Test#1ReviewPart1SolutionsMAT285DifferentialEquations

Three step radioactive decay of Uranium-234 (which is a decay product of U-238).

Uranium-234 decays to Thorium-230
(half-life t
1
: 240,000 years, decay constant k
1
=2.89 X 10
-6
)
Thorium-230 decays to Radium-226
(half-life t
2
: 77,000 years, decay constant k
2
=9.00 X 10
-6
)
Radium-226 decays to Radon-222
(half life t
3
: 1600 years, decay constant k
3
=4.33 X 10
-4
)


Qualitative analysis of radioactive decay: steps to create a model

- Use words to clearly state the assumptions. The assumptions describe the assumed
relationships among the quantities to be studied.
- Completely describe the variables and parameters used in the model.
- Use the assumptions to derive equations related to the variables and parameters.

Write the assumptions used in the radioactive decay of Uranium:
The rate of radioactive decay is proportional to the amount of the radioactive substance.

Describe the variables and parameters to be used.
The variables are the amount of Uranium ( ) U t remaining in the sample and time, t. The
parameter is the decay constant k.

Write a differential equation to describe your model using the assumptions, variables and
parameters.
dU
kU
dt
=
Circle all of the words that describe the differential equation:
separable linear homogeneous nonhomogenous nonlinear autonomous

Suppose the initial value problem is ( )
0
0 U U = Solve the initial value problem

( )
1 1 2 3
ln
Choose the units of time to be 100,000 years.
Use the initial value problem and the known decay constant to determine the particular solution.
At 0,
kt kt
dU dU
kU kdt U kt c U c e U t c e
dt U
t U

= = = + = =
= = ( )
( )
0 0
2.89
0 0
2.89 2.89
0 0
6 5

1 1 1
Relationship to half-life: ln ln2 2.89
2 2 2
ln2
.2398X10 years 2.398X10 years 240,000 years
2.89
kt
kt t
t t
U U t U e
U t U e U e
U U e e t
t

=
= =
| |
= = = =
|
\ .
= = = ~

1 2
Write a differential equation for the radioactive decay of Thorium that incorporates the solution to
the initial value problem above. Use indexed decay constants and . k k
Explain your reasoning for using this model.
( ) ( )
1 2
dT
kU t kT t
dt
=
The rate of change of the amount of Thorium is due to the production of Thorium by the decay
of Uranium minus the loss of Thorium due to its decay into Radium. The production of Thorium
is exactly the opposite of the decay of Uranium ( )
1
kU t + . The decay is ( )
2
kT t .
Circle all of the words that describe this differential equation:
separable linear homogeneous nonhomogenous nonlinear autonomous
Substitute your solution to the initial value problem of the first differential equation.
1
1 0 2
What method could you use to try to solve this DE?
kt
dT
kU e kT
dt

=

You might try using the method of integrating factors. If so you would rewrite the equation:
1
2 1 0
kt
dT
kT kU e
dt

+ =
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
2
2
2 1 2 1
1 2
2 2 2
1 0 1 0 1 0
2 1
Find the integrating factor
Use this integrating factor to find a solution for
k dt
k t
k k t k k t
kt k t
k t k t k t
t
t e e
T t
kU e dt kU e c kU e e dt
T t
e e k k e

}
= =
+
= = =

} }

What would be a reasonable choice for the initial value of the quantity of Thorium-230?
The initial value for the quantity of Thorium-230 should be zero since none yet has been created
by the decay of Uranium-234.

Solve the initial value problem using the assumption above.
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
2 1
2 1
1 2
2 2
1 0
1 0
2 1
1 0 1 0
1 1
0 0
2 1 2 1 2 1
0 1 2
At 0, 0 0
1
Suppose 1 kg. Use the known values of two decay constants and and
let the
k k t
k k t
kt k t
k t k t
kU c
t T t c kU
k k
kU e kU
k k e
T t U U e e
k k e k k e k k
U k k

+
= = = =

| | | |
= = =
| |

\ . \ .
=
( )
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
.289 .9 .289 .9 .289 .9
0 0
units of to be 100,000 years. Write the final equation for the solution
for the initial value problem for .
2.89
0.473 0.473
9.00 2.89
t t t t t t
t
T t
T t U e e U e e e e

| |
= = =
|

\ .

Plot the two solutions on the same plot using U

0
=1 kg

Solution: (Red is U-234 quantity remaining, green is Th-230 remaining, t is in 100,000 years)

The third stage is Radium-226 decays to Radon-222.

