# Question on finding maximum magnitude of acceleration

## Homework Statement

An object is moving in the xy-plane according to the equations x(t) = 3sin(3t) and y(t) = 4cos(3t). What is the maximum magnitude of the particle's acceleration?

1. 1) 5 m/s2

2. 2) 15 m/s2

3. 3) 30 m/s2

4. 4) 36 m/s2 [the accepted answer]

5. 5) 45 m/s2

## Homework Equations

x(t) = Asin(wt + phase constant)

## The Attempt at a Solution

So, I know that for each dimension if I take the second derivative of the two position equations I get acceleration, and the maximum acceleration for each of those two is simply A*omega^2.

So that's what I did.

For acceleration in the x-dimension, I get: 3*3^2.
For acceleration in the y-dimension, I get 4*3^2.

Taking the squares of the two acceleration components and then summing them and taking the square root of the sum gives 45, which is what I got. Why do the authors then believe 36 m/sec^2 is the right answer?

Thanks in advance for the input!

Related Introductory Physics Homework Help News on Phys.org
TSny
Homework Helper
Gold Member
Does ax, max occur at the same instant that ay, max occurs?

no, of course not. how would I fix for that, then?

But how would I be able to tell if the aymax and axmax occur simultaneously?

TSny
Homework Helper
Gold Member
Can you find an expression for the magnitude of the (total) acceleration as a function of time?

Yes, take the squares of the two equations, sum and square root.

I am too lazy to write it out here, unless it is really needed. ;-)

TSny
Homework Helper
Gold Member
But how would I be able to tell if the aymax and axmax occur simultaneously?
Find expressions for ax and ay as functions of time. By inspection you will see that their max values do not occur at the same time.

For acceleration in the x-dimension, I get: 3*3^2.
For acceleration in the y-dimension, I get 4*3^2.
i think there are cosine /sine terms also in the accelerations.
check.
or you can find r the radius vector and find out the acceleration and find out the maximum.

Aha, OK. thanks.
Find expressions for ax and ay as functions of time. By inspection you will see that their max values do not occur at the same time.

i think there are cosine /sine terms also in the accelerations.
check.
or you can find r the radius vector and find out the acceleration and find out the maximum.
I was just doing manipulations of maximum and minimum values [just the amplitudes of the two equations..... if you know what I mean]

TSny
Homework Helper
Gold Member
Yes, take the squares of the two equations, sum and square root.

I am too lazy to write it out here, unless it is really needed. ;-)
That's pretty lazy.
I wouldn't have suggested it unless I thought it was worth the trouble.

sqrt( 3sin(3t)^2 + 4cos(3t)^2 )

Here you go, sir!

TSny
Homework Helper
Gold Member
No, that's not the sum of the squares of the acceleration components.
$a = \sqrt{a_x^2+a_y^2}$