Velocity , Displacement problems regarding a rabbit and hawk

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving the motion of a hawk that accelerates and then maintains a constant velocity. Participants explore how to calculate the hawk's velocity and displacement over a specified time period, focusing on concepts of uniform acceleration and kinematics.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Technical explanation
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes the hawk's motion, noting it starts from rest and accelerates uniformly for 5 seconds at 4.8 m/s².
  • Another participant suggests using the formula \(v = u + at\) to find the hawk's velocity after 5 seconds, leading to a calculation of \(v = 24 \, \text{m/s}\).
  • Displacement during acceleration is discussed, with references to the formula for distance under constant acceleration: \(d = ut + \frac{1}{2}at^2\).
  • Participants present diagrams to illustrate the hawk's velocity and displacement over time, indicating areas under the curve represent displacement.
  • One participant calculates the total displacement over the entire 8 seconds, questioning their use of the formula and expressing uncertainty about their results.
  • Another participant corrects a misunderstanding regarding the duration of acceleration and suggests breaking the total displacement into two parts: displacement during acceleration and displacement at constant velocity.
  • There is a calculation presented for total displacement, yielding a result of 132 m, but some participants express confusion about the application of the formulas.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the use of kinematic equations for solving the problem, but there is disagreement regarding the correct application of these equations and the interpretation of the results. Some calculations lead to confusion, indicating that not all participants are aligned on the approach.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved assumptions regarding the initial conditions and the application of formulas, particularly in distinguishing between the phases of acceleration and constant velocity. Some participants express uncertainty about their calculations and the correct interpretation of the results.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for students learning about kinematics, particularly those interested in problems involving uniform acceleration and displacement calculations in physics.

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Here an image on what is going to happen (Sweating)

View attachment 6245

A hawk starts it's flight instantly from rest. It flew 5 seconds with uniform acceleration of 4.8 $ms^2$ and maintained its velocity for 3 seconds until it reached the prey in linear path

i. Find the velocity of the hawk in the first 5 seconds

ii. What is the displacement of the hawk when it flew in acceleration?

iii. Find the total displacement of the hawk during the 8 seconds

I don't even know how should this be started
 

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mathlearn said:
Here an image on what is going to happen (Sweating)
A hawk starts it's flight instantly from rest. It flew 5 seconds with uniform acceleration of 4.8 $ms^2$ and maintained its velocity for 3 seconds until it reached the prey in linear path

i. Find the velocity of the hawk in the first 5 seconds

ii. What is the displacement of the hawk when it flew in acceleration?

iii. Find the total displacement of the hawk during the 8 seconds

I don't even know how should this be started
i) The hawk starts from rest and moves with a constant acceleration in a straight line. This sound like a [math]\Delta v = a \Delta t[/math] situation...

Let's see if that can get you started.

-Dan
 
topsquark said:
i) The hawk starts from rest and moves with a constant acceleration in a straight line. This sound like a [math]\Delta v = a \Delta t[/math] situation...

Let's see if that can get you started.

-Dan

Thanks :) guess you are using the formula $v=u+at$

So getting started

$v=4.8 ms^{-2} * 5 s = 24 ms^{-1}$

Need help for the remaining two questions..

ii. What is the displacement of the hawk when it flew in acceleration?

iii. Find the total displacement of the hawk during the 8 seconds
 
If an object moves with constant acceleration a m per s per s, with starting speed u m per s, then after t seconds, the speed is v= u+ at. The distance moved is d= ut+ (a/2)t^2. I am surprised you would know the first formula but not the second.
 
(ii) Let's look at the hawk's velocity under acceleration:

\begin{tikzpicture}[>=stealth, xscale=5, font=\large, scale=0.5]
\foreach \i in {0,1,2,3,4,5} {%
\draw (\i,.5) -- (\i,-.5) node[below] {$\i$};%
}
\foreach \i in {0,5,10,15,20,25} {%
\draw (.1,\i) -- (-.1,\i) node
{$\i$};%
}
\draw[->] (-0.5,0) -- (5.5,0) node
{$t$};
\draw[->] (0,-2.5) -- (0,27.5) node[above] {$v$};
\draw[domain=0:5, smooth, variable=\t, ultra thick, blue] plot ({\t},{4.8*(\t)}) node
{$v(t)$};
\fill [cyan, domain=0:5, variable=\t]
(0, 0)
-- plot ({\t}, {4.8*\t})
-- (5, 0)
-- cycle;
\end{tikzpicture}

The area shaded in cyan represents the displacement during this period.

