Mathematics & Science Learning Center
Computer Laboratory

Applications of Differential Equations

The Simple Pendulum

(continued from last page...)

Your output from the commands I just gave you should have looked, rather predictably, something like this:

y0=0

0

v0=1

1

We now tell Mathematica to solve the linearized initial value problem:

y'' + 9.8 y = 0
y(0) = y_o
y'(0) = v_o

using the DSolve command, assigning the result to the variable linsol. The command should look like this:

linsol=DSolve[{y''[t]+9.8*y[t]==0,
   y[0]==y0,y'[0]==v0},y[t],t]

Go to Mathematica now and enter the command, returning here when you are done.

Let's now discuss your result...

If you're lost, impatient, want an overview of this laboratory assignment, or maybe even all three, you can click on the compass button on the left to go to the table of contents for this laboratory assignment.