Applied Mathematics 1B

APM01B1 Tutorial 6

1. A particle moves in the xy plane under the influence of a constant force with components Fx = 6
Newton and Fy = −5 Newton. At time t = t0 seconds, the particle is at ⃗r (t0 ) = ⃗0 and at rest. Find
the position and velocity at time t = 2t0 seconds.

⃗ = (6x̂ − 5ŷ) N. Assuming that the particle has a constant

Solution: For the force, we have F
mass m, we apply Newton’s second law of motion to obtain
d⃗
v d2⃗
r ⃗
m⃗
a=m =m 2 =F
dt dt
from which we obtain the differential equation
d⃗
v 1 ⃗
= F.
dt m
Integrating this equation with respect to time gives
Z Z Z
d⃗v 1 ⃗ dt + ⃗
dt = d⃗ v= F c0
dt m
Z
1
=⇒ ⃗
v=⃗ v (t) = (6x̂ − 5ŷ) dt + ⃗c0
m
1
= (6tx̂ − 5tŷ) + ⃗c0 .
m
v (t0 ) = ⃗0 (since the particle is at rest at t = t0 seconds) which
We have the initial conditions ⃗
we apply to the above equation for the velocity to obtain

⃗0 = ⃗ 1
v (t0 ) = (6t0 x̂ − 5t0 ŷ) + ⃗
c0 .
m
Solving this vector equation for ⃗
c0 yields
1 1
c0 = −
⃗ (6t0 x̂ − 5t0 ŷ) = (−6t0 x̂ + 5t0 ŷ).
m m
Hence, for the velocity we have
1 1
⃗
v=⃗
v (t) = (6tx̂ − 5tŷ) + (−6t0 x̂ + 5t0 ŷ)
m m
1

= 6(t − t0 )x̂ − 5(t − t0 )ŷ .
m
Since ⃗
v = d⃗
r /dt, it follows that
d⃗
r 1

= 6(t − t0 )x̂ − 5(t − t0 )ŷ .
dt m

1
 Integrating this differential equation with respect to time gives
Z Z Z
d⃗r 1

dt = d⃗ r= 6(t − t0 )x̂ − 5(t − t0 )ŷ dt + ⃗
c1
dt m
    
1 1 2 1 2
=⇒ ⃗
r=⃗ r (t) = 6 t − tt0 − 5 t − tt0 +⃗
c1 .
m 2 2

r (t0 ) = ⃗0 which we apply to the above equation for the position

We have the initial conditions ⃗
to obtain
      
⃗0 = ⃗ 1 1 2 2 1 2 2 1 2 5 2
r (t0 ) = 6 t − t0 − 5 t − t0 +⃗c1 = −3t0 x̂ − t0 ŷ + ⃗c1 .
m 2 0 2 0 m 2

Solving this vector equation for ⃗

c1 yields
   
1 2 5 2 1 2 5 2
c1 = −
⃗ −3t0 x̂ − t0 ŷ = 3t0 x̂ + t0 ŷ .
m 2 m 2

Hence, for the position we have

      
1 1 2 1 2 1 5
⃗
r=⃗ r (t) = 6 t − tt0 − 5 t − tt0 + 3t20 x̂ + t20 ŷ
m 2 2 m 2
     
1 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
= 6 t − tt0 + t0 x̂ − 5 t − tt0 + t0 ŷ
m 2 2 2 2
 
1 5
3 t2 − 2tt0 + t20 x̂ + t2 − 2tt0 + t20 ŷ



=
m 2
 
1 5
= 3(t − t0 )2 x̂ + (t − t0 )2 ŷ .
m 2

In summary,
 
1 2 5 2
⃗
r=⃗
r (t) = 3(t − t0 ) x̂ + (t − t0 ) ŷ ,
m 2
1

⃗
v=⃗
v (t) = 6(t − t0 )x̂ − 5(t − t0 )ŷ .
m
At t = 2t0 seconds, we have
 
1 5 2 1
⃗
r (2t0 ) = 3t20 x̂ + t0 ŷ , ⃗
v (2t0 ) = (6t0 x̂ − 5t0 ŷ) .
m 2 m

2. A mass m moves under the influence of a force F ⃗ = αtx̂ + 2βt2 ŷ. At time t = 1 seconds, the position
of the particle is given by ⃗
r (1) = αx̂ + β ŷ and the particle is in a state of rest. Calculate the position
and velocity as a function of time. What are the phyiscal units of α and β?

