Kinematics Problem: Find Constant Separation of Ships

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around a kinematics problem involving two ships moving at constant speed, with one ship's velocity vector always pointing toward the other. The main goal is to determine the constant separation distance between the ships after they have moved in a straight line. The user has attempted to set up equations involving angles and distances but struggles with converting the known data into differential equations. Suggestions include exploring the relationship between position and time or considering an optimization approach to solve the problem. Overall, the focus is on finding a mathematical method to express the ships' movements and their separation.
f(x)
Messages
182
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


There are two ships separated by a distance \gamma along a straight coastline. Ship A starts moving perpendicularly to the coastline , and Ship B moves such that its velocity vector always point along the position of Ship A.
Both ships move at same constant speed. After sufficient time, both the ships will move in a straight line with a constant separation. Find this separation.

2. MY ATTEMPT

First, i assumed the constant speed to be v
and let, after time T, both of them move in a straight line.
and let \theta be the angle that the velocity vector of ship B makes with that of the other. (\theta is variable from \pi / 2 \ \rightarrow \ 0 ) . I feel tan\theta \ = \ \frac{\gamma}{vt}

Then \gamma \ = \ v \ sin \theta \times T
and x \ = \ T (v-vcos \theta)

x= constant separation when ships are in a straight line

The problem is, I am unable to get differential equations which i should. How do i convert the known data into differential form ?

Any help is appreciated
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
I don't know a lot about differential equations, but I will say that velocity is the derivative of x(t). If you can figure out the position, maybe you can solve for the T variable. Or perhaps you could work this out like an optimization problem?
 
Any means of solving this apart from what I've tried ?
 
I multiplied the values first without the error limit. Got 19.38. rounded it off to 2 significant figures since the given data has 2 significant figures. So = 19. For error I used the above formula. It comes out about 1.48. Now my question is. Should I write the answer as 19±1.5 (rounding 1.48 to 2 significant figures) OR should I write it as 19±1. So in short, should the error have same number of significant figures as the mean value or should it have the same number of decimal places as...
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'
Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
Back
Top