Mathematical Modeling and

Engineering Problem Solving

 A SIMPLE MATHEMATICAL
MODEL

Mathematical Model
• A formulation or equation that Where:
expresses the essential features of a ▪ Dependent variable - is a characteristic
physical system that usually reflects the behavior or state
of the system
• Process in mathematical terms
▪ Independent variables - are usually
dimensions, such as time and space,
In a very general sense, it can be along which the system’s behavior is
represented as a functional relationship of being determined
the form ▪ Parameters - reflective of the system’s
properties or composition
▪ and the Forcing functions - external
influences acting upon the system.

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 Eq. (1)

A SIMPLE MATHEMATICAL
MODEL
The second law can be recast in the format of

Eq. (2)

The actual mathematical expression can

range from a simple algebraic relationship to where a = the dependent variable reflecting the
large complicated sets of differential system’s behavior, F = the forcing function, and m =
equations. a parameter representing a property of the system.
For example, on the basis of his observations, Note that for this simple case there is no
Newton formulated his second law of motion, independent variable because we are not yet
which states that the time rate of change of predicting how acceleration varies in time or space.
momentum of a body is equal to the resultant
force acting on it. The mathematical
expression, or model, of the second law is the
well-known equation

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 A SIMPLE MATHEMATICAL
MODEL

Equation (2) has several characteristics that are

typical of mathematical models of the physical
world:
1. It describes a natural process or system in
mathematical terms. 3. Finally, it yields reproducible results and,
consequently, can be used for predictive
2. It represents an idealization and purposes. For example, if the force on an object
simplification of reality. That is, the model and the mass of an object are known, Eq. (2) can
ignores negligible details of the natural be used to compute acceleration.
process and focuses on its essential
manifestations. Thus, the second law does
not include the effects of relativity that are
of minimal importance when applied to
objects and forces that interact on or about
the earth’s surface at velocities and on
scales visible to humans.

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 Next, we will express the net force
A SIMPLE MATHEMATICAL in terms of measurable variables
MODEL and parameters. For a body falling
within the vicinity of the earth (Fig.
1), the net force is composed of two FIGURE 1
opposing forces: the downward Schematic
diagram of the
1Toillustrate a more complex model of this kind, pull of gravity FD and the upward forces acting on a
falling parachutist.
Newton’s second law can be used to determine force of air resistance FU: FD is the
downward force
the terminal velocity of a freefalling body near Eq. (4) due to gravity. FU
is the upward
the earth’s surface. Our falling body will be a force due to air
resistance.
parachutist (Fig. 1.). A model for this case can be
derived by expressing the acceleration as the
time rate of change of the velocity (dv/dt) and
substituting it into Eq. (3) to yield If the downward force is assigned a positive sign, the
second law can be used to formulate the force due to
Eq. (3)
gravity, as
Eq. (5)

where v is velocity (m/s) and t is time (s). Thus, where g = the gravitational constant, or the
the mass multiplied by the rate of change of the acceleration due to gravity, which is approximately
velocity is equal to the net force acting on the equal to 9.81 m/s2.
body.2

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 or simplifying the right side,

A SIMPLE MATHEMATICAL Eq. (8)

MODEL
Equation (8) is a model that relates the acceleration of
a falling object to the forces acting on it. It is a
differential equation because it is written in terms of
Air resistance can be formulated in a variety of the differential rate of change (dv/dt) of the variable
ways. A simple approach is to assume that it is that we are interested in predicting.
linearly proportional to velocity1 and acts in an
In contrast to the solution of Newton’s second law the
upward direction, as in
exact solution of Eq. (2) for the velocity of the falling
Eq. (6)
parachutist cannot be obtained using simple algebraic
3where c = a proportionality constant called the manipulation. Rather, more advanced techniques,
drag coefficient (kg/s). The parameter c such as those of calculus, must be applied to obtain an
accounts for properties of the falling object, exact or analytical solution.
such as shape or surface roughness, that affect Exact Solution equation
air resistance.
Eq. (9)
The net force is the difference between the
downward and upward force. Therefore, Eqs. (3)
through (6) can be combined to yield Note that Eq. (9) is cast in the general form of equation
where v(t) = the dependent variable, t = the
Eq. (7) independent variable, c and m = parameters, and g =
the forcing function.
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 According to the model, the parachutist accelerates
rapidly (Fig. 2). A velocity of 44.92 m/s is attained
Analytical Solution to the after 10 s. Note also that after a sufficiently long time,
a constant velocity, called the terminal velocity, of
Falling Parachutist Problem 53.44 m/s is reached. This velocity is constant
because, eventually, the force of gravity will be in
balance with the air resistance. Thus, the net force is
A parachutist of mass 68.1 kg jumps out of a zero and acceleration has ceased.
stationary hot air balloon. Use Eq. (9) to compute Equation (9) is called an
velocity prior to opening the chute. The drag analytical, or exact,
coefficient is equal to 12.5 kg/s. solution because it
Solution. Inserting the parameters into Eq. (9) yields exactly satisfies the
original differential
equation. 4
As mentioned
previously, numerical
methods are those in
which can be used to compute
which the
Mathematical
FIGURE 2
The analytical solution to problem is reformulated
the falling parachutist
problem as computed in so it can be solved by
our Example.
Velocity increases with arithmetic operations.
time and asymptotically
approaches a terminal
velocity.
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 Eq. (10)

A SIMPLE where ∆v and ∆ t = differences in velocity and time,

MATHEMATICAL MODEL respectively, computed over finite intervals, v(ti) =
velocity at an initial time ti, and v(ti+1) = velocity at
some later time ti+1.5

This can be illustrated for Newton’s second law by Equation (10) is called a finite divided difference
realizing that the time rate of change of velocity approximation of the derivative at time ti. It can be
can be approximated by substituted into Eq. (9) to give

FIGURE 3
The use of a finite
difference to
approximate the first
derivative of v with
respect to t. This equation can then be rearranged to yield6

Eq. (11)

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 The calculation is continued in a similar fashion to
obtain additional values:

Numerical Solution to the

Falling Parachutist Problem

A parachutist of mass 68.1 kg jumps out of a

stationary hot air balloon. Use Eq. (11) to compute
velocity prior to opening the chute. The drag
coefficient is equal to 12.5 kg/s. Employ a step size The results are plotted in Fig. 4 along with the exact
of 2 s for the calculation. solution.
Sol’n: At the start of the computation (ti =0), the FIGURE 4
Comparison of the
velocity of the parachutist is zero. Using this numerical and analytical
solutions for the falling
information and the parameter values from the parachutist problem.

Example , Eq. (11) can be used to compute velocity at

ti +1 =5 2 s:

For the next interval (from t 5 2 to 4 s), the

computation is repeated, with the result

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 Thank
You!

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