First order ordinary differential equation

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The discussion revolves around solving a first-order ordinary differential equation (ODE) related to the temperature of mercury over time. The equation is derived from the heat transfer equation, with constants such as heat transfer coefficient and specific heat included. The user successfully integrates the equation and applies initial conditions to find the temperature at a specific time. A suggestion is made to simplify the notation for clarity, emphasizing the ease of using a single variable for temperature. The final temperature calculation at t=590 is confirmed to be approximately 8.08.
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Homework Statement



I haven't done ODEs in a few years and I am trying to do this equation:

m_{Hg}C_{p,Hg}\frac{dT_{Hg}}{dt} = Q

Q = hA(T_{air} - T_{Hg})

T_{Hg}(t = 0) = 20

I need to find T_{Hg}(t=590)

Homework Equations



The Attempt at a Solution



h, A, m_{Hg}, C_{p,Hg}, T_{air} are all constants

\frac{dT_{Hg}}{dt} = \frac{hA(T_{air} - T_{Hg})}{m_{Hg}C_{p,Hg}}

\frac{m_{Hg}C_{p,Hg}}{hA(T_{air} - T_{Hg})} dT_{Hg} = dt

\int\frac{m_{Hg}C_{p,Hg}}{hA(T_{air} - T_{Hg})} dT_{Hg} = \int dt

\frac{-m_{Hg}C_{p,Hg}}{hA}\int\frac{1}{(-T_{air} + T_{Hg})} dT_{Hg} = \int dt

\frac{-m_{Hg}C_{p,Hg}}{hA} ln|T_{Hg} - T_{air}| = t + c

ln|T_{Hg} - T_{air}| = \frac{t + c}{\frac{-m_{Hg}C_{p,Hg}}{hA}}

T_{Hg} - T_{air} = e^{t/\frac{-m_{Hg}C_{p,Hg}}{hA}}e^{c/\frac{-m_{Hg}C_{p,Hg}}{hA}}

e^{c/\frac{-m_{Hg}C_{p,Hg}}{hA}} = c

T_{Hg} - T_{air} = ce^{t/\frac{-m_{Hg}C_{p,Hg}}{hA}}

T_{Hg} = ce^{t/\frac{-m_{Hg}C_{p,Hg}}{hA}} + T_{air}

T_{Hg}(t = 0) = 20

T_{air} = -7

h = 3.9

A = 0.00176

C_{p,HG} = 139.0908

m_{Hg} = 0.05

20 = ce^{0/\frac{-(0.05)(139.0908)}{(3.9)(0.00176)}} + (-7)

c = 27

T_{Hg} = 27e^{t/\frac{-m_{Hg}C_{p,Hg}}{hA}} + T_{air}

T_{Hg}(t=590)

T_{Hg}(t=590) = 27e^{590/\frac{-(0.05)(139.0908)}{(3.9)(0.00176)}} + (-7)

T_{Hg}(t=590) = 8.0822
 
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Man, you must like typing subscripts. Why not call your dependent variable T and write the equation in the form

\frac{dT}{dt} = k(T_a - T)

in the first place and put the constants in for k at the end? It would be much easier to read, not to mention typing it all in. Anyway, it looks like you solved it OK, with the caveat that I didn't check all the details.
 
I think you made an error in using your initial condition (using the notation of LCKurtz) you had:
<br /> -\ln |T_{a}-T|=kt+c<br />
Now if T(0)=T_{0}, then I would use that at this point here to tell you that -\ln |T_{a}-T_{0}|=c and your equation becomes:
<br /> -\ln |T_{a}-T|=kt-\ln |T_{a}-T_{0}|<br />
From here I think it is just algebra to obtain the correct answer.
 
LCKurtz said:
Man, you must like typing subscripts. Why not call your dependent variable T and write the equation in the form

\frac{dT}{dt} = k(T_a - T)

in the first place and put the constants in for k at the end? It would be much easier to read, not to mention typing it all in. Anyway, it looks like you solved it OK, with the caveat that I didn't check all the details.

OK doing it with the substitutions:

k = \frac{hA}{m_{Hg}C_{p,Hg}}

and

T = T_{Hg}

\frac{dT}{dt} = k(T_a - T)

\frac{1}{k(T_a - T)}dT = dt

\frac{-1}{k}\int\frac{1}{(-T_a + T)}dT = \int dt

\frac{-1}{k}ln|-T_a + T| = t + c

ln|-T_a + T| = -kt + c

-T_a + T = e^{-kt + c}

T = ce^{-kt} + T_a

Then initial conditions T(t=0) = 20

20 = ce^{-k(0)} + (-7)

27 = c

T = 27e^{-kt} + T_a
 
Last edited:
This line is incorrect:
<br /> T=ce^{-kt}+T_{a}<br />
 
Question: A clock's minute hand has length 4 and its hour hand has length 3. What is the distance between the tips at the moment when it is increasing most rapidly?(Putnam Exam Question) Answer: Making assumption that both the hands moves at constant angular velocities, the answer is ## \sqrt{7} .## But don't you think this assumption is somewhat doubtful and wrong?

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