Cloverleaf highway interchange - determine car acceleration

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The problem involves analyzing the acceleration of a car traveling along a curved portion of a cloverleaf highway interchange, defined by the equation R² = b²sin(2θ). The car is moving at a constant speed, and the goal is to determine its acceleration at a specific point.

Discussion Character

  • Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the correctness of expressions related to the second derivative of R and the inclusion of terms involving θ and its derivatives. There are questions about the dimensional consistency of the equations presented.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively questioning the original poster's expressions and suggesting checks for dimensional analysis. There is an ongoing exploration of the mathematical relationships involved, with no clear consensus yet on the correctness of the approach.

Contextual Notes

There are indications of missing terms in the original equations, and participants are focusing on ensuring that all necessary components are included for a proper analysis. The discussion reflects a collaborative effort to clarify the mathematical setup without providing direct solutions.

Alexanddros81
Messages
177
Reaction score
4

Homework Statement


13.34 The curved portion of the cloverleaf highway interchange is defined by
##R^2=b^2sin2θ##, 0<=θ<=90deg. If a car travels along the curve at the constant speed v0,
determine its acceleration at A

Fig13_34.jpg


Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution



Pytels_Dynamics071.jpg

[/B]
Is this wrong?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Check your expression for ##\ddot{R}##. There should be a ##\ddot{\theta}## in it.​
 
and also you're missing a ##\dot \theta^2##.
 
kuruman said:
Check your expression for ¨RR¨\ddot{R}. There should be a ¨θθ¨\ddot{\theta} in it.

Is the following correct:

Pytels_Dynamics072.jpg


Marc Rindermann said:
and also you're missing a ˙θ2θ˙2\dot \theta^2
I cannot see where I am missing the ##\dot θ^2##
 
first of all you can check whether your equations are correct if you do a dimensional analysis.
Look at ##\ddot R = 2b\dot\theta##

##[\ddot R] = ms^{-2}##
##[2b\dot\theta] = ms^{-1}##

So you see something is not quite right.

When you take the 2nd derivative of ##\dot R = b\cos(2\theta)(\sin(2\theta))^{-1/2}\dot\theta## you need to remember that the derivative of both ##\cos(2\theta)## and ##(\sin(2\theta))^{-1/2}## produces another ##\dot\theta##.
 
Pytels_Dynamics088.jpg

Pytels_Dynamics093.jpg

Pytels_Dynamics089.jpg


Can you check this?
 

Attachments

  • Pytels_Dynamics088.jpg
    Pytels_Dynamics088.jpg
    36.7 KB · Views: 563
  • Pytels_Dynamics089.jpg
    Pytels_Dynamics089.jpg
    31.9 KB · Views: 584
  • Pytels_Dynamics093.jpg
    Pytels_Dynamics093.jpg
    18.7 KB · Views: 644

Similar threads

  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
3K
Replies
7
Views
4K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
1K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K