Analyzing the Setup
The motion of the particle is governed by the differential equation:
The field f(x) is defined piecewise:
To solve this, we must treat the motion as a two-act process, ensuring continuity at the boundary x=1.
Act I
The Driven Motion
For the interval x∈[0,1], the equation is dxdy+2y=1. We utilize the Integrating Factor method, where the I.F. is:
Multiplying the differential equation by e2x yields:
Integrating both sides, we obtain ye2x=2e2x+C1. Applying the initial condition y(0)=0:
Thus, for x∈[0,1], the solution is:
The Bridge of Continuity
To ensure the particle's path is continuous, we calculate the position at the boundary x=1:
This value serves as the initial condition for the second phase of the motion.
Act II
The Free Decay
For x>1, the field vanishes, resulting in the homogeneous equation dxdy+2y=0. The general solution is:
We enforce continuity at x=1 by setting the two solutions equal:
Multiplying both sides by e2, we isolate the constant:
The Final Reveal
We are tasked with finding the value of y at x=3/2. Since 3/2>1, we use the second-act solution:
y(3/2)=C2e−2(3/2)=C2e−3
Substituting the value of C2 derived previously:
The final result is: