ENGINEERING MATHEMATICS II / DAC 20103

CHAPTER 2

APPLICATION OF FIRST ORDER DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION

2.1 Introduction

In this chapter, two forms of application where ordinary differential equations were applied
namely growth and decay of population and Newton’s Law Cooling will be discussed.

2.2 Population Growth

Let P(t) be the number of population for any time, t, Po is the initial number of population
dP
and is the rate growth of population. The rate of growth is proportional to the
dt
number of population or
dP
 kP (2.1)
dt

where k is a proportional constant. This is a first order separable ODE, where P can be
found by solving the ODE.

dP dP
 kP   kdt
dt P

 
dP
 k dt
P
ln P  kt  C
P  e kt C  eC e kt [ln/exponential relation]
 Ae kt , where A  eC
(2.2)

where C is the integration constant and A = eC . At t = 0, the number of population is P = P0,

A can be found.

P  Ae kt
t  0, P  P0
Ae k (0)  P0  A  P0
 P(t )  P0ekt  equation of growth model (2.3)

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Equation of growth model is being used in prediction of bacterial growth and human
population . (Figure 2.1 and 2.2)

Figure 2.1: Bacterial growth model

Figure 2.2: World population growth

Example 2.1

A culture of bacteria initially has Po number of bacteria. At t = 5 hours the number of bacteria
is measured to be 5Po. Determine the time necessary for the number of bacteria to quadruple.

Solution
At the start, the number of bacteria is P0 .
After 5 hours, the number is 5 P0 .
What is the time taken when the number of bacteria become quadruple (4x).

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Start with equation:

P (t )  P0 e kt
t  0  P (0)  P0 e k (0)  P0
t  5  P (5)  5 P0
5 P0  P0 e k (5)  e5 k  5
We have to find k :
ln e5 k  ln 5 [take ln on both side]
5k ln e  ln 5 [ln e  1]
ln 5
k 
5
P (t )  4 P0  t  ?
1 1
t ln 5 t ln 5
4 P0  P0 e 5  e5 4
1
t ln 5
ln e 5  ln 4 [take ln on both side]
1
t ln 5  ln e   ln 4
5
5ln 4  1.3862 
t  5   4.31 hours
ln 5  1.6094 

Example 2.2

A population of 20 wolves has been introduced into a national park. The forest service
estimates that the maximum population the park can sustain is 200 wolves. After 3 years, the
population is estimated to be 40 wolves. If the population follows an exponential growth
model, can the park sustainable after 10 years?

Solution

At the start, the number of wolve were 20.

After 3 years, the number were 40.
What is the number after 10 years?

Start with equation:

P (t )  P0 e kt
t  0  20  P0 e k (0)  P0  20
t  3  P (3)  40

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We have to find k :
40  20e k (3)  e3k  2
ln e3k  ln 2 [take ln on both side]
3k ln e  ln 2 [ln e  1]
ln 2
k 
3
P(10)  ?
ln 2
(10)
P(10)  20e 3
 202  the number of wolf after 10 years
 The park cannot accommodate the wolf, since the maximum it can handle were only 200 .

Example 2.3

The world’s human population went from 4 billion in 1975 to six billion in 2000. Estimate at
what year the human population will reach 19 billion.

Solution

In 1975, the number of human were 4 billion.

In 2000 (after 25 years), the number were 6 billion.
We have to find k from above value.
Start with equation:
P(t )  P0 e kt
Taking 1975 as t (0)  4 B, t (25)  6 B [ B  billion]
6 B  4 Be k (25)
3
e 25 k 
 ln e 25 k  ln(1.5)
2
ln(1.5)
k  0.0162
25
We want ot find t when P  19 B
19 B  4 Be0.0162t
19  19 
e0.0162t   ln e0.0162t  ln  
4  4
 19 
ln  
t     96 years  That year is 1975  96  2071
4
0.0162

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2.3 Radioactive Decay

Radioactive materials decay at a rate proportional to the amount of material present. Let N(t)
dN
be the number of radioactive material for any time, t, No is the initial number of and is
dt
the rate of decay of the material. The rate of decay is proportional to the number of material or

dN
 rN (2.4)
dt

where r is a proportional constant. The negative sign indicate the amount is decreasing /
decaying. This is a first order separable ODE, where N can be found by solving the ODE.

 
dN dN
 rN   r dt
dt N
ln N  rt  C
N  e rt C  eC e rt , (A  eC )
N  Ae rt (2.5)

where C is the integration constant. At t = 0, the number of population is N = N0 , constant A

can be found.

N  Ae  rt
t  0, N  N 0
Ae  r (0)  N 0  A  N 0
 N (t )  N 0 e  rt  equation of decay model
(2.6)

1
When N (t )  N 0 , the time taken is called half-life of the radioactive material, t1 2
2
1  rt
N 0  N 0e 1 2
2
 rt 1
e 12 
2
 kt 1
ln e 1 2  ln [take ln on both side]
2
1 1 ln 2
rt1 2 ln e  ln  t1 2   
2 r ln 2 r
(2.7)

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Figure 2.3: Radioactive decay

Example 2.4
Isotope Carbon-14 has a half-life of 5,730 years. A fossil is found to have 10% of its original
Carbon-14. Determine the age of the fossil.

