A metal ball is released from the surface of the liquid in a tall cylinder. The ball falls vertically through the liquid and the distance, x cm, that the ball has fallen in time t seconds is measured. The speed of the ball at time t seconds is v cms^{-1}. The ball is released in a manner such that x = 0 and v = 0 when t = 0.

  1. (a)

    The motion of the ball is modelled by the differential equation

    d2xdt2+12dxdt−10=0.\frac{d^{2}x}{dt^{2}} + \frac{1}{2}\frac{dx}{dt} - 10 = 0.

    It is given that v=dxdtv = \frac{dx}{dt}.

    1. (i)

      Show that the differential equation can be written as

      dvdt=10−12v.\frac{dv}{dt} = 10 - \tfrac{1}{2}v.

    2. (ii)

      Using the differential equation in (a)(i), find v in terms of t. Hence find x in terms of t.

  2. (b)

    The metal ball is now released in another tall cylinder filled with a different liquid. However, for this liquid, the motion of the ball is modelled by the differential equation

    dvdt=10−k2v2,\frac{dv}{dt} = 10 - k^{2} v^{2},

    where k is a positive constant.

    It is given that x=0x = 0 and v=0v = 0 when t=0t = 0.

    1. (i)

      Find v in terms of t and k.

    2. (ii)

      When the ball falls through this liquid, its speed will approach its "terminal speed" which is the speed it will attain after a long time. Find the ball's terminal speed in terms of k. You must show sufficient working to justify your answer.

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Worked solution

11(a)(i)

1. Express the second derivative of $x$ in terms of $v$.

Given v=dxdtv = \frac{dx}{dt}, differentiating both sides with respect to tt yields:
dvdt=d2xdt2\frac{dv}{dt} = \frac{d^2x}{dt^2}

2. Substitute into the original differential equation and rearrange to obtain the required form.

Substitute d2xdt2=dvdt\frac{d^2x}{dt^2} = \frac{dv}{dt} and dxdt=v\frac{dx}{dt} = v into the given differential equation:
dvdt+12v−10=0\frac{dv}{dt} + \frac{1}{2}v - 10 = 0
dvdt=10−12v(shown)\frac{dv}{dt} = 10 - \frac{1}{2}v \quad \text{(shown)}

Answer

dvdt=10−12v\frac{dv}{dt} = 10 - \tfrac{1}{2}v (shown)

11(a)(ii)

1. Separate variables and integrate the differential equation to find a relation for $v$

dvdt=20−v2\frac{dv}{dt} = \frac{20 - v}{2}
∫120−v dv=∫12 dt\int \frac{1}{20 - v} \, dv = \int \frac{1}{2} \, dt
−ln⁡∣20−v∣=0.5t+C-\ln|20 - v| = 0.5t + C

2. Apply the initial condition to find the constant and express $v$ explicitly in terms of $t$

Given v=0v = 0 when t=0t = 0:
−ln⁡∣20−0∣=0.5(0)+C  ⟹  C=−ln⁡20-\ln|20 - 0| = 0.5(0) + C \implies C = -\ln 20
−ln⁡∣20−v∣=0.5t−ln⁡20-\ln|20 - v| = 0.5t - \ln 20
ln⁡∣20−v∣=ln⁡20−0.5t\ln|20 - v| = \ln 20 - 0.5t
∣20−v∣=eln⁡20−0.5t=20e−0.5t|20 - v| = e^{\ln 20 - 0.5t} = 20e^{-0.5t}
Since v=0v = 0 initially and dvdt>0\frac{dv}{dt} > 0, velocity is increasing but bounded below 20, so 20−v>020 - v > 0. We drop the modulus:
20−v=20e−0.5t20 - v = 20e^{-0.5t}
v=20−20e−0.5tv = 20 - 20e^{-0.5t}

3. Substitute $v = \frac{dx}{dt}$ and integrate to find an expression for $x$

dxdt=20−20e−0.5t\frac{dx}{dt} = 20 - 20e^{-0.5t}
x=∫(20−20e−0.5t) dtx = \int (20 - 20e^{-0.5t}) \, dt
x=20t−20−0.5e−0.5t+Dx = 20t - \frac{20}{-0.5}e^{-0.5t} + D
x=20t+40e−0.5t+Dx = 20t + 40e^{-0.5t} + D

4. Apply the initial condition to find the constant and express $x$ exactly in terms of $t$

Given x=0x = 0 when t=0t = 0:
0=20(0)+40e0+D  ⟹  D=−400 = 20(0) + 40e^{0} + D \implies D = -40
x=20t+40e−0.5t−40x = 20t + 40e^{-0.5t} - 40

Answer

v=20−20e−0.5tv = 20 - 20e^{-0.5t}
x=20t+40e−0.5t−40x = 20t + 40e^{-0.5t} - 40

11(b)(i)

1. Separate the variables to set up the integrals.

dvdt=10−k2v2\frac{dv}{dt} = 10 - k^{2} v^{2}
∫110−k2v2 dv=∫1 dt\int \frac{1}{10 - k^{2} v^{2}} \,dv = \int 1 \,dt

