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How to solve motion problems using calculus and vector notation

The document explains how to solve motion problems using calculus and vector notation, detailing concepts such as average and instantaneous velocity, acceleration, and work done by forces. It includes several examples demonstrating the application of these concepts to various scenarios, including calculating displacement, velocity, and acceleration of moving objects. The document emphasizes the importance of derivatives in determining instantaneous values and provides step-by-step solutions to specific problems.

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nanbyen56
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© © All Rights Reserved
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2 views

How to solve motion problems using calculus and vector notation

The document explains how to solve motion problems using calculus and vector notation, detailing concepts such as average and instantaneous velocity, acceleration, and work done by forces. It includes several examples demonstrating the application of these concepts to various scenarios, including calculating displacement, velocity, and acceleration of moving objects. The document emphasizes the importance of derivatives in determining instantaneous values and provides step-by-step solutions to specific problems.

Uploaded by

nanbyen56
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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How to solve motion problems using calculus and vector notation

Velocity is the rate of change of the position of a moving object with respect to time. If we are
told that a car

travels 100 kilometers in 2 hours, we can judge that the car moved an average of 50 kilometres
per hour. We

say that the car’s average velocity over this 2-hour time interval is 50 k/hr.

The car’s average velocity is defined by

(where s represent the car's position relative to a fixed point)avs

The instantaneous velocity v ins is defined as the limit of the average velocity, as the length of
the time interval

approaches zero. 0that is vlim inst

t

 This quantity is the derivative of s with respect to t: vinstds

dt

The acceleration of a moving object is the rate of change of its velocity with respect to time.
Thus a(t) = v`(t).

If s(t) represents the position of the particle at time t, then a(t) = s``(t).

Example 1 - The displacement of an object is given as x = 6t 2 + 4t + 3. Determine the velocity


and

acceleration at time, t = 3 s.
Solution



2

v12t 4, V at t 3 12 x 3 4 36 4 40 m/s

Acceleration = 12, a at t 3 12 m/s

dx

elocity

dt

dv

dt





Example 2 - During a storm, a crate of crepe is sliding across a slick, oily parking lot through a
displacement

= (-3.0 m) while a steady wind pushes against the crate with a force = (2.0 N) + (-6.0 N). How
much work

does this force do on the crate during the displacement?

Solution

Work done = Force ․ Distance

= [(2.0 N) + (-6.0 N) . (-3.0 m) = (2.0 N) . (-3.0 m) + (-6.0 N) . (-3.0 m) = -6.0 J

= 1 and = 0

Example 3 - What is the magnitude of the sum of the following vectors: A = 2i – 3j and B = -6j?

Solution: A = A x i + A y j + A z k; B = B x i + B y j + B z k

A + B = (A x + B x) i + (A y + B y) j + (A z + B z )k = (2 + 0)i + (-3 -6)j + (0 + 0)k = 2i - 9j + 0k


Magnitude = √[(2 2 ) + (-9) 2 ] = √(4 + 81) = √(85) = 9.2 units

Example 4 - The only force acting on a 5.0 kg object has components F x = 20 N and F y = 30 N.
Find the

object's acceleration.

Solution

Magnitude of Force, F = √[(F x ) 2 + (F y ) 2 ] = √[(20) 2 + (30) 2 ] = √[400 + 900] = √[(1300] = 36 N;

Force = Mass × Acceleration, Acceleration = Force/Mass = 36N/5kg = 7.2 m/s 2

Example 5 - What is the displacement vector of the particle that moves from point A (2, 3, 5) to
point B (3, 4,

5)?

Displacement vector = B – A = (3 - 2)i + (4 - 3)j + (5 - 5)k = 1i + 1j + 0k = i + j

Example 6: A particle’s position (in inches) along the x axis after t seconds of travel is given by
the equation

23

2410xtt

(a) What is the particle’s average velocity during the first 3 seconds of travel?

(b) Where is the particle and how fast is it moving after 3 seconds of travel?

(c) Where is the particle and how fast is moving after 20 seconds of travel?

(d) When is the velocity of the particle 0? What is the particle’s position at that instant?

(e) Describe the motion of the particle during the first 20 seconds of travel.

Solution

(a) The particle’s position when t = 0 is x = 10 inches. When t = 3s, x = 199 inches.

19910189

v63 /sec
303av

in







(b) When t = 3s, its position x = 199 inches. The particle’s instantaneous velocity is determined
using the

derivative.

v483

3, v = 117 in/sec. Since this is a positive number,

it represents the speed as well.

inst

dx

tt

dt

wherets



(c) When t = 20, its position x = 24(20) 2 - 20 3 + 10 = 1610 inches. Its velocity,

2
v483

t = 20, v = -240 in/sec. The negative velocity indicates that the particle is

moving in the negative direction. The speed of the particle is 240 in/sec.

inst

dx

tt

dt

where



(d) v = 48t – 3t 2

0 = 48t – 3t 2

0 = 3t(16-t)

t = 0, t = 16

The velocity of the particle is 0 when t = 0 and when t = 16. When t = 0, x = 10 inches and when t
= 16, x =

2058 inches.

(e) The particle begins at rest at x = 10 inches. For the first 16 seconds, the particle has a positive
velocity and

moves in the positive direction. When t = 16s, the particle stops momentarily (v = 0) at x = 2058
inches. It

then moves in the negative direction and returns to x = 1610 inches when t = 20s.

Example 7

Compute the acceleration of the particle in the example above at times t = 3,5,10 and 15.

Solution

Since v(t) = 48t – 3t 2 , a(t) = v`(t) = 48 – 6t.

When t = 3, a = 30 in/sec 2

When t = 5, a = 18 in/sec 2

When t = 10, a = -12 in/sec 2

When t = 15, a = -42 in/sec 2

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