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MATH-1210-407-F17
Derivatives
Suppose that a particle moves according to the law of motion s(t) = 4 2 2 + 2 with t 0. Use your knowledge of the relationship between position, velocity, and acceleration to
answer the following questions.
Note: Since the units were not given, I will be assuming that the function s(t) is in
metres/second.
The equation s(t) = t4 2t2 + 2 gives us the position of the particle at (t)
s(t) gives us the formula for velocity at (t) which is s(t) = 4t(t2 1) .
b) Determine when the particle is moving in a positive direction, a negative direction, and when
it is at rest.
The particle is at rest at t=0 and t=1 since 4(0)(0 1) = 0( 1) = 0.
The particle is moving in a negative direction whenever 0 < t < 1.
The particle is moving in a positive direction whenever t > 1.
c) What is the total distance traveled by the particle in the first 3 seconds?
The position of the particle is given by the equation s(t)t4 2t2 + 2
If (t) = 3, then s(3) = (3)4 2(3)2 + 2 = 81 18 + 2 = 65 metres.
The particle has moved 65 metres in 3 seconds.
Also, from the green line we can indeed judge that the acceleration when (t) = 1 is in fact
8 metres/second/second.
My solution process was to find the formulas for position, velocity, and acceleration prior to
doing the problems. In the real world, another example of derivatives would be the rate at
which water flows into a conical container. This makes use of related rates.
Citations:
"Related rates: water pouring into a cone (video) |Khan Academy." Khan Academy | Free
Online Courses, Lessons & Practice. Khan Academy, Web. 12 Sep 2017.
<http://www.khanacademy.org/math/ap-calculus-ab/ab-applications-derivatives/ab-related-rat
es/v/related-rates-of-water-pouring-into-cone>.