2. Integrate both sides using the standard formula for $\int \frac{1}{a^2 - x^2} \,dx$.

Factor out k2k^2 in the denominator to match the standard form:
1k2∫1(10k)2−v2 dv=∫1 dt\frac{1}{k^2} \int \frac{1}{\left(\frac{\sqrt{10}}{k}\right)^2 - v^2} \,dv = \int 1 \,dt
1k2[12(10k)ln⁡∣10k+v10k−v∣]=t+C\frac{1}{k^2} \left[ \frac{1}{2\left(\frac{\sqrt{10}}{k}\right)} \ln \left| \frac{\frac{\sqrt{10}}{k} + v}{\frac{\sqrt{10}}{k} - v} \right| \right] = t + C
1210kln⁡∣10+kv10−kv∣=t+C\frac{1}{2\sqrt{10}k} \ln \left| \frac{\sqrt{10} + kv}{\sqrt{10} - kv} \right| = t + C

3. Use the initial conditions to find the constant of integration.

Given that v=0v = 0 when t=0t = 0:
1210kln⁡∣10+010−0∣=0+C\frac{1}{2\sqrt{10}k} \ln \left| \frac{\sqrt{10} + 0}{\sqrt{10} - 0} \right| = 0 + C
1210kln⁡(1)=C  ⟹  C=0\frac{1}{2\sqrt{10}k} \ln(1) = C \implies C = 0

4. Make $v$ the subject of the formula.

ln⁡∣10+kv10−kv∣=210kt\ln \left| \frac{\sqrt{10} + kv}{\sqrt{10} - kv} \right| = 2\sqrt{10}kt
Since vv starts at 00 and the liquid exerts resistance, the term inside the modulus is positive:
10+kv10−kv=e210kt\frac{\sqrt{10} + kv}{\sqrt{10} - kv} = e^{2\sqrt{10}kt}
10+kv=10e210kt−kve210kt\sqrt{10} + kv = \sqrt{10}e^{2\sqrt{10}kt} - kve^{2\sqrt{10}kt}
kv+kve210kt=10e210kt−10kv + kve^{2\sqrt{10}kt} = \sqrt{10}e^{2\sqrt{10}kt} - \sqrt{10}
kv(1+e210kt)=10(e210kt−1)kv(1 + e^{2\sqrt{10}kt}) = \sqrt{10}(e^{2\sqrt{10}kt} - 1)
v=10k(e210kt−1e210kt+1)v = \frac{\sqrt{10}}{k} \left( \frac{e^{2\sqrt{10}kt} - 1}{e^{2\sqrt{10}kt} + 1} \right)

Answer

v=10k(e210kt−1e210kt+1)v = \frac{\sqrt{10}}{k} \left( \frac{e^{2\sqrt{10}kt} - 1}{e^{2\sqrt{10}kt} + 1} \right)

11(b)(ii)

1. Concise derivation of $v$ in terms of $t$ (result needed from part (b)(i)).

From part (b)(i), separating variables for dvdt=10−k2v2\frac{dv}{dt} = 10 - k^2 v^2:
∫1(10k)2−v2 dv=∫k2 dt\int \frac{1}{\left(\frac{\sqrt{10}}{k}\right)^2 - v^2} \,dv = \int k^2 \,dt
k210ln⁡∣10k+v10k−v∣=k2t+C\frac{k}{2\sqrt{10}} \ln \left| \frac{\frac{\sqrt{10}}{k} + v}{\frac{\sqrt{10}}{k} - v} \right| = k^2 t + C
Using v=0v=0 when t=0t=0, we find C=0C = 0. Rearranging yields:
10+kv10−kv=e210kt\frac{\sqrt{10} + kv}{\sqrt{10} - kv} = e^{2\sqrt{10}kt}
v=10k(e210kt−1e210kt+1)=10k(1−e−210kt1+e−210kt)v = \frac{\sqrt{10}}{k} \left( \frac{e^{2\sqrt{10}kt} - 1}{e^{2\sqrt{10}kt} + 1} \right) = \frac{\sqrt{10}}{k} \left( \frac{1 - e^{-2\sqrt{10}kt}}{1 + e^{-2\sqrt{10}kt}} \right)

2. Evaluate the limit of $v$ as $t \to \infty$ to determine the terminal speed.

The terminal speed is attained after a long time, so we evaluate the limit as t→∞t \to \infty.
Since kk is a given positive constant (k>0k > 0), the exponent −210kt→−∞-2\sqrt{10}kt \to -\infty as t→∞t \to \infty.
Thus, e−210kt→0e^{-2\sqrt{10}kt} \to 0.
Substituting this limit into the expression for vv:
v→10k(1−01+0)=10kv \to \frac{\sqrt{10}}{k} \left( \frac{1 - 0}{1 + 0} \right) = \frac{\sqrt{10}}{k}
(Note: An alternative acceptable justification is to state that as terminal speed is reached, vv approaches a constant and acceleration dvdt→0\frac{dv}{dt} \to 0. Solving 0=10−k2v20 = 10 - k^2v^2 directly yields v=10kv = \frac{\sqrt{10}}{k}.)

Answer

10k cm s−1\frac{\sqrt{10}}{k} \text{ cm s}^{-1}

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