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uchicago2012
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Homework Statement
An asteroid moves toward the sun along a straight line with a velocity given by v = -(c1+c2/x)½ , where x is the distance from the center of the sun. Use the chain rule for derivatives to show that the asteroid's acceleration is a = -c2 /2x2.
The Attempt at a Solution
I'm not sure what c1 and c2 are, I assumed constants, but just throwing that out there. I also assumed I was supposed to derive the velocity with respect to x in order to get the given acceleration. Unfortunately, I don't get the given acceleration. I suspect it is a simplification problem, or perhaps I've just forgotten how to do calculus.
v = -(c1 + c2/ x)1/2
dv/dt = -1/2(c1 + c2/ x)-1/2 * ((x-c1 +c2)/x2)