Physics mechanics kinematics question?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on determining the acceleration and position of a bullet as it travels down a rifle barrel, given its velocity function. The velocity is defined as v=(-5.00x10^7)(t^2)+(3.00x10^3)(t), with the acceleration calculated as the derivative, resulting in a time-dependent function. Key questions include the length of time the bullet is accelerated, its exit speed, and the barrel length, with the acceleration reaching zero when the bullet exits. Participants clarify that integrating the velocity function will yield the position function, which is essential for calculating the barrel length. The thread concludes with a clear method for integrating the velocity equation to find the position over time.
fatherlewis
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The speed of a bullet as it travels down the barrel of a rifle toward the opening is given by v=(-5.00x10^7)(t^squared)+(3.00x10^3)(t)... v=m/s, and t=s. Acceleration of the bullet just as it leaves the barrel is 0m/s^squared.

Questions is: How do i find the acceleration and position of the bullet as a function of time when the bullet is in the barrel?
length of time the bullet is accelerated?
the speed at which the bullet leaves the barrel?
what is the length of the barrel?

that is the complete question: however what i really want to know is what are the actual givens so i can carry out the kinematics? I can't figure out what to take out from what is given to me.
 
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Acceleration is the derivative of the velocity function, it is just the rate of change of velocity. See if you can work from there.
 
k i got
a=-(10.00x10^7m/s^3)(t)+(3.00x10^5m/s^2) as the derivative
 
The answers, respectively, are:
a: x=-(1.67x10^7m/s^3)t^3 + (1.50x10^5m/s^2)t^2
b: 3.00x10^-3s
c:450m/s
d:0.900m

I need help finding out how to solve this problem, so far I've got a=-(10.00x10^7)(t)+(3.00x10^5) as the derivative (don't understand how it's 1.67...)
and that the acceleration of the bullet just as it leaves the barrel is 0.

ok for b i figured out that when the bullet leaves the barrel the acceleration is 0, so if i set the derivative of the function given to equal to 0 i will have the time, i did that and got .003s which is good.
 
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fatherlewis said:
The speed of a bullet as it travels down the barrel of a rifle toward the opening is given by v=(-5.00x10^7)(t^squared)+(3.00x10^3)(t)... v=m/s, and t=s. Acceleration of the bullet just as it leaves the barrel is 0m/s^squared.

Questions is: How do i find the acceleration and position of the bullet as a function of time when the bullet is in the barrel?
length of time the bullet is accelerated?
the speed at which the bullet leaves the barrel?
what is the length of the barrel?

that is the complete question: however what i really want to know is what are the actual givens so i can carry out the kinematics? I can't figure out what to take out from what is given to me.

You've been given the Velocity function as a function of time.

As already noted the derivative of the velocity function is the acceleration function, which apparently is still time variant.

If velocity is the derivative of position, then ... you simply integrate the Velocity function to derive the position function with respect to time.

Now the length of the barrel requires thinking about the problem a bit. For instance when will acceleration be 0 from the propelling gas pressure in the barrel? (Hint: Maybe when there is no more barrel?)

And at what time will that be? Won't that time plugged in the velocity equation then describe its velocity of exit and likewise plugging into the position equation yield the barrel length?
 
LowlyPion said:
You've been given the Velocity function as a function of time.

As already noted the derivative of the velocity function is the acceleration function, which apparently is still time variant.

If velocity is the derivative of position, then ... you simply integrate the Velocity function to derive the position function with respect to time.

Now the length of the barrel requires thinking about the problem a bit. For instance when will acceleration be 0 from the propelling gas pressure in the barrel? (Hint: Maybe when there is no more barrel?)

And at what time will that be? Won't that time plugged in the velocity equation then describe its velocity of exit and likewise plugging into the position equation yield the barrel length?

I manage to understand everything except on how to get the position function with respect to time.
 
fatherlewis said:
I manage to understand everything except on how to get the position function with respect to time.

You know that velocity is dx/dt.

What then is the position? Isn't it the product of velocity and time? And if you add up all the instantaneous time segments and multiply each segment by the velocity at that instant, you are left with little areas that represent this velocity*time product. The sum of those areas then from any given time to any other given time is the summation of all the infinitesimal area elements and this sum is the area under the v-curve and hence your distance.

So if you take the integral of V, from T=0 to T=t, then you should get as a result X (the area under the V curve) as a function of "t".

Is taking the Integral of V your problem?
 
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LowlyPion said:
You know that velocity is dx/dt.

What then is the position? Isn't it the product of velocity and time? And if you add up all the instantaneous time segments and multiply each segment by the velocity at that instant, you are left with little areas that represent this velocity*time product. The sum of those areas then from any given time to any other given time is the summation of all the infinitesimal area elements and this sum is the area under the v-curve and hence your distance.

So if you take the integral of V, from T=0 to T=t, then you should get as a result X (the area under the V curve) as a function of "t".

Is taking the Integral of V your problem?

Yes it's taking the integral my problem...:shy:
 
fatherlewis said:
Yes it's taking the integral my problem...:shy:

Easily solved then.

Your equation: v=(-5.00x10^7)(t^squared)+(3.00x10^3)(t)

Let's rewrite that as:

v_{(t)} = \frac{dv}{dt} = A*t^2 + B*t

Where A and B are constants. Integrating that then

x_{(t)} = \int dv = \int (A*t^2 + B*t) dt = \frac{A*t^3}{3} + \frac{B*t^2}{2} + C

C is a constant of integration that we know is 0, because at t=0, x=0

So ...:

x_{(t)} = \frac{A*t^3}{3} + \frac{B*t^2}{2}
 
  • #10
LowlyPion said:
Easily solved then.

Your equation: v=(-5.00x10^7)(t^squared)+(3.00x10^3)(t)

Let's rewrite that as:

v_{(t)} = \frac{dv}{dt} = A*t^2 + B*t

Where A and B are constants. Integrating that then

x_{(t)} = \int dv = \int (A*t^2 + B*t) dt = \frac{A*t^3}{3} + \frac{B*t^2}{2} + C

C is a constant of integration that we know is 0, because at t=0, x=0

So ...:

x_{(t)} = \frac{A*t^3}{3} + \frac{B*t^2}{2}

Woah thanks a lot for your help.
 
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