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OLLSCOIL NA hEIREANN, CORCAIGH

THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, CORK



COLAISTE NA hOLLSCOILE, CORCAIGH
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, CORK

2015/2016

Season 2016

AM1053 Introduction to Mathematical Modelling

Prof. C. Budd
Prof. S. Wieczorek

Time allowed: One and a half hours.

Reading time of fifteen minutes is permitted


prior to the commencement of this examination.

Marks may be lost if not all your work is clearly shown


or if you do not indicate where a calculator has been used.

Full marks for complete answers to three questions

PLEASE DO NOT TURN THIS PAGE UNTIL


INSTRUCTED TO DO SO
THEN ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE THE
CORRECT EXAM PAPER

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AM1053: Season 2016

1. (a) A particle of mass m has the position vector

r(t) = i ln(t) + j sin2 t + ke2t ,

for t > 0. Obtain the particles velocity, speed and acceleration. (7)
(b) A particle of mass m is acted on by a force

F (t) = m iet + jt2 ,




Initially, at t = 0, the particle is at the origin and has velocity v(0) = i3 + j2.
Find the velocity and position of the particle subsequently. (8)
(c) A particle of mass m = 1 moves along the x-axis under a conservative force
1
F (x) = 1,
x2
(i) Starting with the equation of motion, derive the energy equation. (Hint:
Rewrite d2 x/dt2 using the chain rule.)
(ii) Identify the potential energy V (x). Plot V (x) for x > 0 clearly indicating
the position of its minimum.
(iii) Find the total energy E knowing that the particle has velocity v = 0 when
x = 3. Find the maximal speed of the particle.
(iv) Describe the type of motion taking place. (12)
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2. A particle of mass m hangs from an elastic string of natural length l0 and modulus of
elasticity . The mass experiences air resistance forces 2mk x,
where x is the position
of the mass measured from the point of suspension.
(a) Write down the equation of motion. (5)
(b) Find the equilibrium position of the particle. (5)
(c) Suppose that k 2 < ml 0 . Derive the general solution to the equation of motion.
(Hint: Consider a suitable coordinate change). Identify the type of motion. (12)
(d) Suppose that at time t = 0 the particle is given a velocity U upwards from
its equilibrium position. Assuming that the string never gets slack, find the
particles subsequent position x(t). (5)
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AM1053: Season 2016

3. Consider a population of fish X(t) 0. The population has a constant per-capita


1 1
birth rate a in year , and a constant per-capita death rate b in year . Additionally,
fish . Assume that at time t = 0
the fish are being harvested at a constant rate h in year
there are X0 fish.
(a) Write down the word equation for the changing fish population. (3)
(b) Formulate the differential rate equation for X(t). (3)
(c) Solve the rate equation with the given initial condition. (8)
(d) When h = 0, describe or sketch possible types of behaviour with dependence on
a and b. (4)
(e) When h > 0 and a b > 0, describe or sketch possible types of behaviour with
dependence on X0 . (6)
(f) If there are cases where X(t) reaches zero in finite time, find this time. (3)
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4. (a) Consider two systems of differential equations:

x = x, y = 3y, with x(0) = x0 and y(0) = y0 ,


and
x = y, y = 2x, with x(0) = x0 and y(0) = y0 .
(i) Solve each system of differential equations for x(t) and y(t).
(ii) Give the general formula for trajectories. Identify the shape of trajecto-
ries. Plot trajectories in the (x, y) phase plane and indicate the direction of
increasing time.
(iii) Determine the type and stability of the equilibrium point at (0, 0) without
using matrices and eigenvalues. (16)
(b) Consider a simple harmonic oscillator with light damping

x + 2k x + 02 x = 0,

meaning that k > 0 and k 2 < 02 .


(i) Rewrite the second-order oscillator equation as two first-order differential
equations. (Hint: You need to introduce an additional variable.). Write the
two obtained first-order differential equations as a matrix equation.
(ii) Determine the type and stability of the equilibrium at (x, x) = (0, 0) using
eigenvalues of the matrix from (i).
(iii) Plot trajectories in the phase plane indicating the direction of increasing
time. (11)
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