Variable acceleration, Mixed Exercise 11

1 a v = 15 − 3t
P is at rest when v = 0.
0 = 15 − 3t
t=5
5
b s = ∫ vdt
0
5
= ∫ (15 − 3t )dt
0
5
 3t 2 
= 15t −
 2  0
 3 × 52 
= 15 × 5 − −0
 2 
= 37.5

The distance travelled by P is 37.5 m.

2 a v = 6t + 12 t 3
dv
a=
dt
= 6 + 23 t 2

When t = 4, a = 6 + 32 × 42
= 30

The acceleration of P when t = 4 is 30 m s−2.

b x = ∫ vdt
= ∫ (6t + 12 t 3 )dt
t4
= 3t 2 + + k , where k is a constant of integration.
8

When t = 0, x = −5
−5 = 0 + 0 + k ⇒ k = −5
2 t4
x = 3t + − 5
8

44
When t = 4, x = 3 × 42 + −5
8
= 75
OP = 75 m

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3 a v = ∫ adt
= ∫ (2 − 2t )dt
= 2t − t2 + c, where c is a constant of integration.

When t = 0, v = 8
8=0−0+c⇒c=8
v = 2t − t2 + 8

Let s m be the displacement from A at time t seconds.

s = ∫ vdt
= ∫ (2t − t 2 + 8)dt
t3
2
= t − + 8t + k , where k is a constant of integration.
3

When t = 0, s = 0
0=0−0+0+k⇒k=0
t3
Displacement of P from A at time t seconds = t 2 − + 8t
3

ds
b The greatest positive displacement of P occurs when = v = 0:
dt
2t − t2 + 8 = 0
t2 − 2t − 8 = 0
(t + 2)(t − 4) = 0
t > 0, so t = 4

43
When t = 4, s = 42 − +8× 4
3
= 26 23 < 30

Hence, P does not reach B.

c P returns to A when s = 0.
2 t3
t − + 8t = 0
3
t − 3t2 − 24t = 0
3

t(t2 − 3t − 24) = 0
−b ± b 2 − 4ac
t=
2a
3 ± (−3) 2 − 4(1)(−24)
=
2(1)
3 ± 105
=
2
t > 0, so t = 6.62

P returns to A when t = 6.62.

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3 d Distance between two instants when P passes through A = 2 × maximum distance found in part b
= 2 × 803
= 160
3 .

Total distance travelled by P between the two instants when it passes through A is 160
3 m.

dv
4 a a= so speed has maximum value when a = 0.
dt
0 = 8 − 2t2
2t2 = 8
t2 = 4
t > 0, so t = 2
v = ∫ adt
= ∫ (8 − 2t 2 )dt
2t 3
= 8t − + c , where c is a constant of integration.
3

When t = 0, v = 0
0=0−0+c⇒c=0
2t 3
v = 8t −
3
2 × 23
When t = 2, v = (8 × 2) −
3
16
= 16 −
3
= 32
3

The greatest positive speed of the particle is 32

3 m s−1.

b s = ∫ vdt
 2t 3 
= ∫  8t −  dt
 3 
2 t4
= 4t − + k , where k is a constant of integration.
6

When t = 0, s = 0
0=0−0+k⇒k=0
2 t4
s = 4t −
6
24
When t = 2, s = 4 × 22 −
6
16
= 16 −
6
= 40
3

The distance covered by the particle during the first two seconds is 40
3 m.
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5 a s = −t3 + 11t2 − 24t
ds
v=
dt
= −3t2 + 22t – 24 m s−1

b P is at rest when v = 0.
−3t2 + 22t − 24 = 0
3t2 − 22t + 24 = 0
(3t − 4)(t − 6) = 0
t = 43 or t = 6

P is at rest when t = 4
3 and t = 6.

dv
c a=
dt
= −6t + 22

a = 0 when 0 = −6t + 22
t = 113

The acceleration is zero when t = 11

3 .

e The speed of P is 16 when v = 16 and v = −16.

When v = 16, −3t2 + 22t − 24 = 16

3t2 − 22t + 40 = 0
(3t − 10)(t − 4) = 0
t = 103 or t = 4
When v = −16, −3t2 + 22t − 24 = −16
3t2 − 22t + 8 = 0
22 ± 222 − 4 × 3 × 8
t=
2×3
22 ± 388
=
6
= 0.384 or 6.95

From the graph in part d, the required values are 0 ≤ t < 0.384, 10
3 < t < 4.

