In: Physics
Suppose a rocket-propelled motorcycle is fired from rest horizontally across a canyon 1.20 km wide.
(a) What minimum constant acceleration in the
x-direction must be provided by the engines so the cycle
crosses safely if the opposite side is 0.780 km lower than the
starting point?
m/s2
(b) At what speed does the motorcycle land if it maintains this
constant horizontal component of acceleration? Neglect air drag,
but remember that gravity is still acting in the negative
y-direction.
m/s
(a) For the motorcycle to land safely, the displacement it undergoes in the y-direction should be equal to the difference between the heights of the starting point and landing point, h.
We have, h = 0.78 km = 780 m
The acceleration in the y-direction is equal to the acceleration due to gravity (as there is no external component of acceleration provided in the y-direction)
The motorcycle starts from rest, so its initial velocity, uy = 0.
Using the above values and the 2nd kinematic equation of motion, we can calculate the time taken for the motorcycle to descend 780 m with an acceleration of 9.8 m/s2
h = 780 = uyt + gt2 / 2 = 0 + 9.8*t2/2
t2 = 780/4.9
t = 12.62 s
Now, we have the horizontal distance that the bike has to cover, s = 1.2 km = 1200 m.
The bike starts from rest (ux = 0) and we need to know the constant acceleration a that we need to provide to the bike in order for it to safely cross the canyon. Using the same equation as we did above
s = 1200 = uxt + at2 / 2 = 0 + a*(12.62)2 / 2
a = 2*1200 / 12.622 = 15.08 m/s2
Ans. We need to provide an acceleration of 15.08 m/s2 in the x-direction for the motorcycle to land safely.
(b) We have the horizontal and vertical components of acceleration
ax = a = 15.08 m/s2
ay = g = 9.8 m/s2
The above two accelerations are constant.
We also have the time taken for the motorcycle to cross the canyon.
t = 12.62 s.
We can use these to calculate the horizontal and vertical components of the velocity of the motorcycle as it lands.
Using the 1st kinematic equation of motion.
vx = ux + axt = 0 + at = 15.08 * 12.62 = 190.31 m/s
vy = uy + ayt = 0 + gt = 9.8 * 12.62 = 123.68 m/s
The speed of the motorcycle can now be calculated
v = (vx2 + vy2)1/2 = 226.97 m/s
Ans. The motorcycle lands with a speed of 226.97 m/s.