- #1
TheSpaceGuy
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Homework Statement
A spaceship maneuvering in space, far from any gravitational influences, is executing a predetermined acceleration program which yields a position vector r(t) for the ship, relative to a small space beacon at the origin given by
r(t) = (t - 2)i + j(t - 3)^2 + k(t - 4)^3
a) Suppose that the captain shuts down the engines at time t = a. Find the subsequent motion of the ship.
b) Show that if t = a is chosen appropriately then the ship will hit the beacon.
The Attempt at a Solution
For Part a) I was thinking about finding the derivative of r(t) at t=a since r(t) is a position vector.
Part b) has me really confused.