- #1
BadatPhysicsguy
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Homework Statement
The gravitational acceleration at latitude x (0<x<90) can be estimated with g(x)=a*cos(2x)+b.
1) Determine what a and b is if the gravitational acceleration is 9.780m/s^2 at x=0 and 9.832m/s^2 at x=90.
Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
So I begin by entering what I know:
9.780=a+b (Because cos(2*0) is 1)
9.780-a=b
And then the other equation:
9.832=-5.9846*a+b (Because cos(2*90) is -5.9846)
I then combine the two equations, jumping over the middle steps, gives:
-0.00868=a-a which means... -0.00868=0 which isn't logical. I wanted to get what a is, then enter it into either of the equations and get b.