Name for DE given by law of gravitation

In summary, the given differential equation, f''(x) f(x)^2 = -1, can be solved using "quadrature" due to the absence of the independent variable, x, and can be transformed into a separable first order equation. The solution involves finding y as a function of f and then integrating to find f.
  • #1
Tac-Tics
816
7
Is there a name for the DE given by Newton's law of gravity:

[tex]f''(x) f(x)^2 = -1[/tex]

?
 
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  • #2
Tac-Tics said:
Is there a name for the DE given by Newton's law of gravity:

[tex]f''(x) f(x)^2 = -1[/tex]

?

Forget about the physics, this is a non linear second order DE. The given DE looks like it can be solve by separating the variables.
 
  • #3
Tac-Tics said:
Is there a name for the DE given by Newton's law of gravity:

[tex]f''(x) f(x)^2 = -1[/tex]

?
I don't know of any specific "name" for it but. since the independent variable, x, does not appear explicitely, it can be solved using "quadrature":
Let y= f'(x). Then f"(x)= y'= dydx= (dy/df)(df/dx) (by the chain rule)= (dy/df)y. Thus, your equation becomes yf^2 dy/df= -1, a separable first order equation. y dy= -df/f^2. Integrate both sides to find y as a function of f and then integrate y= f(x) to find f.
 

Related to Name for DE given by law of gravitation

1. What is the name for DE given by the law of gravitation?

The name for DE (differential equation) given by the law of gravitation is "Newton's second law of motion". It is also known as the "law of universal gravitation".

2. What does the law of gravitation state?

The law of gravitation states that every object in the universe attracts every other object with a force directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

3. How is the law of gravitation related to differential equations?

Differential equations are used to describe the motion of objects under the influence of gravitational forces. The law of gravitation is a differential equation because it relates the acceleration of an object to the gravitational force acting on it.

4. Who discovered the law of gravitation?

The law of gravitation was discovered by Sir Isaac Newton in 1687. He published it in his famous work "Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica" (Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy).

5. How does the law of gravitation affect our daily lives?

The law of gravitation governs the motion of objects in our everyday lives. It is responsible for keeping the planets in orbit around the sun, causing objects to fall towards the earth, and even influencing the tides. Without this law, our understanding of the universe and our daily activities would be drastically different.

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