Math 1210 Signature Assignment Tai Roach

Derivatives

Suppose that a particle moves according to the law of motion s(t) = ^4 2^2 + 2 with t 0, where s is
in meters and t is in seconds. Use your knowledge of the relationship between position, velocity, and
acceleration to answer the following questions.

Position is reflected by the equation: s( t ) = t ^4 2 t ^2 + 2, t0

Velocity is reflected by the equation: s( t ) = 4 t ^3 4 t , t 0
Acceleration is reflected by the equation: s( t ) = 12 t ^2 4, t 0

a) What is the velocity of the particle at t = 1 second?

a. To determine the velocity at a specific time, use the velocity equation. Velocity at
t = 1 is as follows: s(1) = 4(1)^3 4(1) = 0
b) Determine when the particle is moving in a positive direction, a negative direction, and
when it is at rest.
a. The position of the particle is determined by the equation s( t ) = t ^4 2 t ^2 + 2,
t 0 . Whenever the result of this equation is greater than 0, the particle is moving
in a positive direction, and whenever the result is less than 0, the particle is moving
in a negative direction.
b. We determine critical values, when s(t) is equal to 0, which does not occur.
Therefore the particle is always moving in a positive direction.

c) What is the total distance traveled by the particle in the first 3 seconds?
a. The total distance traveled by the particle in the first 3 seconds can be determined
by the following equation:
|((3) (2))|+|((2) (1))| + |((1) (0))| = 65 m
d) What is the acceleration of the particle at t = 1 second?
a. To determine the a at a specific time, use the velocity equation. Velocity at t = 1 is
as follows: s(1) = 12(1)^2 4 = 8 m/s^2
e) When is the particle speeding up and slowing down?
a. When both the velocity and acceleration of the particle are positive, the particle is
speeding up. When the velocity and acceleration are both negative, the particle is
also speeding up. When the velocity and acceleration are opposite signs, one
positive and the other negative, the particle is slowing down.
b. In the image below we see the velocity of the particle in blue, and the acceleration
in green:

c. As you can see, the velocity is negative on the interval from (0, 0.577) and positive
on the interval (0.577, ). The acceleration is negative on the interval from (0, 1)
and positive on the interval from (1, ).
d. From this we can determine the particle is speeding up on the interval (0, 0.577) and
(1,) but slowing down on the interval (0.577, 1).

Reflection:
Typically when I think of velocity and acceleration, I think of a vehicle. Thinking of position,
velocity and acceleration in terms of calculus allows me to think of movement for things other
than a vehicle, such as a particle. This assignment also showed me a way calculus can be used in
a practical application.