Mechanics- General motion in a straight line.

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on solving a physics problem involving a particle's motion along the X-axis, characterized by the acceleration equation a = 6t - c. The particle starts from the origin, is initially stationary, and becomes stationary again at x = -4. The correct value of the constant c is determined to be 6, as derived from the equations of motion and the conditions of the problem.

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Shah 72
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A particle starts at the origin and moves along the X- axis. The acceleration of the particle in the direction of the positive x-axis is a= 6t-c for some constant c. The particle is initially stationary and it is stationary again when it is at the point with x coordinate = -4. Find the value of c.
I don't understand how to calculate.
 
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What have you been able to do so far?

-Dan
 
topsquark said:
What have you been able to do so far?

-Dan
V= integration (6t-c) with limits 0 and -4. I got the ans c= -12. But it's wrong and the textbook ans is 6
 
topsquark said:
What have you been able to do so far?

-Dan
I got c=12 not -12
 
Shah 72 said:
I got c=12 not -12
[math]a = \dfrac{dv}{dt} = 6t - c[/math]

so [math]v = \int_0^t (6t - c) ~ dt = 3t^2 - ct[/math]

[math]v = \dfrac{dx}{dt} = 3t^2 - ct[/math]

Try to finish it.

-Dan
 
topsquark said:
[math]a = \dfrac{dv}{dt} = 6t - c[/math]

so [math]v = \int_0^t (6t - c) ~ dt = 3t^2 - ct[/math]

[math]v = \dfrac{dx}{dt} = 3t^2 - ct[/math]

Try to finish it.

-Dan
You mean I do s=t^3-ct^2/2
 
topsquark said:
[math]a = \dfrac{dv}{dt} = 6t - c[/math]

so [math]v = \int_0^t (6t - c) ~ dt = 3t^2 - ct[/math]

[math]v = \dfrac{dx}{dt} = 3t^2 - ct[/math]

Try to finish it.

-Dan
You take both the equations = 0 as stationary .
Then solve the quadratic equation by using b^2-4ac=0. I still don't get the ans
 
Shah 72 said:
You take both the equations = 0 as stationary .
Then solve the quadratic equation by using b^2-4ac=0. I still don't get the ans
Your formula for s (I've been calling it x) is correct. Now you know when the motion of the particle stops, v(t) = 0 and x(t) = -4. So
[math]0 = 3t^2 - ct[/math]
and
[math]-4 = t^3 - \dfrac{1}{2} c t^2[/math]

My advice is to solve the top equation for ct, multiply it by t (to get [math]ct^2[/math]) and then plug that into the bottom equation.

-Dan
 
topsquark said:
Your formula for s (I've been calling it x) is correct. Now you know when the motion of the particle stops, v(t) = 0 and x(t) = -4. So
[math]0 = 3t^2 - ct[/math]
and
[math]-4 = t^3 - \dfrac{1}{2} c t^2[/math]

My advice is to solve the top equation for ct, multiply it by t (to get [math]ct^2[/math]) and then plug that into the bottom equation.

-Dan
Thank you so much!
 

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