- #1
AxeluteZero
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Homework Statement
Suppose the acceleration of a particle is a function of x, where ax(x) = (2.0 s-2)x.
(a) If the velocity is zero when x = 1.0 m, what is the speed when x = 2.7 m?
(b) How long does it take the particle to travel from x = 1.0 m to x = 2.7 m?
Homework Equations
a = integral v dt = integral (integral (x)) dt
The Attempt at a Solution
This CAN be solved as a differential equation, but we haven't done those in my Calc course yet, so I have no idea how to solve it that way.
On the other hand, I know the problem is that acceleration is a function of x, hence a(x), and that it needs to be a function of time in order to change it over to velocity and then displacement (if needed). So, I tried figuring that out and go to this point:
a = [tex]\frac{dv}{dt}[/tex] = ([tex]\frac{dv}{dx}[/tex] * [tex]\frac{dx}{dt}[/tex])
[tex]\int\frac{dv}{dx}[/tex] = [tex]\int2x[/tex][tex]\frac{dx}{dt}[/tex]
v = x2 + c
Do I have this set up correctly? And, if so, wouldn't the integral (and thus the velocity function) end up being x2 + some constant? And would that constant be related to part b, or inherited from the given info?