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6 a The body is at rest when v = 0.
3t2 − 11t + 10 = 0
(3t − 5)(t − 2) = 0
t = 53 or t = 2

The body is at rest when t = 5

3 and t = 2.

dv
b a=
dt
= 6t − 11

When t = 4, a = (6 × 4) – 11
= 24 − 11
= 13

When t = 4, the acceleration is 13 m s−2.

c From part a, the body changes direction when t = 5

3 and t = 2.
s1 = displacement for 0 ≤ t ≤ 53
s2 = displacement for 53 ≤ t ≤ 2
s3 = displacement for 2 ≤ t ≤ 4
5
3

s1 = ∫ (3t 2 − 11t + 10 )dt

0
5

 11t 2 3
= t 3 − + 10t 
 2 0
  5  11 × ( 53 )2
3
5
=   − + 10 ×  − 0
 3  2 3 

125 275 50
= − +
27 18 3
= 325
54

2
s2 = ∫ (3t 2 − 11t + 10 )dt
5
3
2
 11t 2 
= t 3 − + 10t 
 2 5
3

 11 × 2 2
 325
=  23 − + 10 × 2  −
 2  54
325
= 6−
54
= − 54
1

4
s3 = ∫ (3t 2 − 11t + 10 )dt
2

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 4
 11t 2 
6 c s3 =  t 3 − + 10t 
 2 2
2
11 × 4
= 43 − + 10 × 4 − 6
2
= 64 − 88 + 40 − 6
= 10

Sign to be ignored when calculating distance:

Total distance = s1 + s2 + s3
325 1
= + + 10
54 54
= 433
27

The total distance travelled is 16.0 m (1 d.p.).

7 a v = ∫ adt
= ∫ (2t 3 − 8t )dt
t4
= − 4t 2 + c , where c is a constant of integration.
2

When t = 0, v = 6
6=0−0+c⇒c=6
04
6= − (4 × 02 ) + c
2
t4
v = − 4t 2 + 6
2

b s = ∫ vdt
 t4 
= ∫  − 4t 2 + 6  dt
2 
5 3
t 4t
= − + 6t + k , where k is a constant of integration.
10 3

When t = 0, s = 0
0=0−0+0+k⇒k=0
t 5 4t 3
s= − + 6t
10 3

c Particle is at rest when v = 0.

t4
− 4t 2 + 6 = 0
2
t4 − 8t2 + 12 = 0
(t2 − 2)(t2 − 6) = 0
t ≥ 0, so t = 2 or t = 6
The particle is at rest when t = 2 and t = 6 .

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 t 4 − 12t 3 + 28t 2 + 400
8 x=
50
dx 4t − 36t 2 + 56t
3
=
dt 50
dx
Maxima and minima occur when = 0.
dt
4t 3 − 36t 2 + 56t
=0
50
t3 − 9t2 + 14t = 0
t(t2 − 9t + 14) = 0
t(t − 2)(t − 7) = 0
So turning points are at t = 0, t = 2 and t = 7.

From the sketch graph, the drone is at a greater height when t = 2 than when t = 0, and t = 7
corresponds to the minimum height over the given interval.

24 − (12 × 23 ) + (28 × 22 ) + 400

When t = 2, x =
50
16 − 96 + 112 + 400
=
50
= 8.64

7 4 − (12 × 73 ) + (28 × 7 2 ) + 400

When t = 7, x =
50
2401 − 4116 + 1372 + 400
=
50
= 1.14

The maximum height reached by the drone is 8.64 m, and the minimum height is 1.14 m.

9 When t = 0, v = u = 800, s = 1500

When t = 25, v = 0

Using v = u + at:
0 = 800 + 25a
−800
a= = −32
25

v = ∫ adt
= ∫ −32 dt
= −32t + c, where c is a constant of integration.

When t = 0, v = 800
800 = 0 + c ⇒ c = 800
v = 800 − 32t

s = ∫ vdt
= ∫ (800 − 32t ) dt

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9 s = 800t − 16t2 + k, where k is a constant of integration.

When t = 0, s = 1500
1500 = 0 − 0 + k ⇒ k = 1500
s = 800t − 16t2 + 1500
So a = 1500, b = 800, c = −16

10 a v = ∫ adt
= ∫ (20 − 6t )dt
= 20t − 3t2 + c, where c is a constant of integration.

When t = 0, v = 7
7=0−0+c⇒c=7
v = 20t − 3t2 + 7
= 7 + 20t − 3t2

b When t = 7, v = 7 + 20 × 7 − 3 × 72
= 7 + 140 − 147
=0
dv
P’s maximum speed in the interval 0 ≤ t ≤ 7 is when =0
dt
dv
= 20 − 6t
dt
0 = 20 − 6t
t = 103
2
10  10 
When t = 10
3 , v = 7 + 20 × − 3×  
3  3
= 121
3

The greatest speed of P in the interval 0 ≤ t ≤ 7 is 40 13 m s−1.

7
c s = ∫ (7 + 20t − 3t 2 )dt
0
7
= 7t + 10t 2 − t 3 
0

= 7 × 7 + 10 × 7 − 73 − 0
2

= 196

The distance travelled by P in the interval 0 ≤ t ≤ 7 is 196 m.

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11 a ∝ (7 − t2)
So a = k(7 − t2)
= 7k − kt2

v = ∫ adt
= ∫ (7 k − kt 2 )dt
kt 3
= 7 kt − + c , where c is a constant of integration.
3
When t = 0, v = 0
0=0−0+c⇒c=0
kt 3
v = 7 kt −
3

When t = 3, v = 6
6 = 21k − 9k
12k = 6
k = 12
7t t 3
v= −
2 6

s = ∫ vdt
 7t t 3 
= ∫  −  dt
 2 6
7t 2 t 4
= − + d , where d is a constant of integration.
4 24

When t = 0, v = 0
0=0−0+d⇒d=0
7t 2 t 4
s= −
4 24
= 241 t 2 (42 − t 2 )

12 a Time cannot be negative so t ≥ 0.

