Determining the final velocity and acceleration magnitude traveling along an arc

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a motorcycle traveling along an arc, initially at a speed of 40 m/s, with a tangential acceleration that varies as a function of distance. The goal is to determine the motorcycle's speed and acceleration when it reaches a specific point along the arc.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the implications of varying acceleration and question the appropriateness of using constant acceleration equations. There is an exploration of integrating to find the final velocity, and a participant suggests using a different approach to account for non-constant acceleration.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants providing clarifications and questioning assumptions about the nature of acceleration in the problem. Some guidance has been offered regarding the integration approach, and there is an acknowledgment of the initial misunderstanding regarding the use of constant acceleration formulas.

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of the problem being from an Engineering Dynamics textbook, which may influence the complexity of the concepts being discussed. Participants are also considering the appropriateness of the forum for this type of question.

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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