Rectilinear Motion

Related Rates

Rectilinear Motion and Related Rates

Mathematics 73
Department of Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Rectilinear Motion
Related Rates

Rectilinear Motion or Motion along a Line

Suppose a particle moves along a straight line and its position

(relative to the origin) after t units of time is s(t), called the
position function.

Rectilinear Motion
Related Rates

Rectilinear Motion or Motion along a Line

Suppose a particle moves along a straight line and its position

(relative to the origin) after t units of time is s(t), called the
position function.
Recall that the average velocity of the particle on [t0 , t] is
vave =

s(t) s(t0 )
s
=
t t0
t

Rectilinear Motion
Related Rates

Instantaneous Velocity

Definition: The instantaneous velocity of the particle at time t

is
s
0
= s (t)
v (t) = lim
t0 t

Rectilinear Motion
Related Rates

Instantaneous Velocity

Definition: The instantaneous velocity of the particle at time t

is
s
0
= s (t)
v (t) = lim
t0 t
The instantaneous speed of the particle at time t is |v (t)|.

Rectilinear Motion
Related Rates

Instantaneous Acceleration

Definition: The instantaneous acceleration of the particle at

time t is
v
0
= v (t) = s (t)
a(t) = lim
t0 t

Rectilinear Motion
Related Rates

CONVENTION: If the rectilinear motion is horizontal, then the

displacement is positive if the particle moves to the right; and
negative if it moves to the left of the origin.

Rectilinear Motion
Related Rates

CONVENTION: If the rectilinear motion is horizontal, then the

displacement is positive if the particle moves to the right; and
negative if it moves to the left of the origin.
Similarly, if the rectilinear motion is vertical, then the displacement
is positive if the particle moves upward; and negative if it moves
downward.

Rectilinear Motion
Related Rates

REMARKS: Let s(t) be the position function of a particle moving

along a line. Note that t is nonnegative. The signs of v (t) and
a(t) give us information about the motion of the particle.

Rectilinear Motion
Related Rates

REMARKS: Let s(t) be the position function of a particle moving

along a line. Note that t is nonnegative. The signs of v (t) and
a(t) give us information about the motion of the particle.
1

If v (t) > 0, then the particle is moving in the positive

direction of the line at time t.

Rectilinear Motion
Related Rates

REMARKS: Let s(t) be the position function of a particle moving

along a line. Note that t is nonnegative. The signs of v (t) and
a(t) give us information about the motion of the particle.
1

If v (t) > 0, then the particle is moving in the positive

direction of the line at time t.

If v (t) < 0, then the particle is moving in the negative

direction of the line at time t.

Rectilinear Motion
Related Rates

REMARKS: Let s(t) be the position function of a particle moving

along a line. Note that t is nonnegative. The signs of v (t) and
a(t) give us information about the motion of the particle.
1

If v (t) > 0, then the particle is moving in the positive

direction of the line at time t.

If v (t) < 0, then the particle is moving in the negative

direction of the line at time t.

If v (t) = 0, either the particle is not moving or is changing

direction at time t.

Rectilinear Motion
Related Rates

REMARKS:
1 If a(t) > 0, then the velocity of the particle is increasing at
time t. In addition,
if v (t) > 0,
t (speeding
2 if v (t) < 0,
t (speeding
1

then the speed of the particle is increasing at time

up).
then the speed of the particle is decreasing at time
down).

Rectilinear Motion
Related Rates

REMARKS:
1 If a(t) > 0, then the velocity of the particle is increasing at
time t. In addition,
if v (t) > 0,
t (speeding
2 if v (t) < 0,
t (speeding
1

then the speed of the particle is increasing at time

up).
then the speed of the particle is decreasing at time
down).

If a(t) < 0, then the velocity of the particle is decreasing at

time t. In addition,
if v (t) > 0, then the speed of the particle is decreasing at time
t
2 if v (t) < 0, then the speed of the particle is increasing at time
t
1

Rectilinear Motion
Related Rates

REMARKS:
1 If a(t) > 0, then the velocity of the particle is increasing at
time t. In addition,
if v (t) > 0,
t (speeding
2 if v (t) < 0,
t (speeding
1

then the speed of the particle is increasing at time

up).
then the speed of the particle is decreasing at time
down).

If a(t) < 0, then the velocity of the particle is decreasing at

time t. In addition,
if v (t) > 0, then the speed of the particle is decreasing at time
t
2 if v (t) < 0, then the speed of the particle is increasing at time
t
1

If a(t) = 0, then the velocity of the particle is constant. (This

does not necessarily mean that the particle if not moving.)

Rectilinear Motion
Related Rates

EXAMPLE: A particle moves along the x-axis satisfying the law

of motion s(t) = t 3 3t 2 + 5, where s is the directed distance
from the origin. (s is measured in feet and t in seconds)

Rectilinear Motion
Related Rates

EXAMPLE: A particle moves along the x-axis satisfying the law

of motion s(t) = t 3 3t 2 + 5, where s is the directed distance
from the origin. (s is measured in feet and t in seconds)
1

Find the instantaneous velocity and instantaneous acceleration

at any time t.

Find the time when the particle reverses direction.

Find the time when the particle is moving with constant

velocity.

Find the velocity and acceleration at t = 4.

Show the motion of the particle schematically.

