Differential Equations

Their Origins
Dillon & Fadyn
Spring 2000

In The Beginning
Newton invented differential equations to
describe physical laws.
Many of the general laws of nature are
best expressed as differential equations.

Examples

Newtons Second Law of

Motion
The force acting on a body is equal to
the rate of change of
the momentum of the body.

d
(mv)
=
dt

dv
= m
dt

Population Growth
The Exponential Model
The rate at which a population grows
is directly proportional to
the size of the population itself.

dP=
dt

kP

Notice
In the exponential model,

the relative growth rate is constant.

dP / dt = k
P

Relative Growth Rate

dP / dt
P
Absolute Growth Rate

dP
dt

Population Growth
The Verhulst Model
The relative growth rate of a population
is not a constant,
but is a function of the size of the population.

dP / dt = f (P)
P

In the Verhulst Model

dP / dt
=
P

f (P )

dP
=
dt

The function

f (P ) P

f (P )

can assume various forms

leading to different models.

The Logistic Model

A Version of The Verhulst Model

f ( P) = a b P
As the population gets larger,
the relative growth rate decreases.

dP / dt = a b P
P

dP / dt
P

Logistic Model

dP / dt = a b P
P

a/b

Relative growth rate as a function

of the population.

Population Growth
The Predator-Prey Model
A nonlinear System of D.E.s
Youre all experts on this now, yes?

dx / dt = x ( a by )
dy / dt = y ( c + dx )

Compare Relative Growth

Rates
Exponential
Logistic
Predator-Prey

dP / dt
=
k
P
dP / dt = a b P
P
dx / dt
x
dy / dt
y

= a by
= c + dx

More Examples

LRC Circuits
C for capacitance

L for inductance

E(t)
Electromotive force (battery)

R for resistance

Kirchoffs Law
In words:
The sum of the voltage
drops across the passive elements
in the circuit equals the applied voltage.
Passive elements: inductor, resistor, capacitor
Applied voltage: what the battery supplies

Voltage Drops?
Across the inductor
Across the resistor
Across the capacitor

L dI / dt

R I
(1 / C ) Q

Here I is current, Q is the charge

on the capacitor.

Special Notes
The current is the same at all points in
the simple circuit we have here.
The capacitor is the only element with a
charge associated to it.
The current is the first derivative of the
charge on the capacitor.

The Model
A differential equation that describes
the relationships in the circuit

E (t ) = L

dI
dt

+ RI +

Independent variable
Dependent variable

1
C

t
I ,Q

Theres A Problem
Two dependent variables are o.k. for a
partial d.e. or for a system.
This model should only have one
dependent variable.
Use

I = dQ / dt

to fix the problem.

Substituting

E (t ) = L
dI
dt

E (t ) = L

+ RI +

dI
dt

d 2Q
dt

d 2Q
dt 2

I=

+ R

1
C

dQ
dt

dQ
dt

1
C

The Model for an LRC Circuit

E (t ) = L

d 2Q
dt 2

+ R

dQ
dt

1
C

Spring-Mass Systems
Imagine a mass m suspended from
a spring with a fixed support.
Suppose the whole system is in a damping
medium, like air, or water, or jello.
Suppose further that there is a driving
force, f(t), making the mass oscillate.

The Model

f (t ) = m

dx
dt 2

+c

dx
dt

+ kx

x is the displacement of the mass,

measured from the resting position
c is a constant depending on the
damping medium
k is the so-called spring constant (from
Hookes Law)
t is the independent, x the dependent
variable

Compare
LRC Circuit Model

E (t ) = L

d 2Q
dt 2

+ R

dQ
dt

1
C

Spring-Mass System Model

f (t ) = m

dx 2
2
dt

+c

dx
dt

+ kx

One Model
Two entirely different
applications

Final Remarks
We still havent solved a differential
equation, but now we know what they
might be good for.