How Does a Bug's Temperature Reading Change as It Moves Along a Curve?

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves determining the rate of change of temperature T(x, y) as a bug moves along the curve y = x^2 in the xy-plane. The temperature function is given by T(x,y) = ye^(x^2), and the bug travels at a speed of 0.01 m/sec. The specific point of interest is (1, 1).

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the parameterization of the bug's movement and the implications of its speed, questioning whether the speed of 0.01 m/s applies throughout the path or only at specific points. There is also exploration of the chain rule application and the components of the bug's speed.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants providing feedback on the original poster's calculations and questioning the assumptions made regarding the bug's speed and position. There is no explicit consensus yet, but various interpretations and clarifications are being explored.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the speed of the bug may not be constant along the entire path, and there are questions about the correctness of the parametrization and its implications for the temperature rate of change calculation.

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Homework Statement



[12] 3.Thetemperature T(x, y) at a point of the xy-plane is given by
T(x,y)= ye^(x^2).
A bug travels from left to right along the curve y = x^2
at a speed of 0.01m/sec. The bug
monitors T(x, y) continuously. What is the rate of change of T as the bug passes through
the point (1, 1)?

Homework Equations


Parameterizing x and y in terms of t, taking into account the velocity given (and assuming x and y are in meters, t is in seconds):

x = 0.01t
y = (0.01t)^2
t = 100 s

Chain rule
dT/dt = Tx dx/dt + Ty dy/dt


The Attempt at a Solution



dT/dt = 2xye^(x^2) * 0.01 + e^(x^2) * 0.02(0.01t) = 2*1*1*e * 0.01 + 0.02*e * 1 =
0.04*e degrees/sec

Right? Lol.
 
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For that parametrization, the bug's speed is 0.01m/sec only at the origin.

So the answer is likely incorrect.
 
You have the horizontal component of the bug's speed equal to 0.01 m/s, not its speed. If the bugs horizontal position is given by u(t), and its vertical position by v(t), then its speed is given by \sqrt{(u')^2+ (v')^2}= 0.01[/tex]
 
Hey thanks for the replies... the horizontal component eh, so if it's traveling at 0.01m/s from left to right then x = u(t) = 0.01t, and then if y = x^2, so wouldn't y = (0.01t)^2 then? How do you arrive at sqrt{(u')^2+ (v')^2}= 0.01? Wouldn't the bug be at (1,1) at 100 seconds given the parametrizations?
 

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