Recent content by gjh

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    Solving for the Height and Width of St. Louis Arch: A Calculus Problem

    St. Louis Arch: The St. Louis arch was constructed using the hyperbolic cosine function. The equation used for construction was 693.8597 – 68.7672 cosh .0100333x. -299.2239<=x<=299.2239. (1) Cross sections of the arch are equilateral triangles, and (x,y) traces the path of the centers of mass...
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    Solving for the Height and Width of St. Louis Arch: A Calculus Problem

    (a) How high above the ground is the center of the highest triangle? (At ground level, y=0) Substituting, x=0 in equation (1), I got 693.8597-68.7672 cosh (0) = 625.0925 (b) What is the height of the arch? (Hint: For an equilateral triangle, A = sqrt(3) c^2, where c is one half the base of...
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    Find the Upward Force of a Boat with 6 People Aboard

    Apply Principle of Archimedes - upward force is equal to the weight of the volume of water displaced. Density (boat) = 120 kg/(3x1x.24)m(3) = 500/3 kg/m(3) Density of water = 1000kg/m(3). Density (water)/Density of boat = 1000 kg/m(3)/(500/3) kg/m(3) = 6. So density of water is 6 times the...
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    Projectile motion when kicking a ball that lands on an upward slope

    We know x = R =max range (28m) on level ground. Need to find v()^2. Subbing y=0 into (1) above, get v(0)^2 = (gR^2/)/(2*cos (theta)^2 * tan (theta). ... (2) This didn't seem right, since this means v(0)^2 is a negative number ... maybe my orientation or algebra wrong? Anyway, didn't see...
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    Calculating Average Velocity and Acceleration of the Singapore Flyer

    Yes, plus I made a stupid computational error. .22j/300 = 7.33*(10)^4 not 8.7jx(10)-4. Thus, my answer would be a (average) =(-4.3i+7.3j)10^-4 in component form. mag a then is sqrt [(-4.3)^2+(7o.3)^2(10^-4)] = 8.9*10^-4 m/s^2. This is very close to book answer of -4.4i+7.6j)*10^-4 with mag...
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    Calculating Average Velocity and Acceleration of the Singapore Flyer

    Started over. Back to vectors. v =.26[cos 60i+sin 60j) = .13i+.22j (this is instantaneous velocity). avg a = delta v/delta t = (.13i+.22j-.26i)/300 = (-.13i+.22j)/300 = (-4.3i+8.7j)10^-4 - this is closer, but magnitude of a would be 9.7(10)^-4 ... which is way off from 9(10)^-4. Almost there...
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    Calculating Average Velocity and Acceleration of the Singapore Flyer

    I grappled with this problem also: my approach was simply to set coordinate system at the center of the wheel. The initial position vector would be -75j. After 5 minutes, the wheel will have completed (5/30)*360 degrees or 60 degrees. The final position vector (after 5 mins) would be R = r...
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    Projectile Motion of motorcyclist

    Not to beat a dead horse ... well, maybe a little since I spent many hours a/analyzing this problem, I checked my answer by finding the range at 16.7 m/s as suggested. Using x = (v(0)^2)sin (2sin (theta)*cos (theta)/g -> x = 28 m. But we know the range was 39 m - conclusion is he was speeding...
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    Projectile Motion of motorcyclist

    I think this line of reasoning works. Here's how I applied it: Assume 39 m is the max range and it was achieved at launch angle of 45 degrees. Use the range formula X=2v(0)^2 sin (theta)*cos (theta)/g, where X=39 m and theta = 45 degrees and solve for v(0) -> v(0) = 19.6 m/s, which is larger...
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    Projectile Motion of motorcyclist

    I assumed the cyclist was going 60-kph. Then worked backwards as shown above to calculate the deceleration in the x direction and then the time to decelerate to a stop at 39 m. Then used this time to calculate the initial speed if cyclist thrown 39 m, which was 8.4 m/s. But if he was going...
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    Need Help with Physics Problems? Join the Physics Forum!

    Hello - new member here. Am retired 75-year-old doing course work in various areas of mathematics and physics to pass the time while the COVID situation resolves itself. Found I needed help with some of the physics problems, so I joined the Physics Forum as an aid. Cheers!
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