MHB Arc length & similar questions

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The discussion revolves around calculating the arc length and maximum height of a pirate ship ride modeled as a swinging pendulum. The arc length, calculated using the correct radius of 40 feet and a total angle of 130 degrees, is approximately 90.76 feet. For the maximum height of the center of the ship, the formula h = r(1 - cos(θ)) is applied, yielding a height of about 23.1 feet. Participants clarify the importance of using the correct radius in calculations and provide step-by-step solutions. The thread emphasizes understanding the concepts of arc length and height in relation to pendulum motion.
fluffertoes
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Hello! I really don't understand this concept, and I have an example problem that I am working on that I just CANNOT figure out! Any help? Thanks so much in advance! A group of people get on a pirate ship ride at the fair. This ride is a swinging pendulum with a maximum swing angle of 65 degrees from the center of the ship in either direction. The arm of the pendulum holding the ship has a 40 ft radius and the ship is 22 feet long with the last seats positioned 1 foot from the end of the ship.
What is the arc length traveled by the center of the ship between the two maximum points?
ALSO>>>>
What is the maximum height reached by the center of the ship? I attached a picture for reference! Thanks so much! :)View attachment 6233
 

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fluffertoes said:
Hello! I really don't understand this concept, and I have an example problem that I am working on that I just CANNOT figure out! Any help? Thanks so much in advance! A group of people get on a pirate ship ride at the fair. This ride is a swinging pendulum with a maximum swing angle of 65 degrees from the center of the ship in either direction. The arm of the pendulum holding the ship has a 40 ft radius and the ship is 22 feet long with the last seats positioned 1 foot from the end of the ship.
I found that the arc length traveled by the center of the ship between the two maximum points is 40 feet. Is this correct?
ALSO>>>>
What is the maximum height reached by the center of the ship? I attached a picture for reference! Thanks so much! :)

Between the two maximum points, an angle of $\displaystyle \begin{align*} 130^{\circ} \end{align*}$ is swept out, so the arclength would be

$\displaystyle \begin{align*} \mathcal{l} &= \frac{130}{360} \cdot 2\,\pi \cdot 45\,\textrm{ft} \\ &= \frac{65\,\pi}{2} \,\textrm{ft} \\ &\approx 102.1\,\textrm{ft} \end{align*}$
 
Prove It said:
Between the two maximum points, an angle of $\displaystyle \begin{align*} 130^{\circ} \end{align*}$ is swept out, so the arclength would be

$\displaystyle \begin{align*} \mathcal{l} &= \frac{130}{360} \cdot 2\,\pi \cdot 45\,\textrm{ft} \\ &= \frac{65\,\pi}{2} \,\textrm{ft} \\ &\approx 102.1\,\textrm{ft} \end{align*}$

The radius is 40 feet, not 45 feet. So technically wouldn't the arc length end up being (in terms of pi (π)):

l=130/360⋅ (2π⋅40ft) = 260π/9 feet
 
Yes:

$$s=r\theta=\left(40\text{ ft}\right)\left(2\cdot65^{\circ}\frac{\pi}{180^{\circ}}\right)=\frac{260\pi}{9}\,\text{ft}\approx90.76\text{ ft}$$

To find the maximum height (above the lowest point) of the middle of the ship, we can observe that the height $h$ of the ship in terms of the angular displacement $\theta$ is given by:

$$h=r(1-\cos(\theta))$$

So, use $r=40\text{ ft}$ and $\theta=65^{\circ}$ in the above formula to get the maximum height of the center of the ship. :D
 
MarkFL said:
Yes:

$$s=r\theta=\left(40\text{ ft}\right)\left(2\cdot65^{\circ}\frac{\pi}{180^{\circ}}\right)=\frac{260\pi}{9}\,\text{ft}\approx90.76\text{ ft}$$

To find the maximum height (above the lowest point) of the middle of the ship, we can observe that the height $h$ of the ship in terms of the angular displacement $\theta$ is given by:

$$h=r(1-\cos(\theta))$$

So, use $r=40\text{ ft}$ and $\theta=65^{\circ}$ in the above formula to get the maximum height of the center of the ship. :D

So would that leave me with:

(40)Cos(65°) = 16.9
40 - 16.9 = 23.095 feet
 
Here is a little puzzle from the book 100 Geometric Games by Pierre Berloquin. The side of a small square is one meter long and the side of a larger square one and a half meters long. One vertex of the large square is at the center of the small square. The side of the large square cuts two sides of the small square into one- third parts and two-thirds parts. What is the area where the squares overlap?

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