"speed rate of change" vs. "velocity rate of change"

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around determining the rate of change of speed for a particle given its velocity and acceleration vectors. The subject area is kinematics, specifically focusing on the relationship between velocity, speed, and acceleration.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the relationship between speed and acceleration, questioning how the rate of change of speed can be derived from the given vectors. There are attempts to apply kinematic equations and differentiate the speed as a function of time.

Discussion Status

Some participants have offered guidance on differentiating the speed function and suggested alternative methods for approaching the problem. There is an ongoing exploration of the correctness of the stated answer, with some questioning the validity of the result.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the challenge of deriving the expected result of 6 m/s² and discuss potential errors in differentiation and assumptions about the problem setup.

cj
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Homework Statement


At a moment in time a particle has a velocity of v = 3 m/s î + 4 m/s ĵ, and an acceleration of a = 6 m/s2 î + 3 m/s2 ĵ. Find the rate of change of the speed of the particle, that is, find d|v|/dt.
(better formatted reference: http://content.screencast.com/users/cjwood99/folders/Default/media/5b55184b-8954-4fb0-9b89-588e52d22038/Capture.JPG)​

The answer is: 6 m/s2. How on Earth?

Homework Equations


speed = magnitude of velocity
a = dv/dt​

The Attempt at a Solution


The magnitude of the initial velocity (the speed) is 5 m/s. 3^2 + 4^2 = 5^2.
Acceleration is constant, so I tried using the equations of uniform acceleration kinematics, e.g. vx=∫(ax)dt, etc.
Can't, for the life of me, see how the rate of change of speed = 6m/s2.
Thanks for any hints.​
 
Last edited:
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cj said:

Homework Statement


At a moment in time a particle has a velocity of v = 3 m/s î + 4 m/s ĵ, and an acceleration of a = 6 m/s2 î + 3 m/s2 ĵ. Find the rate of change of the speed of the particle, that is, find d|v|/dt.
(better formatted reference: http://content.screencast.com/users/cjwood99/folders/Default/media/5b55184b-8954-4fb0-9b89-588e52d22038/Capture.JPG)​

The answer is: 6 m/s2. How on Earth?

Homework Equations


speed = magnitude of velocity
a = dv/dt​

The Attempt at a Solution


The magnitude of the initial velocity (the speed) is 5 m/s. 3^2 + 4^2 = 5^2.
Acceleration is constant, so I tried using the equations of uniform acceleration kinematics, e.g. vx=∫(ax)dt, etc.
Can't, for the life of me, see how the rate of change of speed = 6m/s2.
Thanks for any hints.​

Write the velocity as function of time, determine the speed as function of time, then differentiate. That is the rate of change of speed
at time t. You need the rate of change at t=0.
 
ehild said:
Write the velocity as function of time, determine the speed as function of time, then differentiate. That is the rate of change of speed
at time t. You need the rate of change at t=0.
Hmm... trying to follow your advice.
http://content.screencast.com/users/cjwood99/folders/Default/media/71db2391-5348-4a08-ae6c-d4035fc5f593/Picture1.jpg
The stated answer is 6 m/s2, which I'm not finding any way to get. Maybe 6 m/s2 is incorrect?
 
cj said:
Hmm... trying to follow your advice.
http://content.screencast.com/users/cjwood99/folders/Default/media/71db2391-5348-4a08-ae6c-d4035fc5f593/Picture1.jpg
The stated answer is 6 m/s2, which I'm not finding any way to get. Maybe 6 m/s2 is incorrect?
The right hand side of the first line of step 6 is wrong. How do you differentiate ##\sqrt{x^2+y^2}##?
An easier way is to start with ##|v|^2=\vec v.\vec v## and differentiate both sides.
 
haruspex said:
The right hand side of the first line of step 6 is wrong. How do you differentiate ##\sqrt{x^2+y^2}##?
An easier way is to start with ##|v|^2=\vec v.\vec v## and differentiate both sides.
Ah! Got it! Thank you so much.
 

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