Help with the Separation of Variables and Integration

In summary, the article provides a detailed explanation of the method of separation of variables, a technique used to solve ordinary differential equations. It outlines the steps involved in rearranging the equation, separating the variables, and integrating both sides to find the solution. The article emphasizes the importance of integration techniques and offers examples to illustrate the process, highlighting common pitfalls and tips for successful application.
  • #1
silento
66
5
Homework Statement
Hello! This is a combination of physics and calculus. I have a non constant drag force I’m trying to integrate in relation to velocity and position. I’ve started it, however I’m getting stuck on the separating and integrating. I’ve tired moving equations over to different sides however it’s just not working. I’m trying to get v to the right side and dx and m to the left. Everything besides the position (x) are known constants
Relevant Equations
See pic below.
image.jpg
 
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  • #2
image.jpg

Tried a few approaches but all became very complex and couldn’t seperate the dx from dv
 
  • #3
solve for dv/dx and integrate with respect to x.
 
  • #4
mathhabibi said:
solve for dv/dx and integrate with respect to x.
I may have forgot to add that v isn't a single constant. it is changing from 120 to 0 which will be the bounds for the right side But ∆x is what I'm solving for in the end
 
  • #5
silento said:
I may have forgot to add that v isn't a single constant
which is why you should integrate.
 
  • #6
silento said:
But ∆x is what I'm solving for in the end
In the post you said you are solving for v. Be more clear next time. What even is ##\Delta x##?
 
  • #7
change in position is ∆x
 
  • #8
8XxdOEDHtx3L4J1NLkjXEDX8Kmrw1VEBcRAR0NAYYHxw=s2048.jpg

Its similar to what I am doing here. But, there is now two additional forces in additon to the drag force but only the drag force is non constant both the usFN and urFN are just constants
 
  • #9
I'm not sure
silento said:
View attachment 340969
Its similar to what I am doing here. But, there is now two additional forces in additon to the drag force but only the drag force is non constant
It will take me some time but from what I am seeing, after integrating you want to solve for ##x_f-x_i##, is that correct?
 
  • #10
yes correct!
 
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  • #11
thank you!
 
  • #12
No problem. I am a bit sketchy with physics but is it true that ##F_n=m\frac{dv}{dt}##?
 
  • #13
m(dv/dt) is the net force. sigma F
 
  • #14
okay I started my tutoring session will be back later.
 
  • #15
Fn is known as the normal force. see you later!
 
  • #16
Your equation is of the form:

$$ \varphi - \beta v^2 = m v\frac{dv}{dx}$$

Where ##\varphi## is a constant.

Make the substitution ## u = \varphi - \beta v^2##, and differentiate ##u## w.r.t. ##x##.

Show us what you get.
 
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  • #17
erobz said:
Your equation is of the form:

$$ \varphi - \beta v^2 = m v\frac{dv}{dx}$$

Where ##\varphi## is a constant.

Make the substitution ## u = \varphi - \beta v^2##, and differentiate ##u## w.r.t. ##x##.

Show us what you get.
should there be one more of the constant symbols out front or does it not matter? Or can the two constants be combined into one number?
 
  • #18
silento said:
should there be one more of the constant symbols out front or does it not matter? Or can the two constants be combined into one number?
If they are both constant just combine them ##\varphi## to work with less symbols. You can add them back in at the end.
 
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  • #19
silento said:
I may have forgot to add that v isn't a single constant.
That is obvious, as your equation includes the derivative ##\frac{dv}{dx}##.

Also, most of the images you've posted are of poor quality due to bad lighting. This is one of the main reasons we ask members to post using LaTeX rather than images of hand-written work.

It's not that difficult to use the version of LaTeX that is supported on this site. The equation you wrote in post #1 of this thread is
$$\mu_sF_n - \mu_rF_n = mv\frac{dv}{dx} + \frac 1 2 Cd Apv^2$$
This is how what you wrote appears to me.

The code I wrote is $$\mu_sF_n - \mu_rF_n = mv\frac{dv}{dx} + \frac 1 2 Cd Apv^2$$.

At the lower left corner of the text entry pane there is a link to our LaTeX tutorial.
 
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  • #20
erobz said:
Your equation is of the form:

$$ \varphi - \beta v^2 = m v\frac{dv}{dx}$$

Where ##\varphi## is a constant.

Make the substitution ## u = \varphi - \beta v^2##, and differentiate ##u## w.r.t. ##x##.

Show us what you get.
I'm trying to understand this. So when differentiating u, it would be 2Bv. how do I do it with respect to x?
 
  • #21
silento said:
I'm trying to understand this. So when differentiating u, it would be 2Bv. how do I do it with respect to x?
Chain rule.
 
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  • #22
would I add a dx behind 2Bv? (I apologize, my calc skills are a bit rusty so please bear with me)
 
  • #23
silento said:
would I add a dx behind 2Bv? (I apologize, my calc skills are a bit rusty so please bear with me)
Look up the Chain Rule. ##u## is a function of ##v## and ##v## is a function of ##x##.
 
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  • #24
erobz said:
Look up the Chain Rule. ##u## is a function of ##v## and ##v## is a function of ##x##.
(du/dx)=(du/dv)*(dv/dx)
 
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  • #25
silento said:
So when differentiating u, it would be 2Bv.
You've omitted the minus sign, plus what @erobz says below.
erobz said:
Look up the Chain Rule. u is a function of v and v is a function of x.
 
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  • #26
Please, try to learn the math formatting language here as @Mark44 already asked. See LaTeX Guide. It's not hard.
 
  • #27
erobz said:
Please, try to learn the math formatting language here as @Mark44 already asked. See LaTeX Guide. It's not hard.
Will do
 
  • #28
would it just be
dx.gif
?
 
  • #29
silento said:
would it just be View attachment 340971?
Nope. You have the factor ## \frac{du}{dv} = -2 \beta v ## correct. What is the derivative of ##v## w.r.t ##x##? Don't over think this.
 
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  • #30
erobz said:
Nope. You have the factor ## \frac{du}{dv} = -2 \beta v ## correct. What is the derivative of ##v## w.r.t ##x##? Don't over think this.
apologies. had to go to work. Ima keep tackling this now
 
  • #31
hold on I think I got something
 
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  • #32
silento said:
du= -2Bvdv
I was looking for this:

$$ \frac{du}{dx} = - 2 \beta v \frac{dv}{dx} $$

Which is what basically what you wrote (Don't drop the independent variable from the notation).
 
  • #33
Alright...that makes sense. Interested to see where we go from here
 
  • #34
silento said:
Alright...that makes sense. Interested to see where we go from here
look at the RHS of that result, and compare it to the RHS of your original equation. Notice anything?
 
  • #35
looks like we moved that drag force over to the right hand side
 

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