FKB 14202: TUTORIAL 3

Partial Derivatives

APPLICATION OF PARTIAL DERIVATIVES

( PARTIAL DERIVATIVE in Engineering Problems)

1. MATERIALS

Castigliano’s theorem says the displacement,  , under a force P is given by :

U
 where U is the internal strain energy of the body. For the
P
following, find  :
P2 L 9 P 2 L3
a) U  b) U 
2 AE 96 EI

2. STRUCTURES

Given the stress function, ( x, y )  Ax 2 y 4  Bx 4 y 2 where A and B are

 2
constants, find the stresses, x and y where
x  2 and
y
 2
y  2 .
x

3. FLUID MECHANICS
u v
The continuity equation is defined as :   0 , where u, v are
x y
velocities of the fluid in the x, y directions respectively. Show that
u  y2  x2 , v  2 xy will satisfy the continuity equation.

1
There is no failure except in no longer trying - Elbert Hubbard
 FKB 14202: TUTORIAL 3
Partial Derivatives

4. THERMODYNAMICS

Given the ideal gas equation, PV  RT where P is pressure, V is

volume, T is temperature and R is the gas constant. Given isothermal
1  V  1  V 
compressibility k     and    .
V  P  V  T 
1 1
Show that : k  and   .
P T

5. Suppose that D  x 2  y 2 is the length of the diagonal of a rectangle whose

sides have lengths x and y that are allowed to vary.

a) Find a formula for the rate of change of D with respect to x if

varies with y held constant.

b) Hence, use this formula to find the rate of change of D with respect to x at
the point when x  3 and y  4 .

2 3
6. Let f ( x, y )  x y  5 y
a) Find the slope of the surface z  f ( x, y ) in the x-direction
at the point (1,-2).

b) Find the slope of the surface z  f ( x, y ) in the y-direction

at the point (1,-2).

2 2
7. A point moves along the intersection of the elliptic paraboloid z  x  3y
and the plane y  1 . At what rate is z changing with x when the point
is at (2,1,7) ?

2
There is no failure except in no longer trying - Elbert Hubbard
 FKB 14202: TUTORIAL 3
Partial Derivatives

8. The volume V of a right circular cylinder is given by the formula V   r 2h ,

where r is the radius and h is the height.

a) Find a formula for the instantaneous rate of change of V with respect to

r if r change and h remains constant.

b) Find a formula for the instantaneous rate of change of V with respect

to h if h change and r remains constant.

c) Suppose that h has a constant value of 4 inches, but r varies. Find

the rate of change of V with respect to r at the point where r =6
inches.

d) Suppose that r has a constant value of 8 inches, but h varies. Find

the rate of change of V with respect to h at the point where h =10 inches.

9. Show that the functions given below are solutions of the wave equation

 2W 2
2  W
c
t 2 x 2

a) W  sin x  c t   cos2 x  2ct  b) W  ln 2 x  2c t 

c) W  tan2 x  2c t 

10. Show that the functions given below satisfy the

2 f 2 f 2 f
three-dimensional Laplace equation :   0 or
x 2 y 2 z 2

2 f 2 f
two-dimensional Laplace equation :  0
x 2 y 2

a) f  x 2  y 2  2z 2 b) 
f  2 z .3  3 x 2  y 2 z 
c) f  e 2 y cos 2 x d) 
f  x2  y2  z 2 
1 2

3
There is no failure except in no longer trying - Elbert Hubbard
 FKB 14202: TUTORIAL 3
Partial Derivatives

11. Determine whether u ( x, y )  x 2  xy is a solution of the

u u
partial differential equation : 2 y
x y

12. Verify that z  sin(xy ) satisfies the equation :

2 z 2 z
2
 2  ( x2  y 2 ) z  0
x y

x
13. Determine whether u ( x, y)  xy  is a solution of the partial
y

 2u  2u
differential equation : y  2x  2x
y 2 xy

14. Given z ( x, y )  x 2  y 2 , verify that z ( x, y ) is a solution of :

2 z 2 z 2 2 1 2
  ( x  y )
x 2 y 2

4
There is no failure except in no longer trying - Elbert Hubbard
 FKB 14202: TUTORIAL 3
Partial Derivatives

APPLY SMALL CHANGES TO ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS

V
15. If I  and V = 250 volts , R = 50 ohms. Find the change in I resulting
R
from an increase in 1 volt in V and an increase of 0.5 ohm in R.

ws 3
16. If y 4 , find the percentage change in y when w increase by 2% ,
d
s decrease by 3% and d decrease by 1%.

17. The deflection y at the centre of a circular plate suspended at the edge and

kwd 4
uniformly loaded is given by y  , where w = total load, d  diameter
t3
of plate, t  thickness and k is a constant. Calculate the approximate
change in y if w is increased by 3%, d is decreased by 2.5% and t is
increased by 4%.

18. The two sides forming the right angle of a right-angled triangle are denoted by
a and b. The hypotenuse is h. If there are possible errors of  0.5% in
measuring a and b, find the maximum possible error in calculating:

a) the area of the triangle, A

h
b) the length of h a

5
There is no failure except in no longer trying - Elbert Hubbard
 FKB 14202: TUTORIAL 3
Partial Derivatives

ANSWERS

PL 3PL3
1. a) b)
AE 16 AE

 2  2
2.  y  2  2 Ay 4  12Bx 2 y 2  x  2  12 Ax 2 y 2  2 Bx 4
x y

D x 3
5 a)  b)
x 2
x y 2 5

6. a) -4 b) 61

7) 4

8 a) 2rh b)  r 2

c) 48  150.80 d) 64  201.06

15) I reduces 0.03 ampere.

16) y is decreased by 3%

17) y decrease by 19% approximately.

18) a) A  1% of A b) h  0.5% of h

6
There is no failure except in no longer trying - Elbert Hubbard