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Ch. 9 - Differential Equations
Briggs - Calculus: Early Transcendentals 3rd Edition
Briggs3rd EditionCalculus: Early TranscendentalsISBN: 9780136847243Not the one you use?Change textbook
All textbooksBriggs 3rd EditionCh. 9 - Differential EquationsProblem 9.4.38c
Chapter 9, Problem 9.4.38c

Cooling time Suppose an object with an initial temperature of T₀ > 0 is put in surroundings with an ambient temperature of A, where A < T₀/2. Let t₁/₂ be the time required for the object to cool to T₀/2.


c. Why is the condition A < T₀/2 needed?

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Recall that the cooling process is often modeled by Newton's Law of Cooling, which states that the rate of change of the temperature \(T(t)\) of the object is proportional to the difference between its temperature and the ambient temperature \(A\). Mathematically, this is expressed as: \[\frac{dT}{dt} = -k (T - A)\] where \(k > 0\) is a constant related to the cooling rate.
The solution to this differential equation with initial condition \(T(0) = T_0\) is: \[T(t) = A + (T_0 - A) e^{-k t}\] This shows that the temperature approaches the ambient temperature \(A\) as time \(t\) increases.
The time \(t_{1/2}\) is defined as the time when the temperature reaches half of the initial temperature, i.e., when \(T(t_{1/2}) = \frac{T_0}{2}\). Substitute this into the solution: \[\frac{T_0}{2} = A + (T_0 - A) e^{-k t_{1/2}}\]
To solve for \(t_{1/2}\), isolate the exponential term: \[e^{-k t_{1/2}} = \frac{\frac{T_0}{2} - A}{T_0 - A}\] For this expression to make sense (specifically, for the right side to be positive and less than 1), the numerator \(\frac{T_0}{2} - A\) must be positive. This requires that \[A < \frac{T_0}{2}\]
Therefore, the condition \(A < \frac{T_0}{2}\) is needed to ensure that the temperature \(\frac{T_0}{2}\) is actually between the ambient temperature \(A\) and the initial temperature \(T_0\). Without this condition, the object cannot cool down to \(\frac{T_0}{2}\) because the ambient temperature is already higher or equal to that value.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Newton's Law of Cooling

Newton's Law of Cooling states that the rate of change of an object's temperature is proportional to the difference between its temperature and the ambient temperature. This law models how objects cool or warm over time, typically leading to an exponential decay toward the ambient temperature.
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Newton's Law of Cooling

Exponential Decay and Temperature Limits

The temperature of a cooling object approaches the ambient temperature asymptotically, never going below it. Understanding exponential decay helps explain why the object’s temperature decreases over time but stabilizes at the ambient temperature, which sets a lower bound for cooling.
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Exponential Growth & Decay

Importance of the Condition A < T₀/2

The condition A < T₀/2 ensures that the ambient temperature is lower than half the initial temperature, making it possible for the object to cool down to T₀/2. If A were greater or equal to T₀/2, the object could never reach that temperature since it cannot cool below the ambient temperature.
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Verifying Solutions of Differential Equations Example 2
Related Practice
Textbook Question

38–43. Equilibrium solutions A differential equation of the form y′(t)=f(y) is said to be autonomous (the function f depends only on y). The constant function y=y0 is an equilibrium solution of the equation provided f(y0)=0 (because then y'(t)=0 and the solution remains constant for all t). Note that equilibrium solutions correspond to horizontal lines in the direction field. Note also that for autonomous equations, the direction field is independent of t. Carry out the following analysis on the given equations.

c. Sketch the solution curve that corresponds to the initial condition y0=1. 


y′(t) = 6 - 2y

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Textbook Question

Another second-order equation Consider the differential equation y''(t) + k²y(t) = 0, where k is a positive real number.

c. Give the general solution of the equation for arbitrary k > 0 and verify your conjecture.

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Textbook Question

Solving Bernoulli equations Use the method outlined in Exercise 43 to solve the following Bernoulli equations.


c. y′(t) + y = √y

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Textbook Question

{Use of Tech} Fish harvesting A fish hatchery has 500 fish at t=0, when harvesting begins at a rate of b>0fish/year The fish population is modeled by the initial value problem y′(t)=0.01y−b,y(0)=500 where t is measured in years.


c. Graph the solution in the case that b=60fish/year. Describe the solution.

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Textbook Question

17–20. Increasing and decreasing solutions Consider the following differential equations. A detailed direction field is not needed.


c. Which initial conditions y(0) = A lead to solutions that are increasing in time? Decreasing?


y'(t) = cos y for |y| ≤ π

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Textbook Question

[Use of Tech] Analysis of a separable equation Consider the differential equation yy'(t) = ½eᵗ + t and carry out the following analysis.

c. Graph the solutions in part (b) and describe their behavior as t increases.