Calculating the speed of a crane (using pythagoras) with different x & y speeds

[Calico5]

Hi,

Homework Statement

I'm designing a C++ program to simulate the operation of a steel processing warehouse. Part of my code requires me to calculate the time it takes for a crane to move certain distances (mainly diagonal ones) across a large shelving rack.

Homework Equations

The crane moves at different speeds in different directions.
Maximum x speed = 40m/min
Maximum y speed = 12.5m/min

I was thinking of using pythagoras theorem somehow to solves this (although its not required to be done this way) so:
c² = a² +b²

The Attempt at a Solution

I was thinking of using:

time = distance/speed

to calculate the time for each movement in x direction and y direction. Then using pythagoras theorem on the times to get the diagonal movement time. So an example would be:

X-Time = 6/40 = 0.15min
Y-Time = 4/12.5 = 0.32min

Z-Time = SQRT(0.15²+0.32²) = 0.353min

Would that be correct? I am not sure if i can apply pythagoras theorem to time like that. Any Help is appreciated

Thanks

 

[Apphysicist]

Hi,

Homework Statement

I'm designing a C++ program to simulate the operation of a steel processing warehouse. Part of my code requires me to calculate the time it takes for a crane to move certain distances (mainly diagonal ones) across a large shelving rack.

Homework Equations

The crane moves at different speeds in different directions.
Maximum x speed = 40m/min
Maximum y speed = 12.5m/min

I was thinking of using pythagoras theorem somehow to solves this (although its not required to be done this way) so:
c² = a² +b²

The Attempt at a Solution

I was thinking of using:

time = distance/speed

to calculate the time for each movement in x direction and y direction. Then using pythagoras theorem on the times to get the diagonal movement time. So an example would be:

X-Time = 6/40 = 0.15min
Y-Time = 4/12.5 = 0.32min

Z-Time = SQRT(0.15²+0.32²) = 0.353min

Would that be correct? I am not sure if i can apply pythagoras theorem to time like that. Any Help is appreciated

Thanks

I would use Pythagorean theorem on the velocity and distance. Then use t = d/v. You would find how far the crane moves along the diagonal, and if the x-y speeds are constant, how fast it is moving along the diagonal so you could calculate the time.

 

[Calico5]

Thank you for the reply Apphysicist :)

Ahh right, i see. Tried out your method and got the following:

Z_Distance = SQRT(4² + 6²) = 7.211
Z_Speed = SQRT(40² + 12.5²) = 41.907

t=d/v = 7.211/41.907 = 0.17min

That seems a bit quick doesn't it? given that the previous results were:
X-Time = 0.15min
Y-Time = 0.32min

i would have thought the pythagoras time would be closer to the slowest time. No?