the position function s of a point is given by two dimensional quantities where t in seconds and the y direction is affected by gravity (10m/s/s).
y(t)=4t*sin(θ) - 5t2 & x(t)=4t*cos(θ)
1- if θ=pi/3, find the speed in each direction after 1 second.
2- find the acceleration after 2 seconds. does it vary with time?
Please any help is welcome....
Hi Ted -- Good to hear from someone in Virginia!
This is a projectile problem that you can sense physically:
Initial velocity launched up at 4 m/s and / 60 degrees, with horizontal component constant x'(0)= 2 m/s and
vertical part y'(0)= 3.7 m/s fighting a constant negative acceleration 10 m/s^2.
After one second, y'(1) suffers a 10 m/s reversal from the starting upward 3.7 ==> -6.3 m/s (downward). Horizontal x'(1) speed remains constant 2 m/s, unchanged by gravity or air drag (assumed).
After two seconds, vertical y"(2) is always -10 m/s/s -- gravity's constant "pull". There can be no horizontal speed change ==> no acceleration ever, x"=0. Warmest regards, sir ...
1. y'(1) = 4sin(pi/3) - 10 = 2sqrt(3) - 10; x'(1) = 4cos(pi/3) = 2
2. y''(2) = -10; x''(2) = 0. So, the acceleration doesn't very with time.
Greetings Ted.
Speed is a scalar quantity. So it's essentially positive.
cos (pi/3) = 1/2; sin (pi/3) = sqrt(3)/2
Velocity (x-direction) = vx = dx/dt = d/dt (4*t*cos(pi/3) = 4*(1/2) = 2 m/s
Since the velocity is positive, the velocity is also the speed.
Acceleration (x-direction) = ax = d(vx)/dt = 0
The horizontal velocity is constant.
Velocity (y-direction) = vy = dy/dt = d/dt (4*sin(pi/3)*t - 5*t^2) = 4*(sqrt(3)/2) - 10*t
After 1 second, vy = 2*sqrt(3) - 10(1) = -6.54 m/s
Since we're asking for speed (velocity is a vector), we must take the absolute value
Vertical Speed = abs(vy) = 6.54 m/s (downward)
Acceleration (y-direction) = ay = d(vy)/dt = -10 m/s^2
Neglecting air resistance, the gravitational acceleration is constant.
Ergo, acceleration does not with time.
Hope this helps.
There is no change in the horizontal direction since the force of gravity is acting straight down and doesn't have its x - component. That is why the work done by gravity along x axis is zero.
