Chapter 11: Problem 1
A snowboarder starts from rest at the top of a double black diamond hill. As she rides down the slope, GPS coordinates are used to determine her displacement as a function of time: \(x=0.5 t^{3}+t^{2}+2 t\) where \(x\) and \(t\) are expressed in feet and seconds, respectively. Determine the position, velocity, and acceleration of the boarder when \(t=5\) seconds.
Short Answer
Step by step solution
Identify given equation and values
Calculate position at t=5 seconds
Determine velocity function by differentiating displacement function
Calculate velocity at t=5 seconds
Determine acceleration function by differentiating velocity function
Calculate acceleration at t=5 seconds
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Displacement
To find the snowboarder's position at a specific time, such as \( t=5 \) seconds, we substitute \( t \) with 5 in the equation.
- Start by calculating \( 0.5(5)^3 \), which results in \( 0.5 imes 125 = 62.5 \).
- Next, calculate \( 5^2 = 25 \).
- Add \( 2 imes 5 = 10 \).
Velocity
To find the velocity function, we take the first derivative of the displacement function \( x = 0.5t^3 + t^2 + 2t \), using the rules of differentiation.
- The derivative of \( 0.5t^3 \) is \( 1.5t^2 \).
- The derivative of \( t^2 \) is \( 2t \).
- The derivative of \( 2t \) is 2.
Acceleration
- The derivative of \( 1.5t^2 \) is \( 3t \).
- The derivative of \( 2t \) is 2.
- The derivative of 2 is 0 because it's a constant.
Differentiation
- If you have a term like \( t^n \), its derivative is \( nt^{n-1} \).
- It's the tool that transforms a displacement function into a velocity function, and a velocity function into an acceleration function.
- It applies the power rule, sum rule, and constant rule in our calculations.
Calculus
- It involves differentiation, which helps find derivatives to study changing quantities.
- In motion analysis, these derivatives give us information about how an object's motion evolves over time.
- Calculus also helps us apply conceptual understanding to solve real-world problems, like the snowboarder's journey down the hill.