Unit 4 Investigation 1
Unit 4 Investigation 1
In words
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1. An experimental rocket leaves its launch site and is travelling in a straight line, such that
the vertical distance of the rocket is from its launch site is given by the equation, =
ln( + 1), where x is the vertical distance travelled in kilometres and t is the time in
seconds. Only 5 seconds after leaving the launch site the rocket explodes due to a
malfunction.
(b) Calculate the vertical distance travelled before the rocket exploded. (1 mark)
(c) Was the speed of the rocket changing over time or was it constant? How can you tell
from its graph? (2 marks)
The launch director wishes to find out the approximate speed of the rocket at various
stages. She uses the formula:
distance travelled
average speed =
time taken
(d) What is the average speed of the rocket from 0 1? Show your working. (2 marks)
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SUNWAY COLLEGE JOHOR BAHRU
AUSTRALIAN MATRICULATION PROGRAMME
(f) What is the average speed over the first 5 seconds of the journey? (1 mark)
(g) She then sets about finding the average speeds between the following intervals.
Complete the table: (4 marks)
(h) Using the same method as above, find the speed of the rocket at the times indicated.
(4 marks)
For t = 1
Time period (s) 0.999 1.000 0.9999 1.0000
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SUNWAY COLLEGE JOHOR BAHRU
AUSTRALIAN MATRICULATION PROGRAMME
For t = 2
Time period (s) 1. 999 2.000 1.9999 2.0000
Time (s)
For t = 3
Time period (s) 2. 999 3.000 2.9999 3.0000
Time (s)
For t = 4
Time period (s) 3. 999 4.000 3.9999 4.0000
Time (s)
For t = 5
Time period (s) 4. 999 5.000 4.9999 5.0000
Time (s)
(i) Find the speed s of the rocket for time, t, correct to 2 decimal places.
(2 marks)
Time t 1 2 3 4 5
4
SUNWAY COLLEGE JOHOR BAHRU
AUSTRALIAN MATRICULATION PROGRAMME
2. The table below has some distance/time functions indicating the distance in metres,
measured in a straight line, of a moving object from a fixed point t seconds after passing
that point. By using the same method as above, calculate the speed of each object at the
stated times and hence decide a formula for its speed at any time t. (Note: some values
have already been found for you.) (9 marks)
= ln 1 1 1 1 1
2 3 4
= ln 2 2 1 1
2
= ln 3 3 3 1
2
= ln 4 4 4 1
3
= ln 5 5 5 5
2 3 4
= ln 6 6 3 3 6
=
2
3. Looking at the table above and recalling your take home section, decide a formula for the
speed of an object at any time t seconds given: (2 marks)
= ln
.