Velocity of a particle with some condition

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on calculating the velocity of a third particle moving northeast, given two particles moving east and north at speeds v1 and v2, respectively. The correct formula for the third particle's velocity is derived as v3 = √2(v1v2)/(v1 + v2), ensuring that all three particles remain collinear. Participants engage in solving the problem using geometric relationships and algebraic manipulation, including the use of Pythagorean theorem concepts. There are exchanges about verifying the derived equations and correcting errors in calculations. The conversation highlights the importance of clear communication and collaboration in problem-solving within physics.
Govind_Balaji
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Pl Help:Finding velocity using pythagorasTheorem and other velocities.

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Homework Statement


Three particles start moving simultaneously from a point on a horizontal smooth plane.
First particle moves with speed ##v_1## towards east, second particle moves towards north with speed ##v_2## and third one moves towards north east. The velocity of the third particle, so that three particles always lie on a straight line is,

  • ##\frac{v_1+v_2}{2}##


  • \sqrt{v_1v_2}s


  • ##\frac{v_1v_2}{v_1+v_2}##


  • ##\sqrt{2}\frac{v_1v_2}{v_1+v_2}##


Homework Equations



https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/t1.0-9/10271500_1594365894121410_7484216690186519659_n.jpg

The Attempt at a Solution



Let ##v_1=\frac{x_1}{t}##, ##v_2=\frac{x_2}{t}##, ##x_3=\frac{x_3}{t}##, where ##x_1, x_2, x_3## are displacement of three particles in ##t## seconds respectively.

##x_1=v_1t##

##x_2=v_2t##

##x_3=v_3t##

Displacement of third particle is the hypotenuse of the orange rectangle in the figure.

Displacement of particle A=2*adjacent side.

OB=Adjacent Side=##\frac{x_1}{2}##

Similarly, AB=Opposite side=##\frac{x_2}{2}##

##OA^2=x_3^2=\left[\frac{x_1}{2}\right]^2+\left[{\frac{x_2}{2}}\right]^2##

##x_3=\sqrt{\frac{x_1^2}{4}+\frac{x_2^2}{4}}##


##x_3=\frac{\sqrt{x_1^2+x_2^2}}{\sqrt{4}}##


##x_3=\frac{\sqrt{v_1^2t^2+v_2^2t^2}}{2}##


##x_3=\frac{\sqrt{(v_1^2+v_2^2)t^2}}{2}##


##x_3=\frac{t\sqrt{(v_1^2+v_2^2)}}{2}##


##v_3t=\frac{t\sqrt{(v_1^2+v_2^2)}}{2}##


##v_3=\frac{\sqrt{(v_1^2+v_2^2)}}{2}##


I checked my answer by substituting values for ##v_1## and ##v_2##. It's right.

I assume option D must be correct because it is the only answer which has the term 2.

I checked and D is the right answer but I should take

##v_3=\frac{\sqrt{(v_1^2+v_2^2)}}{2}##

to

##v3=\sqrt{2}\frac{v_1v_2}{v_1+v_2}##
 
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Govind_Balaji said:
Displacement of particle A=2*adjacent side.

OB=Adjacent Side=##\frac{x_1}{2}##

Similarly, AB=Opposite side=##\frac{x_2}{2}##

What is A,O and B?
Can you mark those points on the image?
 
adjacent said:
What is A,O and B?
Can you mark those points on the image?

Sure.
https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1.0-9/10171047_1594387394119260_4471451455186125126_n.jpg
 
v1 is not equal to v2, but the third particle moves to north-east, so the orange triangle is isosceles.
The picture is very nice, but you should modify a bit.
ehild
 
ehild said:
v1 is not equal to v2, but the third particle moves to north-east, so the orange triangle is isosceles.
The picture is very nice, but you should modify a bit.



ehild

I never said $$v_1=v_2$$
 
Pls help me take

I checked and D is the right answer but I should take

v3=√(v1^2+v2^2)/2

to

v3=√2(v1v2)/(v1+v2)
 
Draw the track of the third particle in the direction of north-east.

ehild
 

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ehild said:
Draw the track of the third particle in the direction of north-east.

ehild

Never mind the image. I want the answer.
 
