PROBLEM 1

A particle is projected to the right from the position x = 0 with an initial velocity of 9 m/s. If the acceleration
of the particle is defined by the relation a = −0.6v3/ 2 , where a and v are expressed in m/s2 and m/s,
respectively, determine (a) the distance the particle will have traveled when its velocity is 4 m/s, (b) the time
when v = 1 m/s, (c) the time required for the particle to travel 6 m.

SOLUTION

dv
(a) We have v = a = −0.6v3/2
dx
v x
When x = 0, v = 9 m/s:  9
v − (1/2) dv =  0
−0.6dx

or 2[v1/2 ]9v = −0.6 x

1
or x= (3 − v1/ 2 ) (1)
0.3
1
When v = 4 m/s: x= (3 − 41/ 2 )
0.3
or x = 3.33 m 
dv
(b) We have = a = −0.6v3/2
dt
v t
When t = 0, v = 9 m/s:  9
v − (3/2) dv =  0
−0.6dt

or −2[v − (1/2) ]9v = −0.6t

1 1
or − = 0.3t
v 3

1 1
When v = 1 m/s: − = 0.3t
1 3
or t = 2.22 s 
1 1
(c) We have − = 0.3t
v 3
2
 3  9
or v=  =
 1 + 0.9t  (1 + 0.9t ) 2

dx 9
Now =v=
dt (1 + 0.9t ) 2
 PROBLEM 1

x t 9
At t = 0, x = 0:  0
dx =  0 (1 + 0.9t ) 2
dt

t
 1 1 
or x = 9 − 
 0.9 1 + 0.9t  0

 1 
= 10 1 − 
 1 + 0.9t 
9t
=
1 + 0.9t

9t
When x = 6 m: 6=
1 + 0.9t
or t = 1.667 s 
An alternative solution is to begin with Eq. (1).
1
x= (3 − v1/ 2 )
0.3
dx
Then = v = (3 − 0.3x) 2
dt
Now
x dx t
At t = 0, x = 0:  0 (3 − 0.3x) 2
=  0
dt

x
1  1  x
or t=   =
0.3  3 − 0.3x  0 9 − 0.9 x

which leads to the same equation as above.

PROBLEM 2

The acceleration of a particle is defined by the relation a = 0.4(1 − kv), where k is a constant. Knowing that
at t = 0 the particle starts from rest at x = 4 m and that when t = 15 s, v = 4 m/s, determine (a) the constant k,
(b) the position of the particle when v = 6 m/s, (c) the maximum velocity of the particle.

SOLUTION

dv
(a) We have = a = 0.4(1 − kv)
dt
v dv t
At t = 0, v = 0:  0 1− kv
=  0
0.4dt

1
or − [ln(1 − k v)]v0 = 0.4t
k
or ln(1 − k v) = −0.4 kt (1)
At t = 15 s, v = 4 m/s: ln(1 − 4k ) = −0.4k (15)
= −6k
Solving yields k = 0.145703 s/m
or k = 0.1457 s/m 
dv
(b) We have v = a = 0.4(1 − kv)
dx
v vdv x
When x = 4 m, v = 0:  0 1− kv
=  4
0.4 dx

v 1 1/k
Now =− +
1− kv k 1− kv
v 1 1  x
Then  0
 − +  dv =
 k k (1 − k v) 
 4
0.4 dx

v
 v 1 
 − k − k 2 ln(1 − k v)  = 0.4[ x]4
x
or
 0

v 1 
or −  + 2 ln(1 − kv)  = 0.4( x − 4)
 k k 
 6 1 
When v = 6 m/s: − + 2
ln(1 − 0.145 703 × 6)  = 0.4( x − 4)
 0.145 703 (0.145 703) 
or 0.4( x − 4) = 56.4778
or x = 145.2 m 
 (PROBLEM 2 (Continued

(c) The maximum velocity occurs when a = 0.

a = 0: 0.4(1 − k vmax ) = 0

1
or vmax =
0.145 703

or vmax = 6.86 m/s 

An alternative solution is to begin with Eq. (1).
ln(1 − k v) = −0.4 kt

1
Then v= (1 − k −0.4 kt )
k
Thus, vmax is attained as t ∞

1
vmax =
k
as above.
 PROBLEM 3

An elevator is moving upward at a constant speed of 4 m/s. A man standing 10 m

above the top of the elevator throws a ball upward with a speed of 3 m/s. Determine
(a) when the ball will hit the elevator, (b) where the ball will hit the elevator with
respect to the location of the man.

SOLUTION
Place the origin of the position coordinate at the level of the standing man, the positive direction being up.
The ball undergoes uniformly accelerated motion.
1 2
yB = ( yB )0 + (vB )0 t − gt
2

with ( yB )0 = 0, (vB )0 = 3 m/s, and g = 9.81 m/s 2 .

yB = 3t − 4.905t 2
The elevator undergoes uniform motion.
y E = ( y E ) 0 + vE t

with ( yE )0 = −10 m and vE = 4 m/s.

(a) Time of impact. Set yB = yE

3t − 4.905t 2 = −10 + 4t
4.905t 2 + t − 10 = 0
t = 1.3295 and −1.5334 t = 1.330 s 
(b) Location of impact.

yB = (3)(1.3295) − (4.905)(1.3295)2 = −4.68 m

yE = −10 + (4)(1.3295) = −4.68 m (checks)
4.68 m below the man 
 PROBLEM 3

Two rockets are launched at a fireworks display. Rocket A is launched with an

initial velocity v0 = 100 m/s and rocket B is launched t1 seconds later with the
same initial velocity. The two rockets are timed to explode simultaneously at a
height of 300 m as A is falling and B is rising. Assuming a constant acceleration
g = 9.81 m/s2 , determine (a) the time t1, (b) the velocity of B relative to A at the
time of the explosion.

SOLUTION
Place origin at ground level. The motion of rockets A and B is
Rocket A: v A = (v A )0 − gt = 100 − 9.81t (1)
1 2
y A = ( y A ) 0 + (v A ) 0 t − gt = 100t − 4.905t 2 (2)
2
Rocket B: vB = (vB )0 − g (t − t1 ) = 100 − 9.81(t − t1 ) (3)

1
yB = ( yB )0 + (vB )0 (t − t1 ) − g (t − t1 ) 2
2
= 100(t − t1 ) − 4.905(t − t1 )2 (4)

Time of explosion of rockets A and B. y A = yB = 300 ft

From (2), 300 = 100t − 4.905t 2

4.905t 2 − 100t + 300 = 0

t = 16.732 s and 3.655 s

From (4), 300 = 100(t − t1 ) − 4.905(t − t12 )

t − t1 = 16.732 s and 3.655 s

Since rocket A is falling, t = 16.732 s

Since rocket B is rising, t − t1 = 3.655 s

(a) Time t1: t1 = t − (t − t1 ) t1 = 13.08 s 

(b) Relative velocity at explosion.
From (1), v A = 100 − (9.81)(16.732) = −64.15 m/s

From (3), vB = 100 − (9.81)(16.732 − 13.08) = 64.15 m/s

Relative velocity: vB/A = vB − v A vB/A = 128.3 m/s 