Solutions 1.

8-Page 89

Problem 2
Suppose that a body moves through a resisting medium with resistance proportional to its
velocity v , so that dv / dt = − kv . (a) Show that its velocity and position at times t are
given by

v(t ) = v 0 e − kt
and
x(t ) = x0 + ( )(1 − e
v0
k
− kt
).

(b) Conclude that the body travels only a finite distance, and find that distance.

dv / dt = − kv is a separable equation. Separating variables and integrating yields:

dv
∫ v = ∫ − kdt
ln v = −kt + C
~
v = Ce − kt
~
Substituting t = 0 shows that C = v0 .
Therefore,

v(t ) = v 0 e − kt

Recall that dx / dt = v . Making this substitution in the above equation, then separating
variables and integrating yields:

dx / dt = v 0 e − kt

∫ dx = ∫ v 0 e − kt dt
v 0 − kt
x = − e +C
k
The constant C is solved for by substituting x(0) = x 0 into the above position function.
v0
x0 = − +C
k
v
∴ C = x0 + 0
k
and
v v
x = − 0 e − kt + x0 + 0
k k
Simplifying gives

x(t ) = x 0 + ( )(1 − e
v0
k
− kt
)

(b) The body travels its maximum distance when v = 0. From v(t ) = v 0 e − kt , this occurs
when t = ∞ . Substituting this value for time into the position function gives the
maximum distance the body travels.

x(t ) = x 0 + ( )(1 − e
v0
k
− k (∞)
)

v0
x max = x0 +
k
Problem 7
Suppose that a car starts from rest, its engine providing an acceleration of 10 ft/s2, while
air resistance provides 0.1 ft/s2 of deceleration for each foot per second of the car’s
velocity. (a) Find the car’s maximum possible (limiting) velocity. (b) Find how long it
takes the car to attain 90% of its limiting velocity, and how far it travels while doing so.

The given acceleration information takes the following equation form:

dv / dt = 10 − 0.1v

(a) Since the acceleration equation is the derivative of the velocity equation, velocity has
a maxima when acceleration is zero. This occurs at 100 ft/s. This maxima cannot be a
minimum because the initial velocity is 0. Therefore it’s the maximum velocity.

v max = 100 ft/s

(b) For this part of the problem, the velocity and position functions must be found. The
dv
acceleration equation can be rewritten as + 0.1v = 10 . This equation follows the form
dt
given on pg.43. The integrating factor is ρ (t ) = e ∫
0.1dt
= e 0.1t

Multiplying both sides by ρ (t ) gives

dv
e 0.1t + e 0.1t (0.1v) = 10e 0.1t
dt
d (e 0.1t v)
The left hand side is , so the equation becomes
dt
d (e 0.1t v)
= 10e 0.1t
dt
Integrating both sides gives
∫ d (e v) = ∫ 10e dt
0.1t 0.1t

e 0.1t v = 100e 0.1t + C

v(t ) = 100 + Ce −0.1t
v0 = 0 = 100 + C
∴ C = −100

v(t ) = 100(1 − e −0.1t ) Integrating this velocity equation will give the position function.
∫ v(t ) = ∫ 100(1 − e −0.1t )
x = 100t + 1000e −0.1t +C
x(0) = 0 = 1000 + C
∴ C = −1000

x(t ) = 100t − 1000(1 − e −0.1t )

From the velocity function, v = 90 ft/s when t = 23.0259 s. Substituting this value into
the position function yields

x = 1402.59 ft
Problem 20
An arrow is shot straight upward from the ground with an initial velocity of 160ft/s. It
experiences both the deceleration of gravity and deceleration v 2 / 800 due to air
resistance. How high in the air does it go?

