Partial Differential Equations

IS2202 Engineering Mathematics IV – Department of Interdisciplinary Studies

Practice Questions

The marks indicated next to these questions are only there as a guide for you to understand the

worth of each question type. The total of all the questions together is not a representation of

the total marks for the PDE section of the actual examination.

Question 1

i. Consider the heat distribution of a spherical object where the q coordinate is held

constant. In such a case, what would you choose as your separation constant? Why

would you choose this particular constant? (3 marks)

ii. In the method of characteristics, what do the characteristic lines represent? (2 marks)

iii. Classify the following PDEs as hyperbolic, parabolic or elliptical;

a. 𝑢"" + 4 𝑢&& = 0

b. 𝑢"" − 16 𝑢&& = 0

c. 𝑥 - 𝑢"& + 𝑢&& = 0

(6 marks)

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Question 2

Plot the solution at t = 0 for the Wave equation using Alembert’s formula;

1 1 "<=>
𝑢(𝑥, 𝑡) = 3𝐹5 (𝑥 + 𝑐𝑡) + 𝐹5 (𝑥 − 𝑐𝑡)7 + 8 𝐹 (𝑠)𝑑𝑠
2 2𝑐 "?=> 59

Assume;

𝑐 = 1

𝑢(𝑥, 0) = sin 𝑥

𝜕𝑢(𝑥, 0)
=0
𝜕𝑡

(10 marks)

Question 3

Find an expression for the temperature T(x,t) for a silver bar of length 10 cm, and constant
F =JK =JK
cross sectional area of 1 cm2. (𝜌 = 10.6 =GH , 𝐾 = 1.04 =G.L.℃ , 𝐶O = 0.056 F℃ ). Both ends

of the bar are kept at 0°C while the temperature distribution initially is T(x, 0) = sin(0.1p x)

(15 marks)

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Question 4

Consider the following heat distribution problem for a square block of equal sides a = 24
units.

i. Re-draw the diagram and label the top and bottom ends with respective mathematical
expressions (2 marks)
ii. Derive an expression for T(x,t) using separation of variables (10 marks)
iii. Write the equation required to find the co-efficient of the resulting series if f(y) = x2
(3 marks)
iv. Find an expression for iii) in terms of n (10 marks)

(25 marks)

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Solutions

1).
i).
n(n+1). Because the resulting ODEs will have complex general solutions. Therefore, need to
arrange them similar to the Euler - Cauchy and Legendre equations to make solution more
straightforward. This can be facilitated by choosing n(n+1) as the separation constant.

ii).
They represent the motion of the same point of the wave profile with time.

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