A metal ball is released from the surface of the liquid in a tall cylinder. The ball falls vertically through the liquid and the distance, x cm, that the ball has fallen in time t seconds is measured. The speed of the ball at time t seconds is v cms^{-1}. The ball is released in a manner such that x = 0 and v = 0 when t = 0.
- (a)
The motion of the ball is modelled by the differential equation
It is given that .
- (i)
Show that the differential equation can be written as
- (ii)
Using the differential equation in (a)(i), find v in terms of t. Hence find x in terms of t.
- (i)
- (b)
The metal ball is now released in another tall cylinder filled with a different liquid. However, for this liquid, the motion of the ball is modelled by the differential equation
where k is a positive constant.
It is given that and when .
- (i)
Find v in terms of t and k.
- (ii)
When the ball falls through this liquid, its speed will approach its "terminal speed" which is the speed it will attain after a long time. Find the ball's terminal speed in terms of k. You must show sufficient working to justify your answer.
- (i)
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Worked solution
11(a)(i)
1. Express the second derivative of $x$ in terms of $v$.
Given , differentiating both sides with respect to yields:
2. Substitute into the original differential equation and rearrange to obtain the required form.
Substitute and into the given differential equation:
(shown)
11(a)(ii)
1. Separate variables and integrate the differential equation to find a relation for $v$
2. Apply the initial condition to find the constant and express $v$ explicitly in terms of $t$
Given when :
Since initially and , velocity is increasing but bounded below 20, so . We drop the modulus:
3. Substitute $v = \frac{dx}{dt}$ and integrate to find an expression for $x$
4. Apply the initial condition to find the constant and express $x$ exactly in terms of $t$
Given when :
11(b)(i)
1. Separate the variables to set up the integrals.
2. Integrate both sides using the standard formula for $\int \frac{1}{a^2 - x^2} \,dx$.
Factor out in the denominator to match the standard form:
3. Use the initial conditions to find the constant of integration.
Given that when :
4. Make $v$ the subject of the formula.
Since starts at and the liquid exerts resistance, the term inside the modulus is positive:
11(b)(ii)
1. Concise derivation of $v$ in terms of $t$ (result needed from part (b)(i)).
From part (b)(i), separating variables for :
Using when , we find . Rearranging yields:
2. Evaluate the limit of $v$ as $t \to \infty$ to determine the terminal speed.
The terminal speed is attained after a long time, so we evaluate the limit as .
Since is a given positive constant (), the exponent as .
Thus, .
Substituting this limit into the expression for :
(Note: An alternative acceptable justification is to state that as terminal speed is reached, approaches a constant and acceleration . Solving directly yields .)
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