Fig. 8.1 shows an upright cylindrical barrel containing water. The water is leaking out of a hole in the side of the barrel.
\includegraphics{figure_8.1}
The height of the water surface above the hole \(t\) seconds after opening the hole is \(h\) metres, where
$$\frac{dh}{dt} = -A\sqrt{h}$$
and where \(A\) is a positive constant. Initially the water surface is 1 metre above the hole.
- Verify that the solution to this differential equation is
$$h = \left(1 - \frac{1}{2}At\right)^2.$$ [3]
The water stops leaking when \(h = 0\). This occurs after 20 seconds.
- Find the value of \(A\), and the time when the height of the water surface above the hole is 0.5 m. [4]
Fig. 8.2 shows a similar situation with a different barrel; \(h\) is in metres.
\includegraphics{figure_8.2}
For this barrel,
$$\frac{dh}{dt} = -B\frac{\sqrt{h}}{(1+h)^2},$$
where \(B\) is a positive constant. When \(t = 0\), \(h = 1\).
- Solve this differential equation, and hence show that
$$h^{\frac{1}{2}}(30 + 20h + 6h^2) = 56 - 15Bt.$$ [7]
- Given that \(h = 0\) when \(t = 20\), find \(B\).
Find also the time when the height of the water surface above the hole is 0.5 m. [4]