Edexcel Paper 1 2020 October — Question 14

Exam BoardEdexcel
ModulePaper 1 (Paper 1)
Year2020
SessionOctober
TopicDifferential equations

  1. A large spherical balloon is deflating.
At time \(t\) seconds the balloon has radius \(r \mathrm {~cm}\) and volume \(V \mathrm {~cm} ^ { 3 }\)
The volume of the balloon is modelled as decreasing at a constant rate.
  1. Using this model, show that $$\frac { \mathrm { d } r } { \mathrm {~d} t } = - \frac { k } { r ^ { 2 } }$$ where \(k\) is a positive constant. Given that
    • the initial radius of the balloon is 40 cm
    • after 5 seconds the radius of the balloon is 20 cm
    • the volume of the balloon continues to decrease at a constant rate until the balloon is empty
    • solve the differential equation to find a complete equation linking \(r\) and \(t\).
    • Find the limitation on the values of \(t\) for which the equation in part (b) is valid.