Solution: Applying N2, m⃗ ⃗ , we obtain the first-order differential equation

a=F

d⃗
v 1 ⃗ 1
αtx̂ + 2βt2 ŷ


= F =
dt m m
Separating variables and integrating yields
Z Z
1
αtx̂ + 2βt2 ŷ dt + ⃗


d⃗v= c0
m
 
1 α 2 2β 3
=⇒ ⃗v= t x̂ + t ŷ + ⃗ c0 .
m 2 3

2
 Furthermore, since ⃗
v = d⃗
r /dt, we now have the first-order differential equation
 
d⃗
r 1 α 2 2β 3
= t x̂ + t ŷ + ⃗ c0 .
dt m 2 3

Separating variables and integrating yields

Z Z   
1 α 2 2β 3
d⃗
r= t x̂ + t ŷ + ⃗c0 dt + ⃗
c1 .
m 2 3
 
1 α 3 β
=⇒ ⃗
r= t x̂ + t4 ŷ + t⃗ c0 + ⃗
c1 .
m 6 6

Applying the initial conditions ⃗

r (1) = αx̂ + β ŷ and ⃗v (1) = ⃗0, we obtain the system of vector
equations
 
1 α β
αx̂ + β ŷ = ⃗
r (1) = x̂ + ŷ + ⃗ c0 + ⃗
c1 ,
m 6 6
 
⃗0 = ⃗ 1 α 2β
v (1) = x̂ + ŷ + ⃗c0
m 2 3

which we solve for ⃗

c0 and ⃗
c1 to obtain
   
α 2β 1 1
c0 = −
⃗ x̂ − ŷ, ⃗
c1 = α 1 + x̂ + β 1 + ŷ.
2m 3m 3m 2m

Hence,
 α  
3

 β 4


⃗
r (t) = t − 3t + 2 + α x̂ + t − 4t + 3 + β ŷ,
6m 6m
 α  
 2β 3
⃗
v (t) = (t2 − 1) x̂ + (t − 1) ŷ.
2m 3m

The physical units of α and β are kg.m/s3 and kg.m/s4 , respectively.

3. Two cars are travelling along two straight roads which intersect each other as indicated in the
following figure.

Car 1
22

Car 2
X
40

The first car is travelling in an easterly direction, accelerates from rest at a rate of 3 m/s2 for
2 seconds, then travels at constant speed. The second car is travelling in a northerly direction,
accelerating from rest at a rate of 2.5 m/s2 until it reaches its maximum speed of 10 m/s. Do these
two cars collide with each other?

Solution: We consider the problem as the two one-dimensional problems as illustrated in the
following figure.

3
 a1 = 3 m/s2

t1,0 = 0 s t1,1 = 2 s t = t1,2 s

−1 −1
v1,0 = 0 ms v = v1,1 ms v = v1,1 ms−1
r1,0 = 0 m r = r1,1 m r = r1,2 = 40 m
a2 = 2.5 m/s2

t2,0 = 0 s t = t2,1 s t = t2,2 s

−1 −1
v2,0 = 0 ms v2,1 = 10 ms v2,2 = 10 ms−1
r2,0 = 0 m r = r2,1 m r = r2,2 = 22 m

The two cars collide when r1,2 = 40 m and r2,2 = 22 m. For the first car, we calculate

v1,1 = a1 t1,1 = 3 · 2 = 6 ms−1

and
1 1
a1 t21,1 = · 2 · 36 = 36 m.
r1,1 =
2 2
The time it takes for this car to reach 40 m is
r1,2 − r1,1 40 − 36 8
t1,2 = t1,1 + =2+ = s ≈ 2.6667 s.
v1,1 6 3

For the second car, we calculate

v2,1 = a2 t2,1 ,
from which follows
v2,1 10
t2,1 = = 5 = 4 s,
a2 /2
and
1 1 5
a2 t22,1 = · · 42 = 20 m.
r2,1 =
2 2 2
The time it takes for the second car to reach 22 m is
r2,2 − r2,1 22 − 20 21
t2,2 = t2,1 + =4+ = s = 4.5 s.
v2,1 10 5

Since these two total travel times are not equal, we conclude that the cars do not collide.

4. We consider the motion of a projectile of mass m, close to the surface of the earth, moving under the
influence of its weight and all other forces are negligible. We assume the projectile is restricted to a
vertical plane during its motion. We choose a reference system as indicated in the following figure.

ŷ mg

v0

θ
x̂

(a) Determine the time intervals during which the projectile

i. moves upwards,

4
 Solution: The projectile stops moving upwards when vy = 0, that is, when

0 = vy,0 − gt = v0 sin(θ) − gt.

Solving this equation for t we obtain

v0 sin(θ)
t= .
g
Thus, the time interval during which the projectile moves upwards is given by
 
v0 sin(θ)
0, .
g

ii. moves downwards, and

Solution: The projectile stops moving downwards when it hits the ground, that is,
when y(t) = 0. Hence,
 
1 2 1 2 1
y(t) = tvy,0 − gt = tv0 sin(θ) − gt = t v0 sin(θ) − gt .
2 2 2

This equation has the solutions t = 0 (which we do not consider because that is when
the projectile is fired upwards) and

2v0 sin(θ)
t= .
g
Thus, the time interval during which the projectile moves downwards is given by
 
v0 sin(θ) 2v0 sin(θ)
, .
g g

Note: We could also have the interval as

 
v0 sin(θ) 2v0 sin(θ)
,
g g

But then we would have to change the interval during which the projectile moves
upward to  
v0 sin(θ)
0, .
g
Why is it technically more correct to use these half-open intervals and not use both
closed intervals?

(b) Derive an expression for the maximum height the projectile will attain.

