First ODE (dc/dt the rate of change of chemical in a pond)

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around setting up a differential equation to describe the rate of change of a chemical concentration in a pond, specifically focusing on the dynamics of chemical dissolution and water flow in a closed system.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to define the rate of change of the chemical concentration (dc/dt) but struggles with identifying the total amount of chemical remaining in the pond over time. Some participants suggest that the total amount of chemical can be represented as C(t), while others propose maintaining consistency in time units.

Discussion Status

Participants are engaging in clarifying the definitions and units involved in the problem. There is an acknowledgment of the original poster's oversight regarding the representation of the total chemical amount, and a supportive response has been provided.

Contextual Notes

The problem involves a constant volume of water in the pond, with inflow and outflow rates balanced, which may influence the dynamics of the chemical concentration over time.

hangainlover
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lets say there is a pond of 1,000,000 gallons of water.
and the total of 10,000g of chemical is evenly dissolved in the water
Fresh water starts pouring into the pond at the rate of 300 gallons/hour and the pond also releases water at the rate of 300 gallons/hour (hence no change in total amount in the pond).
Can you set up a differential equation describing the rate of change of the chemical in the pond. (dc/dt)
(I know that dC/dt = (the total amount of the chemical in the pond at a given time / 1,000,000 gallons of waer)*300 gallons/3600seconds) but i can't define the total amount of chemcial left in the pond at a given time, as the total amount doesn't change linearly or by a pattern i can see )
 
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hangainlover said:
lets say there is a pond of 1,000,000 gallons of water.
and the total of 10,000g of chemical is evenly dissolved in the water
Fresh water starts pouring into the pond at the rate of 300 gallons/hour and the pond also releases water at the rate of 300 gallons/hour (hence no change in total amount in the pond).
Can you set up a differential equation describing the rate of change of the chemical in the pond. (dc/dt)
(I know that dC/dt = (the total amount of the chemical in the pond at a given time / 1,000,000 gallons of waer)*300 gallons/3600seconds) but i can't define the total amount of chemcial left in the pond at a given time, as the total amount doesn't change linearly or by a pattern i can see )

But you have pretty much already defined it. "The total amount of chemical in the pond at a given time" is C, or if you prefer C(t).

Also, since the problem statement uses hours as the unit of time, you might as well keep time in terms of hours rather than converting to seconds.
 
omg I am so stupid how did i miss that
thanks
 
No problem! :smile:
 

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