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I am new to using Mathematica and have a problem at hand: I need to solve $y''(x)+ a \sin(y(x)) = 0$ and plot the output, I need a "manipulate" thingy for the two initial conditions. Help needed.

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Have a look at NDSolve in the documentation. – b.gatessucks Oct 10 '12 at 8:52
You wrote the question so fast that seems some dishonest educator is going to catch you. Please take your time and show your effort. – belisarius Oct 10 '12 at 8:55
@belisarius actually yes, my "educator" wants to see the solution in 20 minutes :P – kernel_panic Oct 10 '12 at 9:05
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have you tried anything? eg, asking google? – acl Oct 10 '12 at 12:21
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This equation is easily solved analytically by using y[x] as an independent variable, which reduces it to a first-order equation. By calling y'[x] == f[y], you get y''[x] == 1/2 (d/dy)(f[y]^2),so this becomes a first order in y equation. Once you solve it, you recall what f is and solve for x = x(y), then invert. – Leonid Shifrin Oct 10 '12 at 13:17
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closed as too localized by acl, belisarius, cormullion, Leonid Shifrin, rm -rf♦ Oct 10 '12 at 14:55

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1 Answer

up vote 2 down vote

The function you are looking for is NDSolve. I don't think DSolve gives a working answer with the y[x] wrapped inside in the Sin function

For one-off execution, you can use this kind of expression:

finish = 10;
ic1 = 1;
ic2 = 1;
a = 2;
sol = NDSolve[{y''[x] + a Sin[y[x]] == 0, y[0] == ic1, y'[0] == ic2}, y[x], {x, 0, finish}];
Plot[y[x] /. sol, {x, 0, finish}]

plot of differential equation solution

And for a Manipulate type set up hopefully this will help you

a = 3; Manipulate[{sol = 
NDSolve[{y''[x] + a Sin[y[x]] == 0, y[0] == ic1, y'[0] == ic2}, 
 y[x], {x, 0, finish}]; Plot[y[x] /. sol, {x, 0, finish}]}[[1]], {ic1, 1, 3, 0.1}, {ic2, 2, 4, 0.1}]

Manipulate[] interface

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DSolve may not return closed form expressions, but this ODE is the equation of motion for a nonlinear pendulum; the solution involves elliptic functions (Jacobi I think). However, I suspect that if the OP used them, their "educator" might work out that they've had help. – acl Oct 10 '12 at 12:05
@acl, it does require Jacobian elliptic functions to solve the pendulum's DE, but I am told most of the kids these days have absolutely no clue about them... – 0x4A4D♦ Oct 10 '12 at 12:50
@J.M. You know, Sin[t] == t ... or else – belisarius Oct 10 '12 at 12:58
@bel, I guess that's why most people don't want their pendulums to be swinging at too wide an angle... ;P – 0x4A4D♦ Oct 10 '12 at 13:00

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