Need serious help with problem.
- Thread starter mtm345
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I'm not actually in calculus. My chemistry teacher assigned this "calculus" problem as extra credit, which I really really need right now. This is only extra credit this teacher has given and I do think its a bit unfair considering non of the students in the class have taken anything more than pre-calc.
I'm going to need a detailed explanation. Hope you guys understand.
I'm going to need a detailed explanation. Hope you guys understand.
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- Apr 12, 2005
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- 11,339
Well, a challenge problem should challenge you.
There are LOT'S of places to learn this.
http://www.algebra.com/algebra/home.../Length-and-distance.faq.question.521058.html
That's just one that came up. There are MANY others.
There are LOT'S of places to learn this.
http://www.algebra.com/algebra/home.../Length-and-distance.faq.question.521058.html
That's just one that came up. There are MANY others.
renegade05
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I am not sure what is meant by a detailed explanation? I mean you could look up kinematic formulas from physics, and then it is just a matter of plugging in numbers.
Does your teacher want you to derive these formulas using calculus techniques?
If so, then you need to know what a derivative is and know that velocity is the derivative of displacement with respect to time, and acceleration is the derivative of velocity with respect to time, or the second derivative of displacement with respect to time.
You also will need to break the problem up to two parts, first you need to determine the final velocity (when the car leaves the ramp) and than use that to find the acceleration.
If you do not need to derive the constant acceleration kinematic formulas, then use your friend Google to get them. Although, I am not someone who encourages just plugging in variables into a formula if you have no idea where that formula came from. Then again, I know for some people this does not bother them, for me I am just too **** curious to use a formula aimlessly.
Play with it for a while. Go to khanacademy's channel on youtube, then if you still can't figure it out - come back on here and we can help you.
I am still a little confused as to exactly what kind of problem this is. Could you please direct me to the videos from this persons channel that I need to solve the problem? Or, if there is one, a formula to solve the problem and how to use it.
Thanks again for everyone who has helped so far, you have no idea how much this means to me!
renegade05
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Well, you see I am also still a little confused. To solve this problem using calculus techniques you need to know how to differentiate. Which in turn, requires you to know about slopes and tangent lines, which also require you to know how to take limits. So maybe you are just to use the kinematic equations aimlessly, since you claim no one in your class has above precalc.
As stated, I don't particularly like using equations, if I don't know how to derive them, nevertheless:
s = the distance between initial and final positions (displacement) (sometimes denoted R or x)
u = the initial velocity (speed in a given direction)
v = the final velocity
a = the constant acceleration
t = the time taken to move from the initial state to the final state
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equations_of_motion#Derivation
You should convert your variables to SI units as well.
Also note: gravitational acceleration is approximately \(\displaystyle 9.81 m \cdot s^{-1}\)
and you will have to use more than one formula! play with them for a while!
Well, you see I am also still a little confused. To solve this problem using calculus techniques you need to know how to differentiate. Which in turn, requires you to know about slopes and tangent lines, which also require you to know how to take limits. So maybe you are just to use the kinematic equations aimlessly, since you claim no one in your class has above precalc.
As stated, I don't particularly like using equations, if I don't know how to derive them, nevertheless:
s = the distance between initial and final positions (displacement) (sometimes denoted R or x)
u = the initial velocity (speed in a given direction)
v = the final velocity
a = the constant acceleration
t = the time taken to move from the initial state to the final state
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equations_of_motion#Derivation
You should convert your variables to SI units as well.
Also note: gravitational acceleration is approximately \(\displaystyle 9.81 m \cdot s^{-1}\)
and you will have to use more than one formula! play with them for a while!
Thanks again for the help renegade.
I think I'm going to need further help, however. I was only able to find s, by adding 300 feet to 400 feet for a total of 700 feet; so s=700 ft if I'm not mistaken.
s=700 feet
u=is not stated
v=is not stated
a=is not stated
t=is not stated
I tried to see if I could fill in s to get any more of the variables but all of the equations have too many variables to do that. I feel kind of embarrassed by not being able to solve more, I assure you I am not trying to be lazy. I really would like to try to solve this problem myself -- either through equations or the other possible methods, whichever would be best for my very limited knowledge of these types of problems.