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The following statement is, in general, False for an object moving in more than

ID: 2877834 • Letter: T

Question

The following statement is, in general, False for an object moving in more than one dimension: "Acceleration is the derivative of the speed. " As shown by the steps below, the equation of motion vector r(t) = cos t cap i + sin t cap j is a counterexample to the statement in quotes above. Show that the speed of the motion given by vector r(t)is constant. Hence, any derivative of the speed is zero. Verify that for f the acceleration is non-zero for all t. For the given equation of motion, determine the geometrical relation between the acceleration and the velocity.

Explanation / Answer

a)
r (t) = cos t i + sin t j
velocity,
v(t) = d/dt (r(t))
         = -sin t i + cos t j

speed = |v(t)|
              = sqrt (sin^2 t + cos ^2 t)
              = sqrt (1)
              = 1

It is consatant

b)
acceleration,
a = d/dt (v (t))
    = d/dt (-sin t i + cos t j)
     = -cos t i - sin t j
|a| = sqrt (sin^2 t + cos ^2 t)
              = sqrt (1)
              = 1
It is non zero


c)
a = dv/dt
acceleration is the derivative of velocity