The method of solving this problem is explained in detail on pg.84 (for upward motion).
Substituting the given information into eq.13 on pg.85 yields:
(
C1 = tan −1 160 1
800 ( 32 ) ) = π4
π 
v(t ) = 32(800) tan − t 32 / 800 
4 
π t 
v(t ) = 160 tan − 
 4 5
5π
The arrow reaches its maximum height when velocity is zero. This occurs when t = .
4
The position function is obtained from eq.14 on pg.85.
π t 
cos − 
y (t ) = 800 ln  4 5  = 800 ln cos π − t   − 800 ln 2
π   4 5  2
cos   
4
  π t 
y (t ) = 800 ln cos −   − 800(ln 21 / 2 − ln 2)
  4 5 
  π t 
y (t ) = 800 ln cos −   + 400 ln 2
  4 5 

Substituting the value for time when velocity is zero gives the maximum height.

y ( 54π ) = 277.26 ft
Problem 28
In Jules Verne’s original problem, the projectile launched from the surface of the earth is
attracted by both the earth and the moon, so its distance r (t ) from the center of the earth
satisfies the initial value problem

d 2r GM GM m
=− 2e + ; r (0) = R , r ′(0) = v0
dt 2
r (S − r ) 2

where M e and M m denote the masses of the earth and the moon, respectively; R is the
radius of the earth and S = 384,400 km is the distance between the centers of the earth
and moon. To reach the moon, the projectile must only just pass the point between the
moon and earth where its net acceleration vanishes. Thereafter it is “under the control”
of the moon, and falls from there to the lunar surface. Find the minimal launch velocity
v 0 that suffices for the projectile to make it “From the Earth to the Moon.”

Denote by rc the distance from the earth when the moon’s gravity takes over. It is found
by setting the above acceleration equation to zero to obtain
Me S
rc =
Me − Mm

We will next find the velocity equation and set the velocity to 0 (to denote the body just
makes it) at r = rc .
d 2r d 2 r dv dv dr dv
2
can be rewritten using the chain rule: 2
= = = v . The acceleration
dt dt dt dr dt dr
equation becomes:
dv GM GM m
v =− 2e +
dr r (S − r ) 2
This equation is separable and can be solved for velocity by separating variables and
integrating both sides. The procedure is as follows:

GM e GM m
∫ vdv = ∫ −
r 2
dr + ∫
(S − r ) 2
dr

v 2 GM e GM m
= − +K
2 r r−s
2GM e 2GM m ~
v2 = − +K
r r−s

The initial conditions are used to find the constant K.

 22GM e 2GM m
v0 = − +K
R R−s
2 2GM e 2GM m
K = v0 − +
R R−s

2GM e 2GM e 2GM m 2GM m 2

v= − − + + v0
r R r−S R−S

Substituting for r = rc ,7.35 x 1022 kg for the mass of the moon, 5.975 x 1024 for the mass
of the earth, S = 384,000 km, and solving for v 0 yields:

v0 = 11109 m/s
which is about 6.9 miles per second or 24,900 mph!

This solution can be compared to the escape velocity without the moon to see how much
the moon helps.

With the earth being the only body acting on a spaceship, the acceleration equation (with
no thrust) is

dv GM
=− 2
dt r

dv dr dv
Using the chain rule, dv / dt = = v . So the acceleration equation becomes
dr dt dr
dv GM
v =− 2
dr r

Separating variables and integrating both sides yields

GM
∫ vdv = ∫ −
r2
dr

v 2 GM
= +C
2 r

The initial conditions are v(0) = v0 and r (0) = R where R is the radius of the earth.
Substituting into the velocity equation to find the constant C gives

2
v0 GM
C= −
2 R
 2 1 1 
The velocity equation is v 2 = v 0 + 2GM  −  . The vehicle will break free of the
r R
earth’s gravity when r = ∞ . Substituting this value for r into the velocity equation gives
2 2GM
v 2 = v0 −
R

2
Since the velocity must always be positive all the time, v0 ≥ 2GM / R . The initial
2GM
velocity required to escape the earth (escape velocity) is v0 = . Substituting the
R
necessary values for the constants gives v0 = 11180 m/s.

So the moon only saves 71 m/s or 159 mph.