When t = 0, s = 0

When t = 5, s = 54 − 10 × 53 + 25 × 52
= 625 − 1250 + 625
=0

So when t = 5, the mouse is again at a distance of zero from the hole: it has returned.

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12 b s = t4 − 10t3 + 25t2
ds
When mouse is at the greatest distance, =0
dt
ds
= 4t3 − 30t2 + 50t
dt
ds
When = 0, 4t3 − 30t2 + 50t = 0
dt
2t(2t2 − 15t + 25) = 0
2t(2t − 5)(t − 5) = 0

s = 0 when t = 0 and t = 5, so maximum is when t = 2.5.

When t = 2.5, s = 2.54 − 10 × 2.53 + 25 × 2.52

= 39.1

The greatest distance of the mouse from the hole is 39.1 m.

13 a Any two from:
As the shuttle rises, it burns large amounts of fuel, reducing mass and therefore allowing the same
force to produce greater acceleration. (Hence positive terms in the equation.)

While the shuttle remains in the atmosphere, the air resistance forces on it will be changing in a
complex way: the increasing speed will cause them to increase, but reduced density of the
atmosphere at greater heights will reduce their effect.

At greater heights, the gravitational pull of the Earth is less, which increases the resultant force on
the shuttle and increases the acceleration. (In practice, this effect is small compared to that of the
mass reduction.)

As the fuel from each tank in the booster rockets is used up, they may become less efficient,
reducing the thrust they produce. (The fuel feed mechanisms are designed to prevent this and
ensure smooth transitions between each stage, but any astronaut can tell you that there is no such
thing as a smooth journey into space!)

b v = ∫ adt
= ∫ ((6.7 ×10−7 )t 3 − (3.98 ×10−4 )t 2
+ 0.105t + 0.859) dt
= (1.68 × 10−7)t4 − (1.33 × 10−4)t3 + 0.0525t2 + 0.859t + c, where c is a constant of integration.

When t = 124, v = 974

974 = (1.68 × 10−7)(124)4 − (1.33 × 10−4)(124)3 + 0.0525(124)2 + 0.859(124) + c,

⇒ c = 266
v = (1.68 × 10−7)t4 − (1.33 × 10−4)t3 + 0.0525t2 + 0.859t + 274,

c When t = 446, v = (1.68 × 10−7)(446)4 − (1.33 × 10−4)(446)3 + 0.0525(446)2 + 0.859(446) + 274

= 5950

When t = 446s, the velocity of the space shuttle is 5950 m s-1 (5.95 km s−1).

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13 d For this section of the flight:
a = 28.6, u = 5950, v = 7850 m s−1
v = u + at

7850 = 5950 + 28.6t

7850 − 5950
t=
28.6
= 66.4

Total time to reach escape velocity = 446 + 66.4

= 510 (2 s.f.)

The shuttle cuts its main engines 510 s after launch.

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Challenge

1 v = ∫ adt
= ∫ (3t 2 − 18t + 20) dt
= t3 − 9t2 + 20t + c, where c is a constant of integration.

When t = 0, v = 0
0=0−0+0+c⇒c=0
v = t3 − 9t2 + 20t

Checking for crossing points to find if the velocity becomes negative during first 5 s:
t3 − 9t2 + 20t = 0
t(t2 − 9t + 20) = 0
t(t − 4)(t − 5) = 0

This means that displacement is positive for the first four seconds and negative in the fifth second
(see sketch graph), so need to find distances separately.

s1 = distance travelled in first 4 s

s2 = distance travelled in fifth second
4
s1 = ∫ (t 3 − 9t 2 + 20t )dt
0
4
t4 
=  − 3t 3 + 10t 2 
4 0
4 4

=  − 3 × 43 + 10 × 42  − 0
 4 
= 64 − 192 + 160
= 32
5
s2 = ∫ (t 3 − 9t 2 + 20t )dt
4
5
t4 
=  − 3t 3 + 10t 2 
4 4
 54 
=  − 3 × 53 + 10 × 52  − 32
4 
625
= − 375 + 250 − 32
4
= −0.75

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1 Total distance = 32 + 0.75 = 32.75
The particle covers 32.75 m in the first 5 s of its motion.

2 v = ∫ adt
= ∫ (6t + 2) dt
= 3t2 + 2t + c, where c is a constant of integration.

Assuming that velocity does not change direction during this time, distance travelled between t = 3
and t = 4
4
v = ∫ (3t 2 + 2t + c)dt
3
4
= t 3 + t 2 + ct 
3

= (4 + 4 + 4c) − (33 + 32 + 3c)

3 2

= 64 + 16 + 4c − 27 − 9 − 3c
= 44 + c
So 50 = 44 + c ⇒ c = 6
v = 3t2 + 2t + 6

When t = 5, v = 3 × 52 + 2 × 5 + 6
= 75 + 10 + 6
= 91

At 5 s, the velocity is 91 m s−1.

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