The rules of the forum do not allow me to give the answer. ehild
 
  • #10
No I don't want the exact answer. Just give me a hint. Wait I will work out for a while. If I can't do, then give me an hint. Now don't give me hint.
 
  • #11
https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/t1.0-9/10309196_1578688112357075_4699213260430609082_n.jpg

With the help of your image and some modifcations,

I got close but not right answer.

I got

$$v_3= - \sqrt{2}\frac{v_1v_2}{v_3-v_1+v_2}$$

instead of

$$v_3= \sqrt{2}\frac{v_1v_2}{v_1+v_2}$$
 
  • #12
You need to have v3 on one side only. I can not find where you went wrong if you do not show your work.
See attachment. The two yellow triangles are similar. The green square have sides equal to both the x and y components of v3. What are the sides of the yellow triangles? What equation you get from the similarity?


ehild
 

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  • #13
Side of the square with $x_3$ as diagonal=a

$$a^2+a^2=x_3^2$$
$$2a^2=x_3^2$$
$$\sqrt{2a^2}=x_3$$
$$\sqrt{2}a=x_3$$
$$a=\frac{x_3}{\sqrt{2}}$$


$$Area of the square=$a^2$$
$$=\left(\frac{x_3}{\sqrt{2}}\right)^2$$
$$=\frac{x_3^2}{2}$$



Area of the triangle fromed by $x_1$ and $x_2$ - Area of the square=

Area of the triangle formed by 2 small triangles.

$$=\frac{x_1x_2}{2}-\frac{x_3}{\sqrt{2}}=$$
$$\frac{1}{2}\left(\frac{x_3}{\sqrt{2}}\right)\left(x_2+x_1-\frac{x_3}{\sqrt{2}}\right)$$.

When I continue this, I get errors.
 
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  • #14
Govind_Balaji said:
Side of the square with $x_3$ as diagonal=a

$$a^2+a^2=x_3^2$$
$$2a^2=x_3^2$$
$$\sqrt{2a^2}=x_3$$
$$\sqrt{2}a=x_3$$
$$a=\frac{x_3}{\sqrt{2}}$$Area of the square=$$a^2=\left(\frac{x_3}{\sqrt{2}}\right)^2$$
$$=\frac{x_3^2}{2}$$
Area of the triangle fromed by $x_1$ and $x_2$ - Area of the square=

Area of the triangle formed by 2 small triangles.

Very good idea!

Govind_Balaji said:
$$=\frac{x_1x_2}{2}-\frac{x_3}{\sqrt{2}}=$$
$$\frac{1}{2}\left(\frac{x_3}{\sqrt{2}}\right)\left(x_2+x_1-\frac{x_3}{\sqrt{2}}\right)$$.

When I continue this, I get errors.

Well, there are errors in the previous lines.

You forgot a square: the area of the little square is ##\frac{x_3^2}{2}##

The sides of the small triangles are x1-x3/√2 and x2-x3/√2, so you have to subtract x3/√2 twice.

The correct equation is

\frac{x_1x_2}{2}-\frac{x_3^2}{2}=\frac{1}{2}\left(\frac{x_3}{\sqrt{2}}\right)\left(x_2+x_1-2\frac{x_3}{\sqrt{2}}\right)It would have been simpler to equate the area of the big triangle and the sum of the other two, with bases x1 andx2 and hight x3/√2.

ehild
 
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  • #15
ehild said:
Very good idea!



Well, there are errors in the previous lines.

You forgot a square: the area of the little square is ##\frac{x_3^2}{2}##

The sides of the small triangles are x1-x3/√2 and x2-x3/√2, so you have to subtract x3/√2 twice.

