Differential Equations for Water Flow

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a differential equation modeling the flow of water from a conical tank through a circular orifice. The original poster presents the equation governing the rate of change of water height in the tank and provides initial conditions related to the tank's dimensions and water level.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the need to express the area A(x) as a function of height x rather than evaluating it at a single point. There are attempts to derive relationships between the volume of the cone and its dimensions, as well as to clarify the setup of the differential equation in terms of variables y and t.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on how to express the area and volume relationships, while others are exploring the implications of similar triangles to derive the radius as a function of height. There is ongoing clarification regarding the correct formulation of the problem and the relationships between the variables involved.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of the problem's initial conditions and the relationships defined by the geometry of the conical tank. There is a focus on ensuring that the mathematical expressions align with the physical setup of the problem.

coolxal
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Homework Statement


Water flows from a conical tank with circular orifice at the rate

[tex]\frac{dx}{dt} = -0.6*\pi*r^2\sqrt{2g}\frac{\sqrt{x}}{A(x)}[/tex]

r is the radius of the orifice, x is the height of the liquid from the vertex of cone, A(x) is area of the cross section of the tank x units above the orifice. Suppose r = 0.1 ft, g = 32.1 ft/s, tank has initial water level of 8ft and initial volume of 512*(pi/3). Computer water level after 10 min with h = 20s.

Homework Equations



Modified Euler's Method:

[tex]w_{0} = \alpha[/tex]
[tex]w_{i+1} = w_{i} + \frac{h}{2}[f(t_{i}, w_{i}) + f(t_{i+1}, w_{i} + hf(t_{i}, w_{i}))][/tex]

The Attempt at a Solution


Is A(8) = (512*(pi/3))/(8/3) = 201.0619?

What do I set for y and t? If the question was f(y, t) = y' = -y + t + 1, 0 <= t <= 1, y(0) = 1, h is the step size, [tex]w_{0} = \alpha = y(0)[/tex] is the initial condition, t is variable between 0 to 1 with step size h, ...

But if I input all those numbers into the equation I get dx/dt = -0.6*pi*0.1^2*sqrt(2*32.1)*sqrt(x)/201.0619 which leaves me with just x. I assume x = t in this case but what is y? How do I get it into the form f(y, t)?
 
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first you need to find A(x) as function of x, not just evaulate it at a point
 
V = (1/3)*A(x)*x
A(x) = (512*(pi/3))/(x/3)

Is that right?
 
coolxal said:
V = (1/3)*A(x)*x
A(x) = (512*(pi/3))/(x/3)

Is that right?

not quite, the first line is true, but in the 2nd line you actually subsititute for x = 8ft

so to move forwards you know that at x = 8ft
V = 512*(pi/3)

use that to solve for the radius of the cone base at the point x = 8ft
r(8)

as the triangles are similar you can then use the fact
[tex]\frac{r(x)}{x} = \frac{r(8)}{8}[/tex]
to find r(x) and so A(x)

it probably helpful to know the volume of a cone
[tex]V(x) = \frac{\pi}{3} r^2 x[/tex]
x = height
r = radius of cone base
 
lanedance said:
not quite, the first line is true, but in the 2nd line you actually subsititute for x = 8ft

so to move forwards you know that at x = 8ft
V = 512*(pi/3)

use that to solve for the radius of the cone base at the point x = 8ft
r(8)

as the triangles are similar you can then use the fact
[tex]\frac{r(x)}{x} = \frac{r(8)}{8}[/tex]
to find r(x) and so A(x)

it probably helpful to know the volume of a cone
[tex]V(x) = \frac{\pi}{3} r^2 x[/tex]
x = height
r = radius of cone base

I used the formula V = (1/3)*B*h where B = A(x) the area and h = x the height so shouldn't A(x) = (512*(pi/3))/(x/3)?

So if [tex]r(x) = \frac{r(8)}{8} x[/tex] and

substitute it for r in [tex]V(x) = \frac{\pi}{3} r^2 x[/tex] it's

[tex]V(x) = \frac{\pi}{3} (\frac{r(8)}{8} x)^2 x[/tex]

[tex]V(8) = \frac{\pi}{3} (\frac{r(8)}{8} 8)^2 8[/tex]

[tex]512\frac{\pi}{3} = \frac{\pi}{3} (\frac{r(8)}{8} 8)^2 8[/tex]

[tex]\frac{512}{8} = (r(8))^2[/tex]

[tex]8 = r(8)[/tex]

What do I do with it?
 
Last edited:

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