How quickly is the mass of the tree increasing?

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the rate of increase of the mass of a tree, modeled as a circular cylinder. The tree's height and diameter are both increasing at specified rates, and the density of the wood is given.

Discussion Character

  • Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the relationship between mass, density, and volume, attempting to differentiate the volume with respect to time. There are questions about the correct application of formulas and the rates of change for height and radius.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, sharing calculations and questioning the accuracy of their approaches. Some guidance has been offered regarding the differentiation process, but there is no consensus on the correct method or final answer yet.

Contextual Notes

There are indications of confusion regarding the application of the volume formula and the differentiation of the radius. Participants are also facing issues with an online homework platform that is rejecting their answers.

mvgio124
Messages
7
Reaction score
0
A tree trunk is approximated by a circular cylinder of height 50 meters and diameter 4 meters. The tree is growing taller at a rate of 4 meters per year and the diameter is increasing at a rate of 5 cm per year. The density of the wood is 4000 Kg per cubic meter. How quickly is the mass of the tree increasing?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Mass = Density*Volume. [tex]\frac{d(Mass(t))}{dt}[/tex] = Density*[tex]\frac{d(Volume(t))}{dt}[/tex]

Does that help?
 
yes it does but my webwork homework site keeps saying it got it wrong. wouldn't d/dt volume be 4(4pi)+50pi(5/200)^(2)? i don't know where I am going wrong in the calculation
 
mvgio124 said:
yes it does but my webwork homework site keeps saying it got it wrong. wouldn't d/dt volume be 4(4pi)+50pi(5/200)^(2)? i don't know where I am going wrong in the calculation

Yes the second term there looks wrong. Remember, Volume is [tex]\pi[/tex]*r2*h.
 
well I am completely stumped now. i have no clue what numbers to input. wouldn't d/dt of volume be (d/dheight)(pi*r^(2))+height(d/dr radius)pi? how do u input those numbers correctly based on the info?
 
Take a breather :smile:

[tex]\frac{d(r*r)}{dt}[/tex] = 2*r*[tex]\frac{dr}{dt}[/tex]. So that (5/200)2 you plugged in, is wrong.
 
Last edited:
well diameters rate of change is 5 cm or 5/100 half of that is the radius' rate of change 5/200 or 1/40. so b/c of the formula u just gave d/dt r^(2) would be 2*(1/40)
 
Yes. (There was a typo in my post(corrected now)). So it would really be 2*2*5/200 instead of (5/200)2
 
ok well i do the entire d/dt volume and get 4(4pi)+50pi(2/40)and which come to 16pi+100/40pi. that comes to d/dt volume is 37pi/2 or 58.119. i then multiplied that by density 4000 and got 232476. but when i submit that answer it keeps saying that it is incorrect
 
  • #10
It's not 2/40, it's 4/40. You should be more careful with your calculations..
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
2K
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
Replies
3
Views
2K
Replies
3
Views
7K
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Replies
4
Views
6K