How Fast is the Radius of a Circle Increasing When a Stone is Dropped in Water?

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a stone dropped into water, creating an expanding circle with a radius r. The perimeter of the circle is increasing at a rate of 3 m/s, and the discussion centers on determining the rate at which the radius is increasing when the radius is 2 m.

Discussion Character

  • Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the relationship between the circumference and the radius, using the formula for circumference to derive the rate of change of the radius. There is an exploration of different methods, including the area of the circle, to find the rate of increase.

Discussion Status

Some participants have attempted calculations and expressed confusion regarding the arithmetic involved in determining the rate of change of the radius. There is acknowledgment of a potential error in interpreting the division in the formula, leading to different results. Guidance has been offered to check the arithmetic and how to input calculations correctly.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of a homework assignment, which may limit the information available and the methods they can use. There is a focus on ensuring the calculations align with the expected outcome of 0.48 m/s.

Schaus
Messages
118
Reaction score
5

Homework Statement


A stone is dropped into some water and a circle of radius r is formed and slowly expands. The perimeter of the circle is increasing at 3 m/s. At the moment the radius is exactly 2m, what rate is the radius of the circle increasing?
Answer ## \frac {dr} {dt} = 0.48 m/s##

Homework Equations


## C = 2πr##
## A = πr^2##

The Attempt at a Solution


## \frac {dC} {dt} = 3 m/s##
## \frac {dr} {dt} = ?##
## C = 2πr##
Taking the derivative of circumference formula
## \frac {dC} {dt} = 2π \frac {dr} {dt}##
Subbing in my ## \frac {dC} {dt} = 3 m/s##
## 3 = 2π \frac {dr} {dt}##
Dividiving both sides by 2π gives me 4.71 m/s. I have also tried doing this with the Area of a circle formula but I still got 2.36 m/s which is no where near the 0.48 it is supposed to be. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Schaus said:

Homework Statement


A stone is dropped into some water and a circle of radius r is formed and slowly expands. The perimeter of the circle is increasing at 3 m/s. At the moment the radius is exactly 2m, what rate is the radius of the circle increasing?
Answer ## \frac {dr} {dt} = 0.48 m/s##

Homework Equations


## C = 2πr##
## A = πr^2##

The Attempt at a Solution


## \frac {dC} {dt} = 3 m/s##
## \frac {dr} {dt} = ?##
## C = 2πr##
Taking the derivative of circumference formula
## \frac {dC} {dt} = 2π \frac {dr} {dt}##
Subbing in my ## \frac {dC} {dt} = 3 m/s##
## 3 = 2π \frac {dr} {dt}##
Dividiving both sides by 2π gives me 4.71 m/s. I have also tried doing this with the Area of a circle formula but I still got 2.36 m/s which is no where near the 0.48 it is supposed to be. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Check your arithmetic calculating ##\frac 3 {2\pi}##.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Schaus and RooksAndBooks
That's weird. When I do 3/2pi it gives me 4.71 but if I do 3/6.28 I get my answer. Thanks for the help, I wish I had thought of trying that earlier!
 
Schaus said:
That's weird. When I do 3/2pi it gives me 4.71 but if I do 3/6.28 I get my answer. Thanks for the help, I wish I had thought of trying that earlier!

That's because the calculator interprets it as ## \frac{3}{2}\pi##, ## \frac{3\pi}{2}##, or ##\frac{3}{2}(\frac{\pi}{1}) ## as opposed to ## \frac{3}{2\pi}##.

Next time, enter it into the calculator as 3/(2## \pi##)
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Schaus

Similar threads

  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 30 ·
2
Replies
30
Views
4K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
6K
Replies
2
Views
4K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
3K
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 30 ·
2
Replies
30
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K