Differential equation with cross product

[alsey42147]

ok, i don't know what to do with something like this:

(d^2R/dt^2 ) + (dR/dt) x B = 0

where the capitals are vectors (sorry i suck at latex). R is a position vector in x-y plane and B is in the z-direction.

do i split this into equations for x and y directions separately and solve them? for x-direction i would get

d^2x/dt^2 + (dy/dt)|B| = 0

but how do i solve this? I'm pretty sure all the DEs I've ever solved had, for example, d^2x/dt^2 and dx/dt in them, but not d^2x/dt^2 and dy/dt.

or is there a quick way of doing it without having to expand the cross product?

any help would be well appreciated!

 

[arildno]

This is a SYSTEM of differential equations that you can rewrite as:
\frac{d\vec{U}}{dt}=A\vec{U}, \vec{U}=\frac{d\vec{R}}{dt}
and A is a matrix.
If A has constant coefficients, then the system is readily solvable with eigen-vector decomposition.

Question:
Did you get this equation from a physical problem with a Coriolis term?
Just curious..

EDIT:
Insofar as B is constant, you may gain two decoupled 3.order diff.eq's in R (i.e 2.order in U).

 

[dextercioby]

Maybe \vec{B} is the magnetic field and he chose units such as q=1...

 

[alsey42147]

damn, i wish i was more proficient with matrices and stuff. i might have to do a bit of quick revision.

the equation is just electron motion in a magnetic field without the constants.

my friend says that from the equation

d^2x/dt^2 + (dy/dt)|B| = 0

you just integrate to get

dx/dt + y|B| = constant

that doesn't seem quite right to me...is it? if it is that's all i need for now.

 

[J77]

Is B a constant, or a function of x and y?

 

[HallsofIvy]

ok, i don't know what to do with something like this:

(d^2R/dt^2 ) + (dR/dt) x B = 0

where the capitals are vectors (sorry i suck at latex). R is a position vector in x-y plane and B is in the z-direction.

do i split this into equations for x and y directions separately and solve them? for x-direction i would get

d^2x/dt^2 + (dy/dt)|B| = 0

but how do i solve this? I'm pretty sure all the DEs I've ever solved had, for example, d^2x/dt^2 and dx/dt in them, but not d^2x/dt^2 and dy/dt.

or is there a quick way of doing it without having to expand the cross product?

any help would be well appreciated!

Yes, writing R as <x, y, 0> you get
\frac{d^2x}{dt^2}+ B\frac{dy}{dt}= 0
and
\frac{d^2y}{dt^2}- B\frac{dx}{dt}= 0[/itex]<br /> <br /> You can, as Arildno suggested, introduce u= \frac{dx}{dt} and v= \frac{dy}{dt} and write this as a system of 4 first order differential equations.<br /> <br /> Another way to handle it is this: differentiate the first equation again to get<br /> \frac{d^3x}{dt^3}+ B\frac{d^2y}{dt^2}= 0[/itex]&lt;br /&gt; and use the second equation to substitute for the second derivative of y&lt;br /&gt; \frac{d^3x}{dt^3}+ B^2\frac{dx}{dt}= 0&lt;br /&gt; That&amp;#039;s easy to solve.&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; Once you know x(t), you can use the first equation to solve for \frac{dy}{dt} and integrate once more to find y(t).&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; (I just noticed J77&amp;#039;s comment. I am assuming here that B is a constant.)

 

[alsey42147]

awesome, thanks. and yes B is constant.

 

[arildno]

damn, i wish i was more proficient with matrices and stuff. i might have to do a bit of quick revision.

the equation is just electron motion in a magnetic field without the constants.

my friend says that from the equation

d^2x/dt^2 + (dy/dt)|B| = 0

you just integrate to get

dx/dt + y|B| = constant

that doesn't seem quite right to me...is it? if it is that's all i need for now.

You can certainly use your friend's trick in the case of constant B. It doesn't help you an overly lot, though, compared to other techniques mentioned.