MATLAB Guide Tools: Dynamic Response of
a First Order System
Welcome to the MATLAB Guide tool for the dynamic
response of a first order system.
In this program we solve the ODE dT/dt = -kT
subject to the initial condition at t = 0, T = To.
This ODE has applications in the following
multidisciplinary engineering fields:
Chemical / Mechanical Engineering:
heat transfer (cookies in an
oven, quenching of
a small steel object)
Electrical Engineering:
Voltage in an RC circuit
Civil Engineering:
Position of a damped spring (or bridge!)
The solution is T/To = exp (-kt).
If you click on any k button two graphs will be
drawn.
Note that the graphs will be
drawn on the same axes until the clear graph
button is clicked.
The graph of T/To vs. t will appear on
top, and the graph of T/To vs. kt will appear
on the bottom. We can see that the dynamic
response of T depends on time but is independent
of k multiplied by time. This is a simple
example of where scaling analysis can help
one infer the physics of a problem.
To use the application, follow these instructions:
1. Download the
dynam.m and
dynam.mat
files to your computer.
2. Run matlab
3. Change to the directory containing the dynam.m
and dynam.m files
4. Start the program by typing dynam at the
command prompt
site created by:
Jason M. Keith
Department of Chemical Engineering
Michigan Technological University
Houghton, MI 49931
jmkeith@mtu.edu