Solving a Frictionless Cart Problem with Rain

AI Thread Summary
A cart on a frictionless surface is initially moving at speed V_0 when it starts collecting rain falling at a rate of q gk per second. The problem involves expressing the cart's speed as a function of time after the rain begins. The equations of motion are set up using the momentum principle, leading to a differential equation that relates the mass of the cart and the rain collected. The suggested approach to solve for the speed involves separating variables and integrating both sides of the equation. The discussion emphasizes the importance of applying initial conditions to find the solution for the cart's speed over time.
Gregie666
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hi.
can anyone push me in the right direction with the followin problem, please?

Homework Statement


a cart is moving on a frictionless surface at a speed of V_0
the mass of the cart is M.
it suddenly starts to rain at time t=0. the rain is dropping vertically at a rate of q gk per second.
the cart collects all the rain drops that hit it.
express the speed of the cart as a function of time passed since it started raining.

Homework Equations


F = {{dp} \over {dt}}



The Attempt at a Solution


<br /> <br /> <br /> &amp; F = {{dp} \over {dt}} \Rightarrow \cr <br /> &amp; 0 = {{dm} \over {dt}}v(t) + {{dv} \over {dt}}m(t) \Rightarrow \cr <br /> &amp; 0 = qv(t) + {{dv} \over {dt}}(M + qt) \Rightarrow \cr <br /> &amp; qv = - {{dv} \over {dt}}(M + qt) \Rightarrow \cr <br /> &amp; qvdt = (M + qt)dv <br /> <br /> <br />

so i get this equation and i don't know how to solve it for v...


**how do i add line breaks to the latex??**
 
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just like any differential equation, split the variables, put in the initial conditions, and rearrange for the variable you want.

\int { \frac {q}{M+qt}} dt = \int {\frac {1}{v}}dv

Try it that way
 
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