Thread: Numerical methods to solve higher order differential equations

I have attached the question as an image. I am trying to solve this but I am unsure if the proper way to do this is to just use Matlab or is there another way to do this?

Thanks in advance.

Originally Posted by blueturkey

I have attached the question as an image. I am trying to solve this but I am unsure if the proper way to do this is to just use Matlab or is there another way to do this?

Thanks in advance.

You start by rewriting it (as you are asked to do in the question) as a first order system of ODE's. This can be interpreted as a first order vector ODE, which can be fed straight inro the (first order) ODE code in Matlab (ODE45 comes to mind).

CB

Thanks I managed to rewrite it, is feeding it into the Matlab the only way to solve it numerically?

Originally Posted by blueturkey

Thanks I managed to rewrite it, is feeding it into the Matlab the only way to solve it numerically?

No you can do it with bear hands, what Matlab does is implement a numerical integration scheme.

In principle you could do it in Excell (you will probably have to use some computer assistance as there is just too much arithmetic involved to do this using a calculator and pencil and paper, though 60+ years ago that is what we would have done - with mechanical calculators as well).


CB