Calculating Particle Position with Constant Acceleration

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rybka
  • Start date Start date
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
3 replies · 2K views
Rybka
Messages
5
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



A particle is accelerated according to a(t) = 3.0t m/s^2. What is the position of the particle if it starts out with v=2.0 m/s and x = 0 at t = 0.

Homework Equations



s(t)=1/2at^2 + volt + xo

The Attempt at a Solution



I took the integral of a(t) to get my v(t), and then took the integral of v(t) to get my x(t). None of my answers match with the given choices.

The possible answers according to this sheet are:

(a). x(t) = 3.0t^2 + 2.0t m
(b). x(t) = 3.0t^3 + 2.0t m
(c). x(t) = t^3 +2.0t m
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
Rybka said:

Homework Equations



s(t)=1/2at^2 + volt + xo

Note that this equation is not relevant to this problem since the acceleration is not constant in this problem.

The Attempt at a Solution



I took the integral of a(t) to get my v(t), and then took the integral of v(t) to get my x(t).

That sounds good.

None of my answers match with the given choices.

The possible answers according to this sheet are:

(a). x(t) = 3.0t^2 + 2.0t m
(b). x(t) = 3.0t^2 + 2.0t m
(c). x(t) = t^3 +2.0t m

I agree that none of these answers is correct.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: 1 person
BvU said:
There being no difference whatsoever between answer a and answer b ?

Yeah, sorry. I fixed that.

Nonetheless, the professor seems to have made a mistake on this problem set.

Thanks guys!