Determining the final velocity and acceleration magnitude traveling along an arc

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the final velocity and acceleration magnitude of a motorcycle traveling along an arc, initially at 40 m/s, with a tangential acceleration defined as v' = -(0.05s) m/s². The user initially attempted to apply equations for constant acceleration, leading to confusion when calculating the final velocity, resulting in an imaginary number. The correct approach involves recognizing that acceleration is not constant and using the relationship ads = vdv, integrating to find the final velocity, and applying the formula a = √(a_t² + a_n²) to determine acceleration magnitude.

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HRubss
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Homework Statement
The motorcycle is traveling at 40 m/s when it is at A. If the speed is then decreased at [tex]v'=-(0.05s)m/s^2[/tex], where s is in meters measured from A, determine its speed and acceleration when it reaches B. I attached a picture of the problem.
Relevant Equations
[tex]S = S_0 + v_0(t) + \frac{1}{2}at^2[/tex]
[tex] v^2 = (v_0)^2 + 2a(\Delta S)[/tex]
[tex]s = r\theta[/tex]
[tex]a_n = \frac{v^2}{\rho}[/tex]
[tex]a_t = v'[/tex]
Problem Statement: The motorcycle is traveling at 40 m/s when it is at A. If the speed is then decreased at v'=-(0.05s)m/s^2, where s is in meters measured from A, determine its speed and acceleration when it reaches B. I attached a picture of the problem.
Relevant Equations: S = S_0 + v_0(t) + \frac{1}{2}at^2
v^2 = (v_0)^2 + 2a(\Delta S)
s = r\theta
a_n = \frac{v^2}{\rho}
a_t = v'

I figured since the motorcycle travels along an arc, I needed to get the arc length. s = 150m(60*\frac{\pi}{180}) = 157.08 .
Then since the tangential acceleration is constant, using the constant acceleration formula to find final velocity...
v = \sqrt{(40)^2+2(-0.05(157.08))(157.08)} but that gave me an imaginary number since the acceleration is negative? I'm not sure if this is the correct process. Any help is appreciated!
 

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Can this be moved to introduction physics homework help forum? I think its better suited for there, even though this from an Engineering Dynamics textbook.

EDIT: Thank you!
 
Last edited:
HRubss said:
since the tangential acceleration is constant,
It isn't, and your first two Relevant Equations aren't, since they only apply to constant acceleration.
I do not understand your calculation for "v". Although the label v is used it represents speed here, not velocity. What is the speed at A?
 
haruspex said:
It isn't, and your first two Relevant Equations aren't, since they only apply to constant acceleration.
I do not understand your calculation for "v". Although the label v is used it represents speed here, not velocity. What is the speed at A?

Oh! I see, because its a function of distance? So would ads = vdv be more appropriate?
My "v" came from the constant acceleration formula but since it isn't constant, this will not work.
The speed at A is 40 m/s?

EDIT:
Wait I figured it out!
Since acceleration isn't constant and we're given the acceleration as a function of time.
ads = vdv
Integrating both sides,
\int ads = \int vdv
which gives me the final velocity and to find the acceleration magnitude, I used
a = \sqrt{a_t^2 + a_n^2}

Thanks for the help!
 
Last edited:

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