Higher Derivatives - Acceleration help

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on finding the acceleration of a particle moving along the x-axis, defined by the position function \( x(t) = \frac{7t}{6 + 5t^2} \). Participants identify that the acceleration \( a(t) \) equals zero at \( t = 1 \) second, while struggling to find additional values. The second derivative is derived as \( x''(t) = \frac{-70t(5t^2 - 18)}{(5t^2 + 6)^3} \), which is crucial for determining when acceleration is zero. The conversation highlights the importance of correctly calculating derivatives to solve for acceleration points.

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Homework Statement


A particle moves along the x-axis, its position at time t is given by
$\displaystyle \Large x(t)=\frac{7 t}{6+5 t^2}, \ t\geq 0,$
where t is measured in seconds and x is in meters. The acceleration of the particle equals 0 at time t = ____ and ____ seconds.

Homework Equations


$\displaystyle \Large x(t)=\frac{7 t}{6+5 t^2}, \ t\geq 0,$
v(t) = x'(t)
a(t)=v'(t)=x''(t)

The Attempt at a Solution


once i find a(t), which is the 2nd derivative of the original function, i get:
$\displaystyle \Large a(t)=\frac{7t-7}{2t(6+5t^2)}

so when acceleration=0, $\displaystyle \Large a(t)=\frac{7t-7}{2t(6+5t^2)}=0
t=1
but what the other value?
 
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You solved the derivatives incorrectly
 
zcd said:
You solved the derivatives incorrectly

oh my bad. it should be:
-440t / (6+5t^2)

now what?
 
Last edited:
someone?
 
You still do not have the correct second derivative. (I think).
 
ok.. i give up. my algebra is good but i have no idea where to go.
this is what i got for the second derivative after doing it 20 times to make sure i didnt make mistakes:
$\displaystyle \Large x''(t)=\frac{ -70t(6+5t^2)-20t(42-35t^2) }{(6+5t^2)^2} \ $$\displaystyle \Large =\frac{ -1260t-1050t^3 }{(6+5t^2)^2} \ $

maybe I am stuck on the factoring of (42-35t^2)... but i just don't know aaaah
 
If that is the correct second derivative - and I have not checked - you are now looking for the points at which acceleration equals zero. So you set the second derivative equal to zero and solve for t.
 
2nd derivative is still wrong
\frac{dx}{dt}=-7\frac{5t^{2}-6}{(5t^{2}+6)^{2}}
\frac{d^{2}x}{dt^{2}}=-7\frac{10t(5t^{2}+6)^{2}-20t(5t^{2}+6)(5t^{2}-6)}{(5t^{2}+6)^{4}}=-70t\frac{(5t^{2}+6)-2(5t^{2}-6)}{(5t^{2}+6)^{3}}=-70t\frac{5t^{2}-18}{(5t^{2}+6)^{3}}
 
zcd said:
2nd derivative is still wrong
\frac{dx}{dt}=-7\frac{5t^{2}-6}{(5t^{2}+6)^{2}}
\frac{d^{2}x}{dt^{2}}=-7\frac{10t(5t^{2}+6)^{2}-20t(5t^{2}+6)(5t^{2}-6)}{(5t^{2}+6)^{4}}=-70t\frac{(5t^{2}+6)-2(5t^{2}-6)}{(5t^{2}+6)^{3}}=-70t\frac{5t^{2}-18}{(5t^{2}+6)^{3}}

oh so the only thing i did wrong is including the 7 in my calculations all the time.. hh tnx man!

David Gould - yeah i know that but the thing is i got 0 all the time and i needed another value so here i got it.. tnx
 

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