Acceleration and velocity involving calculus

In summary, the equation x = 10 + 5t^2 describes the motion of a rocket. To find the instantaneous speed of the rocket, differentiate the equation with respect to time. At 5 seconds, the instantaneous speed is 50 m/s. The acceleration of the rocket is a constant and can be found by differentiating the velocity expression. The units for acceleration are meters per second squared.
  • #1
needhelp83
199
0
If the equation describing the motion of a rocket is
x = 10 + 5t^2, write an expression for the instantaneous speed of the rocket. What is the instantaneous speed at 5 s. What is the acceleration?


WHere do I begin? Do I need to take the integral anywhere?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
differentiate x = 10 +5t^2 with respect to t to get velocity and then differentiate your new velocity expression with respect to t to get the acceleration.

Given your expression for x your acceleration is going to be a constant.
 
  • #3
Velocity
x=10+5t^2
Derivative with respect to t= 10t
Instantaneous speed of rocket=10t

Instantaneous speed at 5 s
v=10t
v=50 m/s
Would this be in the correct units?

Acceleration
a=10
 
  • #4
yeah those are SI units so they are the correct units. Where the acceleration has units of [tex] \frac {m} {s^2}[/tex].
 
  • #5
So if I am understanding this correctly...

The derivative of x=10+5t^2 with respect to t is the velocity
Expression for instaneous speed of rocket
V=10t

Instantaneous speed at 5 s
v=10t
v=10(5)
v=50 m/s

Acceleration is the derivative of velocity (v=10t) with respect to t
a=10
a=10 m/s^2

Look good?
 
  • #6
Yup that looks fine.
 

FAQ: Acceleration and velocity involving calculus

1. What is the difference between acceleration and velocity?

Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity over time, while velocity is the rate of change of position over time. In other words, acceleration measures how quickly an object's velocity is changing, while velocity measures how quickly an object's position is changing.

2. How is acceleration calculated using calculus?

In calculus, acceleration can be calculated by taking the derivative of the velocity function with respect to time. This means finding the slope of the velocity curve at a specific time, which represents the instantaneous acceleration at that time.

3. What is the difference between average and instantaneous acceleration?

Average acceleration is calculated by taking the change in velocity over a specific time interval, while instantaneous acceleration is calculated at a specific moment in time. In other words, average acceleration represents the overall change in velocity, while instantaneous acceleration represents the change in velocity at a specific point in time.

4. How can calculus be used to analyze the motion of an object?

Calculus can be used to analyze the motion of an object by finding the derivatives of position, velocity, and acceleration functions. These derivatives can provide information about the object's speed, direction, and acceleration at any given time, allowing for a detailed understanding of its motion.

5. What are some real-world applications of using calculus to study acceleration and velocity?

Some real-world applications of using calculus to study acceleration and velocity include analyzing the motion of projectiles, understanding the movement of objects in free fall, and predicting the path of a moving object in a specific environment. Calculus is also essential in fields such as engineering, physics, and astronomy, where precise measurements of acceleration and velocity are necessary for various calculations and experiments.

Similar threads

Replies
9
Views
310
Replies
12
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
659
Replies
5
Views
2K
Replies
4
Views
1K
Replies
3
Views
518
Back
Top