Solution

100
at t  0 , N   1 . (since the balance of fossil is 10% )
100
50
t  5730 , N   0.5 . (half life is the time taken for the fossil to fall to half its original value)
100
10
We want to find: t  ? when N   0.1 .
100

Start with the equation:

N (t )  N 0 e  rt and 100% of original fossil or 1 at t  0

1  N 0 e  k (0)
N0  1

update the equation with : N 0  1

N (t )  e  rt

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substitute the new information t  5730, N  0.5.

0.5  e 5730 k
ln 0.5  ln e 5730 k (ln/log rule)
ln 0.5  5730k ln e (ln/exp rule)
ln 0.5
k=
5730
k  1.2097  104.

update the equation with k  1.2097  10 4.

4
N  e  (1.209710 )( t )

substitute the new information N  0.1 to find t :

4
0.1  e  (1.209710 )( t )

4
ln 0.1  ln e  (1.209710 )( t )
(ln/log rule)
4
ln 0.1  1.2097  10 t ln e (ln/exp rule)
ln 0.1
t
1.2097  104
 19034 years

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2.4 Newton’s Law of Cooling

It is a model that describes, mathematically, the change in temperature of an object in a given

environment. The law states that the rate of change (in time) of the temperature is proportional
to the difference between the temperature, T of the object and the temperature of the
environment, Te surrounding the object.

dT
 k (T  Te ), (2.8)
dt

where k is proportional constant. – ve sign mean the temperature is decreasing because of

cooling process. The above equation can be separated and integrate to find T.

dT dT
 k (T  Te )    kdt
dt T  Te

 
dT
  kdt
T  Te
ln T  Te  kt  C , C is integrated constant
T  Te  e  kt C  eC e  kt  Ae  kt , A  eC
T (t )  Te  Ae  kt
(2.9)

At t = 0 (cooling process starting)

T (t )  Te  Ae  kt
T0  Te  Ae  k (0)  Te  A
 A  T0  Te
T (t )  Te  (T0  Te )e  kt  object temperature at time t
(2.10)

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Example 2.3

You take an ice-cream out of the freezer, kept at −18 ∘C. The outside temperature is constant at
32 ∘C. After one minute, the ice-cream has warmed to −8 ∘C. Find the temperature of the ice-
cream after five minutes?

Solution

Given, starting temperature (t = 0), To = – 18 oC, environment temperature, To = 32 oC.

After 1 minute, T1 = – 8 oC. To find T5 = ?
Using formula:

T (t )  Te  (To  Te )e  kt  object temperature at time t

we have to find k :
At t  0  To  18 o C
At t  1  T1  8 o C
Te  32 o C
T (t )  Te  (To  Te )e  kt
t  1  8  32  (18  32)e  k (1)
4
50e  k  40  e 3k  [take ln on both side]
5
4
ln e  k  ln  
5
4
k ln e  ln  
5
4
k   ln    0.2231
5
We want to find T5  ? o C (after 5 minutes)
T (5)  Te  (To  Te )e  k (5)
T5  32  (18  32)e 0.2231(5) o
C
 (32  16.3876) o
C
 15.6 o C

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Example 2.4
A corpse is found at noon in a room that is held at a constant temperature of 70 oF. The body is
determined to have a temperature of 78 oF. Half an hour later, the body cools to 76 oF.
Assuming that the deceased person had a body temperature of 98.6 oF at the time of death,
determine the time of death to the nearest minute.

Solution

From the story, we have to understand the following:

Deceased temperature was 78 oF (at 12.00 PM). This is the starting time or t = 0 and T = To.
Half an hour later (12.30 PM), deceased temperature was 76 oF. This is T0.5.
The environment temperature is the room temperature was 70 oF. This is Te.
Deceased temperature at the time of dead was 98.6 oF. This is Tt , where we have to find t ,
then find the time of dead.

Using formula:

T (t )  Te  (To  Te )e  kt  object temperature at time t

At t  0 hour  To  78 o F
At t  0.5 hour  T0.5  76 o F
find t  ? hour when T  98.6 o F
we have to find k :
Te  70 o F
T (t )  Te  (To  Te )e  kt
T (t )  70  (78  70)e  kt
T (t )  70  8e  kt **

substitute t  0.5 hour  T0.5  76 o F into equation **

76=70  8e  k (0.5)
e  k (0.5)  0.75
ln e  k (0.5)  ln 0.75
0.5k ln e  ln 0.75
ln 0.75
k  0.5754
0.5

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update equation ** with k  0.5754.

T (t )  70  8e 0.5754t ***

substitute T  98.6 o F to find t (time of death).

98.6  70  8e 0.5754t
e 0.5754t  3.575
ln e 0.5754t  ln 3.575
0.5754t  ln 3.575
ln 3.575
t
0.5754
 2.2141 hours
 The time of dead is 2.2141 hours earlier = 12.00  2.2141  9.7859 hours
 9.47 AM

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Example 2.5

A very hot sample of metal, which unknown its initial temperature, is kept in a room which
temperature keeps constant at 20 ∘C. After six minutes it has cooled sufficiently and the
measured temperature is 80 ∘C. After another two minutes, the temperature goes down to
50 ∘C. Find the initial temperature of the hot metal.

