Thursday, April 28, 2016

Physics Problem. Check again algebraic transformations

A rocket, speeding along toward Alpha Centauri, has an acceleration 
a(t) = At². 
Assume that the rocket began at rest at the Earth (x = 0) at t = 0. Assuming it simply travels in a straight line from Earth to Alpha Centauri (and beyond), what is the ratio of the speed of the rocket when it has covered half the distance to the star to its speed when it has travelled half the time necessary to reach Alpha Centauri?
Solution:
T - total time necessary to reach Alpha Centauri
D - distance to the star
v - speed
v₁=v(D/2)
v₂=v(T/2)
v(t)=∫At²dt=⅓At³
x(t)=∫v(t)dt=⅓At³dt=⅓¼At⁴
D=AT⁴/12
D/2=AT⁴/24
D/2=At⁴/12; At⁴/12=AT⁴/24; t⁴=T⁴/2; t⁴/T⁴=½; t/T=∜½
v₁/v₂ = v(t)/v(T/2) = {⅓At³} / {⅓A(T/2)³}
=t³ / (T/2)³ =2³ (t/T)³ = 2³ ⨯ (∜½)³ = (2∜½)³ = (∜16⨯∜½)³ = (∜8)³=4∜2
This result is not among the proposed answers to choose from. Check again algebraic transformations.

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