Help with Differential equation

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a differential equation related to the volume of water in a hemispherical bowl as it drains through a hole at the bottom. The problem involves understanding the relationship between the depth of water and the rate at which the volume decreases, with a specific focus on deriving a constant related to the time it takes for the bowl to empty.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the relationship between the volume of water and its depth, questioning the integration steps taken to derive a constant k. There are attempts to clarify the integration process and the initial conditions used in the calculations.

Discussion Status

Some participants have identified errors in integration and have provided guidance on correcting these mistakes. The discussion has progressed towards resolving the relationship between k and the time T, with various interpretations being explored.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of the problem as posed, including the requirement to show specific relationships without providing complete solutions. There is a focus on ensuring that initial conditions are correctly applied in the context of the problem.

Hey there
Messages
5
Reaction score
0
A hemispherical bowl of radius a has its axis vertical and is full of water. At time t=0 water starts running out of a small hole in the bottom of the bowl so that the depth of water in the bowl at t is x. The rate at which the volume of water is decreasing is proportional to x. Given that the volume of water in the bowl when the depth is x is [tex]\pi(ax^2-\frac{1}{3}x^3)[/tex] show that there is a positive constant k such that

[tex]\pi(2ax-x^2)\dfrac{dx}{dt}=-kx[/tex]
My method
[tex]-\dfrac{dV}{dt}\propto x[/tex]
[tex]\dfrac{dV}{dt}=-kx[/tex]
[tex]\dfrac{dV}{dt}=\dfrac{dV}{dx} \dfrac{dx}{dt}[/tex]
[tex]V=\pi(ax^2-\frac{1}{3}x^3)[/tex]
[tex]\dfrac{dV}{dx}=\pi(2ax-x^2)[/tex]
[tex]\pi(2ax-x^2)\dfrac{dx}{dt}=-kx[/tex]

(ii) Given that the bowl is empty after a time T, show that

[tex]k=\dfrac{3 \pi a^2}{2T}[/tex]

My method (I'm not sure how to answer this part).

[tex]\pi(2ax-x^2)\dfrac{dx}{dt}=-kx[/tex]
[tex]\displaystyle \int (2\pi a-\pi x )dx=\displaystyle \int-k dt[/tex]
[tex]2\pi ax-\frac{\pi x^2}{2}=-kt + C[/tex]

x=0 when t=T

I'm not sure how to go about showing [tex]k=\dfrac{3 \pi a^2}{2T}[/tex]with the information in the question.

Can you help me?

Thanks.
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
There's a mistake in your integration in part (ii). The integral of 2*pi*a*dx is not 2*pi*a. Fix that first. Then use that at t=0, x=a (the hemisphere was initially full) to find the value of C. Once you've found C put x=0 and solve for t.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Dick said:
There's a mistake in your integration in part (ii). The integral of 2*pi*a*dx is not 2*pi*a. Fix that first. Then use that at t=0, x=a (the hemisphere was initially full) to find the value of C. Once you've found C put x=0 and solve for t.

I got [tex]C=2a^2(\pi-\frac{1}{4})[/tex]

So

[tex]2 \pi ax-\frac{\pi x^2}{2}=-kt+2a^2(\pi -\frac{1}{4})[/tex]

when x=0 t=T

[tex]kT=2a^2(\pi-\frac{1}{4})[/tex]

[tex]k=\dfrac{2a^2(\pi-\frac{1}{4})}{T}[/tex]

[tex]k=\dfrac{2a^2 \pi-\frac{1}{2}a^2}{T}[/tex]

[tex]k=\dfrac{4a^2 \pi-a^2}{2T}[/tex]

[tex]k=\dfrac{a^2(4 \pi -1)}{2T}[/tex]

This doesn't equal [tex]k=\dfrac{3\pi a^2}{2T}[/tex]

Where have I gone wrong?
 
Last edited:
If I put x=a into ##2 \pi ax-\frac{\pi x^2}{2}##, which is what you did I hope, I don't get ##2a^2(\pi-\frac{1}{4})##.
 
Dick said:
If I put x=a into ##2 \pi ax-\frac{\pi x^2}{2}##, which is what you did I hope, I don't get ##2a^2(\pi-\frac{1}{4})##.

I simplified it wrong then.

I'll have another look.
 
Dick said:
If I put x=a into ##2 \pi ax-\frac{\pi x^2}{2}##, which is what you did I hope, I don't get ##2a^2(\pi-\frac{1}{4})##.

Oh my god. This is incredibly simple. I over complicated it I guess. So I have

[tex]C=\dfrac{3\pi a^2}{2}[/tex]

[tex]2\pi ax- \dfrac{\pi x^2}{2}=-kx+\dfrac{3 \pi a^2}{2}[/tex]

x=0 when t=T

[tex]kT=\dfrac{3 \pi a^2}{2}[/tex]

[tex]k=\dfrac{3 \pi a^2}{2T}[/tex]

Got it.
 
Yeah, you had the right idea all along. Some simple errors were tripping you up.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
874
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
1K