( half life of 1600 years, so k
3
=4.33 X 10
-4
)
We can use the same technique for the third using an integrating factor.
Write a differential equation for the decay of Radium using ( ) R t Explain why you used this
model.
( ) ( )
2 3
dR
kT t k R t
dt
=
The amount of Radium is related to how much is gained by the decay of Thorium and how much
is lost due to decay. It is only indirectly a function of the amount of Uranium.
Substituting the solution to the initial value problem for Thorium we get the following DE:
( )
1 2 1
2 0 3
2 1
kt k t
k dR
k U e e k R
dt k k

| | | |
=
| |
|

\ . \ .

Circle all of the words that describe this differential equation:
separable linear homogeneous nonhomogenous nonlinear autonomous
The DE equation is rearranged slightly below. What would be the next step?
( )
1 2 1 2
3 0
2 1
kt k t
kk dR
k R U e e
dt k k

| |
+ =
|

\ .

Find an integrating factor.
What would the integrating factor be?
3
Integrating factor is
k t
e
The solution is worked out below.
( )
( )
( ) ( )
( )
( ) ( )
3 1 3 2 3 1 2
3 3
3 1 3 2
3
1 2
3
1 2 1 2
0 0
2 1 2 1
3 1 3 2 1 2
0
2 1
1 2 1 2
0 0
2 1 3 1 3 2 2
k k t k k t k t kt k t
k t k t
k k t k k t
k t
kt k t
k t
kk kk
e U e e dt U e e dt
k k k k
R t
e e
e e
c
k k k k kk
U
k k e
kk kk e e
U ce U
k k k k k k k

| | | | | | | |

| | | |

\ . \ . \ . \ .
= = =
+
| |
= =
|

\ .
| |
+ =
|

\ .
} }
( ) ( )
( )( )
1 2
3
3 2 3 1
1 3 1 3 2
kt k t
k t
e k k e k k
ce
k k k k k

| |
+
|

\ .

We would next need to set up an initial value problem and find the constant.
What would be a logical choice?

The initial amount of Radium would be zero because it decays from Thorium and there wont be
any Thorium in the beginning.



This initial value problem is solved below:

( ) ( )
( )( )
( ) ( )
( )( )
( )( )
( )
( ) ( )
( )( )
1 2 3
3 2 3 1 2 1
1 2 1 2
0 0
2 1 3 1 3 2 2 1 3 1 3 2
0 1 2
3 1 3 2
3 2 3 1 0 1 2 1 2
0
2 1 3 1 3 2
At 0, there is zero radium, so:
0
kt k t k
t
k k k k k k kk kk
U c c U
k k k k k k k k k k k k
U kk
k k k k
e k k e k k U kk e kk
R t U
k k k k k k

=
| | | |
= + = =
| |

\ . \ .

| | | |
= +
|
|
|

\ .\ .
( )( )
( )( )
( ) ( ) ( )
( )( ) ( )( ) ( )( )
( )( )( )
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
3 1 2
3 1 2
3 1 2
3 1 3 2
3 2 3 1 2 1 0 1 2
3 1 3 2 2 1
0 1 2
3 1 2 1 3 2 2 1 3 1 3 2
0 1 2
3 2 3 1 2 1
2 1 3 1 3 2
t
k t kt k t
k t kt k t
k t kt k t
k k k k
e k k e k k e k k U kk
k k k k k k
e e e
U kk
k k k k k k k k k k k k
U kk
e k k e k k e k k
k k k k k k



=

| || | +
=
| |
| |

\ . \ .
| |
+ =
|
|

\ .
+

Using the known decay constants, the initial value problem is completed and plotted below.
k
1
=2.89 X 10
-6
= .03 X 10
-4

k
2
=9.00 X 10
-6
=.09 X 10
-4

k
3
=4.33 X 10
-4

( )( )
( )( )( )
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
( )( )
( )( )( )
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
3 1 2
3 1 2
4
3 1
4
3 2
6
2 1
12
0 4
14
2
4.30 10
4.24 10
6.11 10
2.89 9.00 10
4.24 4.30 .09 .0289 10
4.30 4.24 6.11 10
1 2.89 9.00 10
4.24 4.30 .09 .0289
4.30 4.24 6.11
.0023
k t kt k t
k t kt k t
k k
k k
k k
U
e e e
e e e

=
=
=
| |
+ =
|
|

\ .
| |
+
|
|
\ .
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
,289 ,9 43.3
3 4.24 4.30 .0611
t t t
e e e

+


Notice that very little radium is produced relative to the 1 kg starting amount of Uranium.
Because the half life is much shorter than Uranium and Thorium, it decays to Radon before
much has a chance to build up.
This example included the following topics: modeling using differential equations, types of
differential equations, solving using separation of variables, initial value problems, linear
differential equations and solving linear equations using integrating factors.