Partial differentiation question rocket trajectory

Homework Statement

The problem and my attempt are attached

Homework Equations

Chain rule for partial differentiation perhaps

And basic algebra

The Attempt at a Solution

I'm unsure of how to approach this but I differentiated all the expression at the top.

Attachments

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Can you try and differentiate the square root $\sqrt{x(t)^2 + y(t)^2 + z(t)^2}$ to $x(t)^2 + y(t)^2 + z(t)^2$ first and work from there?

Mark44
Mentor

Homework Statement

The problem and my attempt are attached

Homework Equations

Chain rule for partial differentiation perhaps
No. The three coordinate functions x(t), y(t), and z(t) are functions of t alone, and you're asked to find dr/dt.

Calculate x2 + y2 + z2, then take the square root, then differentiate with respect to t.
AwfulPhysicist said:
And basic algebra

The Attempt at a Solution

I'm unsure of how to approach this but I differentiated all the expression at the top.
In your work it looks like you're trying to integrate both sides. Try to resist that urge.

No. The three coordinate functions x(t), y(t), and z(t) are functions of t alone, and you're asked to find dr/dt.

Calculate x2 + y2 + z2, then take the square root, then differentiate with respect to t.

In your work it looks like you're trying to integrate both sides. Try to resist that urge.
hi

How can I differentiate this?! Is it just
(Terms)^1/2 and differentiate using chain rule?

Also how would I be able to get rid of the t's at the end?

Attachments

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I've differentiated it using the chain rule, looks horrible

But now I need to get rid of the t's

Mark44
Mentor
hi

How can I differentiate this?! Is it just
(Terms)^1/2 and differentiate using chain rule?
Yes.
AwfulPhysicist said:
Also how would I be able to get rid of the t's at the end?
You don't get rid of them.

Mark44
Mentor
I've differentiated it using the chain rule, looks horrible

But now I need to get rid of the t's
Please post your work here in the form, not as an image, and especially not as an image that is turned on its side.

The question wanted it in terms of the constants, the topic I'm doing involves partial differentiation it seems weird that there is no partial differentiation

Attachments

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Please post your work here in the form, not as an image, and especially not as an image that is turned on its side.
Yeah sorry, sure.

SammyS
Staff Emeritus
Homework Helper
Gold Member
hi

How can I differentiate this?! Is it just
(Terms)^1/2 and differentiate using chain rule?

Also how would I be able to get rid of the t's at the end?
Yes, it is just (Terms)1/2 and differentiate using chain rule .

You don't get rid of the time. The resulting expression for speed is a function of time, t .

Stephen Tashi
$\frac{dr}{dt}$ is a function of $t$ so you don't want to get rid of the t's. The t's might cancel out in some problems, but, in general, we expect a function of t to have t's in it.