[Cambridge/H2 Maths 2007] The current II in an electric circuit at time tt satisfies the differential equation
4dIdt=2−3I.4\frac{\text{d}I}{\text{d}t} = 2 - 3I.

  1. Find II in terms of tt, given that I=2I = 2 when t=0t = 0.

  2. State what happens to the current in this circuit for large values of tt.

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Worked solution

Q2[0]

1. Separate the variables to set up the differential equation for integration.

4dIdt=2−3I4\frac{\text{d}I}{\text{d}t} = 2 - 3I
∫12−3I dI=∫14 dt\int \frac{1}{2 - 3I} \, \text{d}I = \int \frac{1}{4} \, \text{d}t

2. Integrate both sides to find the general solution implicitly.

−13ln⁡∣2−3I∣=14t+C-\frac{1}{3} \ln |2 - 3I| = \frac{1}{4}t + C

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

Given I=2I = 2 when t=0t = 0:
−13ln⁡∣2−3(2)∣=14(0)+C-\frac{1}{3} \ln |2 - 3(2)| = \frac{1}{4}(0) + C
−13ln⁡∣−4∣=C-\frac{1}{3} \ln |-4| = C
C=−13ln⁡4C = -\frac{1}{3} \ln 4

4. Substitute $C$ back into the equation and eliminate the logarithm.

−13ln⁡∣2−3I∣=14t−13ln⁡4-\frac{1}{3} \ln |2 - 3I| = \frac{1}{4}t - \frac{1}{3} \ln 4
Multiply the entire equation by −3-3:
ln⁡∣2−3I∣=−34t+ln⁡4\ln |2 - 3I| = -\frac{3}{4}t + \ln 4
Take the exponential of both sides:
∣2−3I∣=e−34t+ln⁡4=eln⁡4e−34t|2 - 3I| = e^{-\frac{3}{4}t + \ln 4} = e^{\ln 4}e^{-\frac{3}{4}t}
∣2−3I∣=4e−34t|2 - 3I| = 4e^{-\frac{3}{4}t}

5. Remove the absolute value and make $I$ the subject.

Since 2−3I2 - 3I is negative when I=2I = 2 (2−6=−4<02 - 6 = -4 < 0), the expression inside the modulus is negative. Therefore, ∣2−3I∣=−(2−3I)=3I−2|2 - 3I| = -(2 - 3I) = 3I - 2:
3I−2=4e−34t3I - 2 = 4e^{-\frac{3}{4}t}
3I=2+4e−34t3I = 2 + 4e^{-\frac{3}{4}t}
I=23+43e−34tI = \frac{2}{3} + \frac{4}{3}e^{-\frac{3}{4}t}

Answer

I=23+43e−34tI = \frac{2}{3} + \frac{4}{3}e^{-\frac{3}{4}t}

Q2[1]

1. Solve the differential equation to find the expression for $I$ (as required from the previous dependent part).

Separating the variables for 4dIdt=2−3I4\frac{\text{d}I}{\text{d}t} = 2 - 3I:
∫12−3I dI=∫14 dt\int \frac{1}{2-3I} \, \text{d}I = \int \frac{1}{4} \, \text{d}t
−13ln⁡∣2−3I∣=14t+C-\frac{1}{3}\ln|2-3I| = \frac{1}{4}t + C
2−3I=Ae−34t2-3I = Ae^{-\frac{3}{4}t}
Given I=2I=2 when t=0t=0:
2−3(2)=A  ⟹  A=−42-3(2) = A \implies A = -4
I=23+43e−34tI = \frac{2}{3} + \frac{4}{3}e^{-\frac{3}{4}t}

2. Determine the limit of $I$ as $t$ becomes very large.

As t→∞t \to \infty, the term e−34t→0e^{-\frac{3}{4}t} \to 0.
I→23+43(0)=23I \to \frac{2}{3} + \frac{4}{3}(0) = \frac{2}{3}
Thus, the current approaches a constant value of 23\frac{2}{3}.

Answer

The current approaches a steady value of 23\frac{2}{3}.

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