TUTORIAL 7: Partial Differential Equations

1.

Solve the heat equation

   


    

  

subject to

  
   


   



  




2.

Find the temperature u(x, t) in a rod of length L if the initial temperature is f(x) throughout and if
the ends x = 0 and x = L are insulated.

3.

Suppose heat is lost from the lateral surface of a thin rod of length L into the surrounding
medium at temperature zero. If the linear law of heat transfer applies, then the heat equation
takes on the form



  




0 < x < L, t > 0, h is a constant. Find the temperature u(x, t) if the initial temperature is f(x)
throughout and the ends x = 0 and x = L are insulated.
4.

Solve the wave equation



 


    

   

subject to the given conditions


  
   
 

5.




      


   

 

Solve the wave equation



 


    

   

subject to the given conditions


  
   
 


   
   

 


 
 

6.

Solve the wave equation



 


    

   

subject to the given conditions


  
   
 


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7.

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A string is stretched and secured on the x-axis at x = 0 and x = for t > 0. If the transverse
vibrations take place in a medium that imparts a resistance proportional to the instantaneous
velocity, then the wave equation takes on the form:

 
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Find the displacement u(x, t) if the string starts from rest from the initial displacement f(x).
8.

The transverse displacement u(x, t) of a vibrating beam of length L is determined from a fourthorder partial differential equation


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If the beam is simply supported, the boundary and initial conditions are

  
   
 



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Solve for u(x, t). [ Hint: use = 4]

9.

Solve the Laplaces equation for a rectangular plate

 
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subject to the given boundary conditions


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10.

Solve the Laplaces equation for a rectangular plate

 
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subject to the given boundary conditions


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11.

Solve the Laplaces equation for a rectangular plate

 
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subject to the given boundary conditions


 
 
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12.

Solve the boundary-value problem



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The PDE is a form of the heat equation when heat is generated within a thin rod from radioactive
decay of the material.

13.

Find the steady state solution of the boundary-value problem



     

    






       
 


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14.

The temperature in a rod of unit length in which there is heat transfer from its right boundary
into a surrounding medium kept at a constant temperature zero is determined from

   


    

  


   


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Solve for u(x, t) when the left end of the rod is insulated.
15.

Solve the boundary-value problem

 
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