Solution

Let the initial temperature (t = 0) is To .

After 6 minutes, T6 = 80 oC
Another 2 minutes (after 8 minutes), T8 = 50 oC
The room temperature, Te = 20 oC
Using formula:
T (t )  Te  (To  Te )e  kt  object temperature at time t
Use the two given temperatures to find k.
At t  6  T6  80 o C
At t  8  T8  50 o C
Te  20 o C
T (0)  To
t  6  80  20  (T0  20)e 6 k  (T0  20)e 6 k  60.........(1)
t  8  50  20  (T0  20)e 8 k  (T0  20)e 8 k  30.........(2)
eq1 (T0  20)e 6 k 60
  2
eq 2 (T0  20)e 8 k 30
e2 k  2
ln e 2 k  ln 2 [take ln on both sides]
2k ln e  ln 2
ln 2
k   0.3466
2
Use equation (1) to and k  0.3466 to find To
(To  20)e 6(0.3466)  60
60
T0  20  2.0796
 480
e
T0  500 o C

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2.5 Exercise 2

1. Escherichia coli (E. Coli) is measured in colony forming units per milliliter (CFU/mL).
In ’ideal’ circumstances, E. Coli in dairy milk has a doubling time of roughly 20
minutes. Pasteurized milk has less than 1,000 CFU/mL. How long will it take for a
gallon of milk (about 3.7854 L) to reach 1,000,000 CFU/mL (which is considered
harmful) when left in ’ideal’ circumstances?

2. A rabbit population doubles every 6 months. If the colony starts with 500 rabbits, how
long will it take to reach 1500?

3. The rate of change of the population of a city is proportional to the population P at

any time. In 2000, the population was 1 million, and the constant proportionality was
0.015. Estimate the population of the city in the year 2050.

4. A population of 30 rabbits has been introduced into a new region. It is estimated that
the maximum population the region can sustain is 400 rabbits. After 1 year, the
population is estimated to be 90. Is the region need expansion after 5 years of rabbits
farming.

5. Let x and y be the size of two internal organs of a particular mammal at time t.
Empirical data indicates that the relative growth rates of these two organs are equal, and
can be modeled by

1 dx 1 dy

x dt y dx

Use this differential equation to write y as a function of x.

6. The barometric pressure P (in atmosheric unit) at an altitude of x km above sea level
decreases at a rate proportional to the current pressure according to the mode
dP
  0.2 P
dx
where y = 30 km when x = 0. Find the barometric pressure at the top of Mount
Kinabalu which is about 4096 m above sea level.

7. A wet towel from a clothesline to dry loses moisture through evaporation at a rate
proportional to its moisture content. If after 1 hour the towel has lost 40% of its original
moisture content, find the time needed to lost 80% of the moisture.

8. (a) Radioactive radium has a half-life of approximately 1600 years. Find the
the percentage of a present amount remains after 100 years?

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(b) If a radioactive material decays continuously at a rate proportional to the

amount present, find the half-life of the material if after one year, 99.57 % of an
initial amount still remains.

9. Find the age a fossil with found to contains 25% of its original C-14?

10. The production of the first atomic bomb also produced the by product of 1881Ci
(Curie) of the radioactive isotope Radium-226 which has a half life of 1600
years. This material is currently stored in Lewiston, New York. Compute how long it
will take for the 1881 Ci of Ra-228 to decay to 1 Curie.

11. A cup of coffee is poured from a hot pot of 95 oC into a non-insulated cup in a room at
25 oC . After a minute, the coffee has cooled to 90 oC . How much time is required
before the coffee reaches a drinkable temperature of 65 oC ?

12. Police arrive at the scene of a murder at 12 am. They immediately take and record the
body's temperature, which is 90 oF, and thoroughly inspect the area. By the time
they finish the inspection, it is 1.30 am. They again take the temperature of the body,
which has dropped to 87 oF, and have it sent to the morgue. The temperature at the
crime scene has remained steady at 82 oF. When was the person murdered? Assume that
the temperature of the body at the time of death was 98.6 oF.

13. A metal plate that has been heated cools from 180 oC to 150 oC in 20
minutes when surrounded by air at a temperature of 60 oC. What will the temperature
of the plate be be after one hour of cooling? When will the temperature of the plate
reach 10 oC ?

14. Just before midday the body of an apparent homicide victim is found in a room that
is kept at a constant temperature of 70 oF. At 12 noon the temperature of the body is
80 oF and at 1 P.M. it is 75 of. Assume that the temperature of the body at the time of
death was 98.6 oF. Find the time of death?

15. A steak is removed from a freezer and put into the refrigerator to thaw. The freezer is
kept at −10◦C and the fridge is kept at 4◦C. After 4 hours, the temperature of the steak
was −6 ◦C. When will the steak be thawed to 2◦C?

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