The correct equation is

\frac{x_1x_2}{2}-\frac{x_3^2}{2}=\frac{1}{2}\left(\frac{x_3}{\sqrt{2}}\right)\left(x_2+x_1-2\frac{x_3}{\sqrt{2}}\right)


It would have been simpler to equate the area of the big triangle and the sum of the other two, with bases x1 andx2 and hight x3/√2.

ehild

I get upto this. After this, I don't know where to go

##v_3^2=\frac{-v_1v_3-v_2v_3-\sqrt{2}v_1v_2}{2}##

Pls help.
 
  • #16
Govind_Balaji said:
I get upto this. After this, I don't know where to go

##v_3^2=\frac{-v_1v_3-v_2v_3-\sqrt{2}v_1v_2}{2}##

Pls help.
Show what you did.
Expand and simplify the equation

\frac{x_1x_2}{2}-\frac{x_3^2}{2}=\frac{1}{2}\left(\frac{x_3}{\sqrt{2}}\right)\left(x_2+x _1-2\frac{x_3}{\sqrt{2}}\right)

x32 cancels.

ehild
 
  • #17
ehild said:
Show what you did.
Expand and simplify the equation

\frac{x_1x_2}{2}-\frac{x_3^2}{2}=\frac{1}{2}\left(\frac{x_3}{\sqrt{2}}\right)\left(x_2+x _1-2\frac{x_3}{\sqrt{2}}\right)

x32 cancels.

ehild

OH! I missed that x_3^2/2 cancles.

I will work out and see. I feel tired of typing long and complex latex. that's why I am not able to type all my work.
 
  • #18
I found it!

<br /> <br /> \\<br /> \frac{x_1x_2}{2}-\frac{x_3^2}{2}=\frac{1}{2}\left ( \frac{x_3x_2}{\sqrt{2}} +\frac{x_3x_1}{\sqrt{2}} - \frac{2x_3^2}{2}\right ) \\<br /> <br /> \frac{x_1x_2}{2}-\frac{x_3^2}{2}= \frac{x_3x_2}{2\sqrt{2}} +\frac{x_3x_1}{2\sqrt{2}} - \frac{x_3^2}{2} \\<br /> <br /> \frac{x_1x_2}{2}=\frac{x_3\left(x_1+x_2 \right )}{2\sqrt{2}} \\<br /> <br /> \frac{2\sqrt{2}.x_1x_2}{2}=x_3\left(x_1+x_2 \right ) \\<br /> <br /> \sqrt{2}x_1x_2=x_3\left(x_1+x_2 \right ) \\<br /> <br /> x_3=\sqrt{2}\frac{x_1x_2}{x_1+x_2} \\<br /> <br /> v_3t=\sqrt{2}\frac{x_1x_2t^2}{\left( x_1+x_2\right )t}\\<br /> <br /> v_3=\sqrt{2}\frac{x_1x_2t^2}{\left( x_1+x_2\right )t^2}\\<br /> <br /> v_3=\sqrt{2}\frac{x_1x_2}{ x_1+x_2}<br />
 
  • #20
##v_3=\sqrt{2}\frac{x_1x_2}{ x_1+x_2}##

Yes, but write v1,v2 instead of x1,x2.

ehild
 
  • #22
ehild said:
Yes, but write v1,v2 instead of x1,x2.

ehild
Typing mistake

ehild said:
Your LaTex is very nice. There is some material to read also here, at PhysicsForums. https://www.physicsforums.com/showpost.php?p=3977517&postcount=3
Also, by clicking on the ∑ sign, you get a menu for Latex Reference.

ehild.

I knew it, but it's difficult because in the link I specified, when you type \frac{, the remaining }{}[\b] automatically appears. Its more easy.
 
  • #23
Govind_Balaji said:
I knew it, but it's difficult because in the link I specified, when you type \frac{, the remaining }{}[\b] automatically appears. Its more easy.


The link is really very useful, thank you! :smile:

ehild
 
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