ODE from Initial Value Problem

In summary, the conversation discusses a problem involving a tank containing 3000 liters of polluted water with a 5% concentration of pollution. The tank is being continuously emptied at a rate of 50 liters per minute and replaced with unpolluted water at the same rate. The goal is to determine the amount of time it will take for the concentration of pollution to decrease to 1%. A differential equation is used to model the rate of change of pollution in the tank, and after solving for the constant and manipulating the equation, it is determined that it would take 2 seconds for the concentration to reach 1%, which is deemed unreasonable. The conversation ends with the suggestion to carefully model the removal and replacement process to accurately determine the time it
  • #1
Moridin
692
3

Homework Statement



A tank contains 3000 liters polluted water. The concentration of pollution is 5%. 50 liters per minute of the polluted water is removed and replaced with 50 liters of unpolluted water per minute. How much time will it take for the concentration to go down to 1%?

2. Homework Equations / 3. The Attempt at a Solution

It is obviously a differential equation as an initial value problem with differential equations.

y is a function of t and is the amount of pollutions in the tank after t minutes.

[tex]y(0) = 150[/tex]

The amount of pollutants in the water that is removed per minute is [itex]50 \cdot y(t)[/itex]

Then the rate of change of the pollutions in the tank is negative with a value of

[tex]y' = -50y[/tex]

which is the differential equation that can be solved.

[tex]y = Ce^{-50t}[/tex]

The initial value gives the constant C a value of 150, so the function becomes:

[tex]y = 150e^{-50t}[/tex]

Then I should find t when y is 30 (0.01 times 3000). Algebraic manipulation gives

[tex]\ln \frac{30}{150} = -50t[/tex]

This gives t equals to 2 seconds, which is unreasonable, but I do not know quite where to go from here.
 
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  • #2
You need to carefully model the removal & replacement process and how it changes the % of polluted water over time.
 

What is an Initial Value Problem?

An Initial Value Problem (IVP) is a type of differential equation that involves finding a solution function that satisfies a given set of initial conditions. The initial conditions typically include the value of the solution function at a particular point in time, and sometimes also its derivative or other related quantities.

What is an Ordinary Differential Equation?

An Ordinary Differential Equation (ODE) is a mathematical equation that describes the relationship between a function and its derivatives with respect to one or more independent variables. In the context of an Initial Value Problem, the ODE is used to find the solution function that satisfies the given initial conditions.

What is a Solution Function?

A Solution Function is a mathematical function that satisfies a given differential equation or system of differential equations. In the case of an Initial Value Problem, the solution function is the function that satisfies the given initial conditions.

How do you solve an ODE from an Initial Value Problem?

There are several methods for solving an ODE from an Initial Value Problem, including analytical methods such as separation of variables and variation of parameters, as well as numerical methods such as Euler's method and Runge-Kutta methods. The specific method used will depend on the form of the ODE and the initial conditions.

What are some applications of solving ODEs from Initial Value Problems?

ODEs from Initial Value Problems have many applications in various fields of science and engineering, including physics, chemistry, biology, and economics. They are used to model and understand various natural phenomena, such as population growth, chemical reactions, and electrical circuits, and to make predictions and solve problems in these areas.

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