Problem 12-20 The velocity of a particle traveling along a straight line is v = (3t2 − 6t) ft/s, where t is in seconds. If s = 4 ft when t = 0, determine the position of the particle when t = 4 s. What is the total distance traveled during the time interval t = 0 to t = 4 s? Also, what is the acceleration when t = 2 s?
Solution
The acceleration can be obtained by differentiating the velocity.
dv a= dt d = (3t2 − 6t) dt = 6t − 6
Therefore, after 2 seconds the acceleration is
ft a(2) = 6(2) − 6 = 6 . s2 The total distance travelled in the first four seconds is found by integrating the speed from t = 0 to t = 4. ˆ 4 sT = |v(t)| dt 0 ˆ 4 = |3t2 − 6t| dt 0 ˆ 2 ˆ 4 2 = (−3t + 6t) dt + (3t2 − 6t) dt 0 2 2 4 = (−t3 + 3t2 ) + (t3 − 3t2 ) 0 2
= [−23 + 3(2)2 ] + [43 − 3(4)2 − 23 + 3(2)2 ]
= 24 ft
The velocity is related to position by
ds v= = 3t2 − 6t. dt Integrate both sides with respect to t to get s(t). ˆ s(t) = (3t2 − 6t) dt = t3 − 3t2 + C
Use the fact that s = 4 when t = 0 to determine C. Then evaluate s(t) at t = 4.
