Velocity and acceleration vectors and their magnitudes

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the calculation of velocity and acceleration vectors and their magnitudes in a mathematical context. Participants are seeking assistance with a specific problem involving these concepts, including differentiation and vector addition.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant requests help with a problem related to velocity and acceleration vectors, indicating a need for hints or answers.
  • Another participant suggests differentiating position functions to obtain velocity and acceleration in the x, y, and z directions, and then adding them vectorially.
  • Participants provide specific values for velocity and acceleration at t=0, with one stating $v=\sqrt{37}$ and $a=\sqrt{325}$.
  • There are repeated suggestions to calculate the magnitude of vectors using the formula $\sqrt[]{a^2 + b^2 + c^2}$, where the vector components are expressed in terms of i, j, and k.
  • One participant shares the position function $x=e^{-t}$ and provides the corresponding expressions for velocity and acceleration in the x direction, while encouraging others to compute similar values for y and z directions.
  • A later reply confirms the correctness of the values given in an earlier post and provides the complete expressions for velocity and acceleration, along with their magnitudes at t=0.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the methods for calculating velocity and acceleration, as well as the magnitudes at t=0. However, there is no consensus on the specific problem being faced by the initial poster, as multiple interpretations of the question exist.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the specific problem being addressed, and there are variations in the details provided regarding the functions and calculations for velocity and acceleration.

WMDhamnekar
MHB
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How to answer this question? I am working on this question. Any math help, hint or even correct answer will be accepted.
 
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Differentiate them to get velocities and accelerations in x, y, z(i, j, k ) directions. Add them vectorially to get resultant velocity and acceleration.
 
$v=\sqrt{37}, a= \sqrt{325}$ at t=0
 
so? what problem are you facing? Once you get velocity and acceleration, calculate the magnitude by $\sqrt[]{a^2 + b^2 +c^2}$ where a vector is given by $a i + b j + c k$
 
DaalChawal said:
so? what problem are you facing? Once you get velocity and acceleration, calculate the magnitude by $\sqrt[]{a^2 + b^2 +c^2}$ where a vector is given by $a i + b j + c k$
Answers given are magnitudes of velocity and acceleration vectors at t=0. What are you talking about?
 
$x= e^{-t}$

$v_x = - e^{-t}$

$a_x = e^{-t}$
similarly calculate velocity and acceleration in $y, z$ directions.
Then
You will get velocity as $- e^{-t} i +(-6)sin(3t) j + 6cos(3t) k$
Now put t=0 to get velocity at t=0nand calculate the magnitude.
for acceleration try yourself
 
DaalChawal said:
$x= e^{-t}$

$v_x = - e^{-t}$

$a_x = e^t$
similarly calculate velocity and acceleration in $y, z$ directions.
Then
You will get velocity as $- e^{-t} i +(-6)sin(3t) j + 6cos(3t) k$
Now put t=0 to get velocity at t=0nand calculate the magnitude.
for acceleration try yourself
I already computed velocity and acceleration vectors. But i only posted here their magnitudes.
 
Okay then use formula that if a vector is expressed as $x = a i + b j + c k$ then its magnitude is given by $|x| = \sqrt[]{a^2+b^2+c^2}$
 
Since this has been sitting a while, yes, the answers given in post #3 are corret.

We have x= e^{-t}, y= 2 cos(3t), and z= 2 sin(3t).
The velocity is given by x'= -e^{-t}, y'= -6 sin(3t), and z'= 6 cos(3t).
The acceleration is given by x''= e^{-t}, y''= -18 cos(3t), and z''= -18 sin(3t).

|v(0)|= sqrt{1+ 0+ 36}= sqrt{37}
|a(0)|= sqrt{1+ 324+ 0}= sqrt{325}
 

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