Determine the distance traveled by particle during the first

four seconds.

Rectilinear Motion
Related Rates

Remark: For vertical motion, if an object is in free-fall, then the

only force that acts on it during its flight is gravity.

Rectilinear Motion
Related Rates

Remark: For vertical motion, if an object is in free-fall, then the

only force that acts on it during its flight is gravity.
The distance of the object from the ground t seconds after its
launch is given by
1
s(t) = h0 + v0 t + gt 2
2
where
h0 is the initial height of the object from the ground
v0 is the initial velocity when the object was lauched
g is the acceleration due to gravity, 32 ft/s 2

Rectilinear Motion
Related Rates

EXAMPLE: A ball is thrown vertically upward from the ground

with an initial velocity of 32 ft/s.

Rectilinear Motion
Related Rates

EXAMPLE: A ball is thrown vertically upward from the ground

with an initial velocity of 32 ft/s.
1

Find the time when the ball reaches the highest point.

Determine the highest point reached by the ball.

Determine the velocity when t = 0.75 and t = 1.25

Determine the speed of the ball when it reaches the ground.

Rectilinear Motion
Related Rates

EXAMPLE: A tomato is thrown upward with an initial velocity of

96 ft/s from the top of a building which is 112 ft high. At the
same time, a kitten is walking along the ground along the same
horizontal as the foot of the building according to the equation of
motion s(t) = t 3 18t 2 + 96t 133, where s is the distance of
the kitten from the point on the ground directly under the tomato
at time t.
1

What is the maximum height reached by the tomato?

How fast is the tomato going when it hits the ground?

In what interval of time is the kitten moving to the left?

In what interval of time is the kitten accelarating?

Will the tomato hit the kitten? Explain.

Rectilinear Motion
Related Rates

Related Rates

Rectilinear Motion
Related Rates

dx
is
Suppose x is a quantity that is a function of time t. Then
dt
the rate of change of x with respect to t.
A problem on related rates is a problem involving rates of change
of several variables where one variable is dependent on another. In
particular, if y is dependent on x, then the rate of change of y
with respect to t is dependent on the rate of change of x with
dx
dy
is dependent on
.
respect to t, that is,
dt
dt

Rectilinear Motion
Related Rates

Suggestions in Solving Problems Involving Related Rates

1

If possible, draw a diagram of the problem that is valid for any

time t > 0.

Identify the time-dependent quantities.

Write down all numerical facts known about the variables.

Interpret each rate of change as the derivative of a variable
with respect to time. If a quantity decreases over time, then
its rate of change is negative.

Set-up the equation relating the time-dependent quantities.

Differentiate both sides of the equation implicitly with respect

to t to relate the time rates.

Substitute the values of the known quantities and solve for

the desired quantity.

Write a conclusion that answers the question of the problem.

Rectilinear Motion
Related Rates

Example: A ladder 10 meters long is leaning against a wall. If

the bottom of the ladder is being pulled horizontally towards the
wall at 2 m/s, how fast is the top of the ladder moving when the
bottom is 6 meters from the wall?

Rectilinear Motion
Related Rates

Example: Water is pouring into an inverted cone at the rate of 8

cubit feet per minute. If the height of the cone is 12 ft and the
radius of its base is 6 ft, how fast is the water level rising when the
water is 4 ft deep?

Rectilinear Motion
Related Rates

Related Rates
1

A cubical tank of ice is melting at the rate of 4 cubic meters

per minute. At what rate does the side of the ice change at
the instant when the side is 2 meters.

A 15-foot ladder is leaning against a vertical wall and a

horizontal floor. The top of the ladder started sliding against
the wall at the rate of 2 ft/sec. At what rate does the foot of
the ladder slide along the floor at the instant when the foot of
the ladder is 12 ft from the wall?

A water tank in the form of an inverted cone is being emptied

at the rate of 6 cubic meters per minute. The altitude of the
cone is 24 m and the radius is 12 m. Find how fast the water
level is lowering when the water is 10 m deep.

Rectilinear Motion
Related Rates

Related Rates
4

A stone is dropped into a still pond. Concentric circle ripples

spread out, and the radius of the disturbed region increases at
the rate of 16 cm/sec. At what rate does the area of the
disturbed region increase when its radius is 4 cm?

A boy 4 feet tall is walking towards a 12 feet high lighted

lamppost at the rate of 3 feet per second. At what rate does
the length of his shadow change?

Two cars, one going due east at the rate of 90 km/hr and the
other going due south at the rate of 60 km/hr, are traveling
toward the intersection of two roads. At what rate are the
cars approaching each other at the instant when the first car
is 0.2 km and the second car is 0.15 km from the intersection?

Rectilinear Motion
Related Rates

Related Rates
7

An automobile traveling at a rate of 30 ft/sec is approaching

an intersection. When the automobile is 120 ft from the
intersection, a truck traveling at the rate of 40 ft/sec crosses
the intersection. The automobile and the truck are on roads
that are at right angles to each other. How fast are the
automobile and the truck separating 2 seconds after the truck
leaves the intersection.

A baseball diamond is a square whose sides are 90 ft long.

Suppose that a player running from the second to the third
base has a speed of 30 ft/sec at the instant when he is 20 ft
from the third base. At what rate is the players distance from
the home base changing at that instant?