > 0 where the vibrations are governed by the PDE 2 = c
∂t ∂x2
subject to boundary conditions u(0, t) = u(L, t) = 0 for all t and initial
∂u
conditions u(x, 0) = f (x); = g(x).
∂t |t=0
4. Can you express solution of one dimensional wave equation as u(x, t) =
1 ∗ ∗ ∗
2 (g (x−ct)+g (x+ct)) where g(x) is initial velocity and g (x) is its odd/even
extension, initial deflection is zero.

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 5. Derive the one-dimensional heat equation which governs the heat flow in a
long thin bar of length L with insulated lateral surface.
6. Obtain the temperature u(x, t) at any point x and at any time t > 0 in a thin
2
∂u 2∂ u
long bar of length L where the heat flow is governed by the PDE =c
∂t ∂x2
0
if both the ends are kept at 0 c and initial temp. is given by u(x, 0) = f (x).
7. Obtain the temperature u(x, t) at any point x and at any time t > 0 in a thin
∂u ∂ 2u
long bar of length L where the heat flow is governed by the PDE = c2 2
∂t ∂x
if both the ends are insulated and initial temp. is given by u(x, 0) = f (x).
8. Obtain the temperature u(x, y) at any point (x, y) in a rectangular plate of
sides a and b where the heat flow is steady, faces are completely insulated
and if initial temperature is given by u(0, y) = f (y), u(x, 0) = u(a, y) =
u(x, b) = 0.
Please report any mistakes in the problems here and start a forum on moodle
where you can post the solutions to these.