How do I write a system of coupled differential equations in matrix form?
How do I find the exact solution for a system of coupled differential equations?
Worked Example
Phase Portraits
What is a phase portrait for a system of coupled differential equations?
These lines will define two sets of solution trajectories
If the eigenvalue corresponding to a line’s eigenvector is positive, then there will be solution trajectories along the line away from the origin in both directions as t increases
If the eigenvalue corresponding to a line’s eigenvector is negative, then there will be solution trajectories along the line towards the origin in both directions as t increases
No solution trajectory will ever cross an eigenvector line
If both eigenvalues are positive then all solution trajectories will be directed away from the origin as t increases
In between the ‘eigenvector lines’ the trajectories as they move away from the origin will all curve to become approximately parallel to the line whose eigenvector corresponds to the larger eigenvalue
If both eigenvalues are negative then all solution trajectories will be directed towards the origin as t increases
In between the ‘eigenvector lines’ the trajectories will all curve so that at points further away from the origin they are approximately parallel to the line whose eigenvector corresponds to the more negative eigenvalue
They will then converge on the other eigenvalue line as they move in towards the origin
If one eigenvalue is positive and one eigenvalue is negative then solution trajectories will generally start by heading in towards the origin before curving to head out away again from the origin as t increases
In between the ‘eigenvector lines’ the solution trajectories will all move in towards the origin along the direction of the eigenvector line that corresponds to the negative eigenvalue, before curving away and converging on the eigenvector line that corresponds to the positive eigenvalue as they head away from the origin
The directions of the trajectories at those points tell us that the directions of the trajectories will be anticlockwise
They also tell us that the trajectories will be ellipses
For circular trajectories, the direction of the trajectories when they cross a coordinate axis will be perpendicular to that coordinate axis
The directions of the trajectories at those points tell us that the directions of the trajectory spirals will be clockwise
Worked Example
Equilibrium Points
What is an equilibrium point?
All solution trajectories here spiral away from the origin
Worked Example
Sketching Solution Trajectories
How do I sketch a solution trajectory for a system of coupled differential equations?
A phase portrait shows typical trajectories representing all the possible solutions to a system of coupled differential equations
For a given set of initial conditions, however, the solution will only have one specific trajectory
Sketching a particular solution trajectory will generally involve the following:
Make sure you know what the ‘typical’ solutions for the system look like
You don’t need to sketch a complete phase portrait unless asked, but you should know what the phase portrait for your system would look like
If the phase portrait includes ‘eigenvector lines’, however, it is worth including these in your sketch to serve as guidelines
Use the above considerations to create your sketch
The trajectory should begin at the starting point (be sure to mark and label the starting point on your sketch!)
It should move away from the starting point in the correct initial direction
As it moves further away from the starting point, the trajectory should conform to the nature of a ‘typical solution’ for the system