Solution: The projectile reaches its maximum height yh when vy = 0, that is, at time

v0 sin(θ)
th = .
g
Substituting this value into
1 2
y(t) = tv0 sin(θ) − gt
2
yields
1 2
yh = y(th ) = th v0 sin(θ) − gt
2 h

5
    2
v0 sin(θ) g v0 sin(θ)
= v0 sin(θ) −
g 2 g
v02 sin2 (θ) g v02 sin2 (θ)
= −
g 2 g2
2
v 2 sin (θ)
= 0 .
2g

(c) Derive an expression for the total reach (that is, horizontal distance travelled) of the projectile.

Solution: The total reach is obtained when the projectile returns to its initial height, that
is, when y(t) = 0. This happens at time

2v0 sin(θ)
tr = ,
g
which we substitute into the equation

x(t) = tv0 cos(θ)

to obtain
v02 sin(2θ)
 
2v0 sin(θ)
xr = x(tr ) = tr v0 cos(θ) = v0 cos(θ) = .
g g

(d) Use calculus to show that the maximum reach of the particle is obtained when θ = π/4 rad.

Solution: To find the angle θmax at which this maximum occurs, we differentiate the
expression xr = xr (θ) with respect to θ, that is,

dxr 2v 2 cos(2θ)
= 0 ,
dθ g
set it equal to zero and solve the resulting equation for θ:

2v02 cos(2θ) π
=0 =⇒ cos(2θ) = 0 =⇒ θmax = rad.
g 4
The maximum reach for this angle is

v02
xmax = .
g

Note: Alternatively, we may show this without the use of calculus. The maximum reach
is obtained when sin(2θ) = 1 (since |sin(2θ)| ≤ 1) in xr . This occurs when 2θ = π2 , that is,
when θ = π4 rad (or 45◦ ).

5. Suppose we have two reference systems R1 = {O; {x̂, ŷ, ẑ}} and R2 = {O; {x̂′ , ŷ ′ , ẑ ′ }}, respec-
tively, as illustrated in the following figure:

6
 P

⃗r
)

′
⃗r(t

(t)
ẑ ẑ ′

ŷ ŷ ′

x̂ O x̂′ O′
⃗
s(t)

Here, ·′ does not mean derivative, but is just a symbol to distinguish x̂ and x̂′ as two different unit
vectors in the different reference systems. The reference system R1 is inertial and at rest. The origin
O′ moves along a straight line and at a constant, non-zero acceleration relative to the origin O. Now
consider a point particle P travelling freely along its path, as illustrated in the above figure. Show
that the acceleration of the particle is not the same in the two reference systems, that is, ⃗ a ′.
a ̸= ⃗
What can we infer about Newton’s second law of motion for observers in these two reference systems?

Solution: Suppose that the reference systems R2 starts from some initial displacement ⃗ s0 =
⃗
s(0) with some initial velocity ⃗ vs,0 = ⃗ s˙ (0) = ⃗
vs (0) = ⃗ s˙ 0 and initial constant acceleration
⃗
as,0 = ⃗as (0) = ⃗¨(0) = ⃗
s ¨0 . Then the kinematic vectors for the position ⃗
s s, velocity ⃗
vs,0 , and
′
acceleration ⃗as,0 of O relative to O are given by
t2
⃗
s=⃗
s(t) = ⃗
s0 + t⃗
vs,0 + ⃗
as,0 , ⃗
vs = ⃗
vs,0 + t⃗
as,0 .
2
Also, we have
t2
r′ = ⃗
⃗ r −⃗ r −⃗
s=⃗ s0 − t⃗
vs,0 − ⃗
as,0 .
2
Differentiating twice with respect to t yields
r′
d⃗ d⃗
s
v′ =
⃗ − v −⃗
=⃗ v −⃗
vs = ⃗ vs,0 − t⃗as,0 ,
dt dt
′ 2
d⃗
v d ⃗s
a′ =
⃗ − 2 =⃗ a−⃗as = ⃗a−⃗as,0 .
dt dt
a = ⃗0 for an observer in the inertial reference system, then
Suppose that ⃗
a ′ = ⃗0 − ⃗
⃗ as,0 ̸= ⃗0.
as,0 = −⃗
Since ⃗
a=⃗ a ′ , and if we suppose
as,0 + ⃗
m⃗ ⃗,
a=F a′ = F
m⃗ ⃗ ′,
then for Newton’s second law of motion we find that
F⃗ = m⃗a = m (⃗ a ′ ) = m⃗
as,0 + ⃗ a ′ = m⃗
as,0 + m⃗ ⃗′
as,0 + F
and therefore
⃗′ =F
F ⃗ + m⃗
as,0 .
Let m⃗ ⃗f , a fictituous force, then
as,0 = F
⃗′ =F
F ⃗ +F
⃗f .
Therefore, we would have to introduce a fictituous force within the non-inertial reference system
in order for Newton’s second law of motion to be valid within the non-inertial reference system.
(The force is fictituous because it does not arise from physical interactions, but out of our choice
of reference systems.)