- #1
Emethyst
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Homework Statement
Suppose the following function describes the position of a particle moving along the x-axis, where s in metres and t is greater than or equal to 0 is in seconds: s(t)=t/t^2+3. (a) Where is the particle when it is stationary? (b) What is the velocity when it has no net force acting on it (ie. when the acceleration is zero)?
Homework Equations
All rules for the simplification of derivatives.
The Attempt at a Solution
My problems are from the simplification of the derivatives. What I got for (a) was -1/t^2+3, but this does not get the answer of sqrt3 for t as the answer key says when I set the position derivative to 0 to find the time when the particle is stationary. For (b) again the simplification did not go as it should, because I should have ended up with t=0 and t=3 when setting the velocity derivative to 0, but I only got t=0. I am using the quotient rule to try and get the derivatives. If anyone could be of assistance it would be great. (the answers are sqrt3/6 for (a) and 1/3, -1/24 for (b)).