- #1
jono90one
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Homework Statement
Find the times when the two particles meet
r and w are positive constants
Homework Equations
x1(t) = rcos(wt) i + rsin(wt) j
x2(t) = (2/pi) rwt j
The Attempt at a Solution
Now I can get t = 0 quite easily. I can equate :
rcos(wt) = 0 hence wt = pi/2 [1]
rsin(wt) = 2/pi rwt
hence sub in 1
and you get 1=2/pi wt
so basically you get wt = pi/2 again.
So this route is useless (?)
Alternatively, considering x2 forms a right angle with x1 you can do scalar product and you end up with:
r^2 sin(wt) wt = 0
r, w = + ve
So tsinwt = 0
t = 0, sinwt = 0
t = 0 or wt = 0, pi (or multiple) => t=0
But I am still only getting one t, is there only one t? As the question states time"s".
Thanks.
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