(iii) Now let's look at the entire 8 seconds:

\begin{tikzpicture}[>=stealth, xscale=5, font=\large, scale=0.5]
\foreach \i in {0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8} {%
\draw (\i,.5) -- (\i,-.5) node[below] {$\i$};%
}
\foreach \i in {0,5,10,15,20,25} {%
\draw (.1,\i) -- (-.1,\i) node
{$\i$};%
}
\draw[->] (-0.5,0) -- (8.5,0) node
{$t$};
\draw[->] (0,-2.5) -- (0,27.5) node[above] {$v$};
\draw[domain=0:5, smooth, variable=\t, ultra thick, blue] plot ({\t},{4.8*(\t)});
\draw[domain=5:8, smooth, variable=\t, ultra thick, blue] plot ({\t},{24}) node
{$v(t)$};
\fill [cyan, domain=0:5, variable=\t]
(0, 0)
-- plot ({\t}, {4.8*\t})
-- (5, 0)
-- cycle;
\fill [cyan, domain=5:8, variable=\t]
(5, 0)
-- plot ({\t}, {24})
-- (8, 0)
-- cycle;
\end{tikzpicture}

What is the area of the trapezoid representing the hawk's total displacement?​
 
MarkFL said:
(ii) Let's look at the hawk's velocity under acceleration:

\begin{tikzpicture}[>=stealth, xscale=5, font=\large, scale=0.5]
\foreach \i in {0,1,2,3,4,5} {%
\draw (\i,.5) -- (\i,-.5) node[below] {$\i$};%
}
\foreach \i in {0,5,10,15,20,25} {%
\draw (.1,\i) -- (-.1,\i) node
{$\i$};%
}
\draw[->] (-0.5,0) -- (5.5,0) node
{$t$};
\draw[->] (0,-2.5) -- (0,27.5) node[above] {$v$};
\draw[domain=0:5, smooth, variable=\t, ultra thick, blue] plot ({\t},{4.8*(\t)}) node
{$v(t)$};
\fill [cyan, domain=0:5, variable=\t]
(0, 0)
-- plot ({\t}, {4.8*\t})
-- (5, 0)
-- cycle;
\end{tikzpicture}

The area shaded in cyan represents the displacement during this period.

(iii) Now let's look at the entire 8 seconds:

\begin{tikzpicture}[>=stealth, xscale=5, font=\large, scale=0.5]
\foreach \i in {0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8} {%
\draw (\i,.5) -- (\i,-.5) node[below] {$\i$};%
}
\foreach \i in {0,5,10,15,20,25} {%
\draw (.1,\i) -- (-.1,\i) node
{$\i$};%
}
\draw[->] (-0.5,0) -- (8.5,0) node
{$t$};
\draw[->] (0,-2.5) -- (0,27.5) node[above] {$v$};
\draw[domain=0:5, smooth, variable=\t, ultra thick, blue] plot ({\t},{4.8*(\t)});
\draw[domain=5:8, smooth, variable=\t, ultra thick, blue] plot ({\t},{24}) node
{$v(t)$};
\fill [cyan, domain=0:5, variable=\t]
(0, 0)
-- plot ({\t}, {4.8*\t})
-- (5, 0)
-- cycle;
\fill [cyan, domain=5:8, variable=\t]
(5, 0)
-- plot ({\t}, {24})
-- (8, 0)
-- cycle;
\end{tikzpicture}

What is the area of the trapezoid representing the hawk's total displacement?​


Thank you for the TiKZ diagrams (Yes)

How did you plot this graph ? was the coordinates

(1,4.8) (2,9.6) (3,14.4) ... respectively

Area of the trapezium = $\frac{8+3}{2}*24=(8+3)*12= 11*12=132 m $

HallsofIvy said:
If an object moves with constant acceleration a m per s per s, with starting speed u m per s, then after t seconds, the speed is v= u+ at. The distance moved is d= ut+ (a/2)t^2. I am surprised you would know the first formula but not the second.

Thanks for the formula

Using this formula,

Here I guess u means initial velocity which when the hawk starts from rest is equal to zero (Thinking)

$d= ut+ (\frac{at^2}{2})=-10.4*8+(\frac{4.8*8^2}{2})=153.6 m$

Looks like something went wrong In using the formula​
 
Last edited:
You have let the hawk accelerate for the entire 8 seconds...you want to use:

$$d=d_1+d_2$$

where:

$d_1$ = distance traveled under acceleration.

$d_2$ = distance traveled with no acceleration

Hence:

$$d=\frac{1}{2}\left(4.8\,\frac{\text{m}}{\text{s}^2}\right)\left(5\text{ s}\right)^2+\left(24\,\frac{\text{m}}{\text{s}}\right)\left(3\text{ s}\right)$$

$$d=(60+72)\text{ m}=132\text{ m}$$
 

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