Math Problem Statement

The Rock with a Changed Reference Point Make graphs of position and velocity for a rock tossed upward from ground level as it might be viewed by someone standing atop a tall building. Thus, the location of the rock is measured by its distance down from the top of the building.

Solution

To analyze the motion of the rock from a changed reference point (from the top of a tall building), we need to understand how the position and velocity of the rock behave over time from this new perspective.

Problem Setup

  1. Reference Point: From the top of a tall building. Let's assume the building has height HH from the ground.
  2. Initial Position and Velocity: The rock is tossed upward from ground level. This means:
    • Initial position from the top of the building: y(0)=Hy(0) = H (since we measure distance downward).
    • Initial velocity: v0v_0 upward.
  3. Gravitational Acceleration: gg, acting downward.

Position and Velocity Equations

Since we are measuring the position from the top of the building downward, we can modify the equations of motion to fit this perspective.

Let:

  • y(t)y(t): Distance from the top of the building at time tt.
  • HH: Height of the building from the ground.

When the rock is tossed upward, it initially moves up, then falls back down due to gravity. From the new reference point, the equations of motion become:

Position Equation (from the top of the building)

y(t)=Hv0t+12gt2y(t) = H - v_0 t + \frac{1}{2} g t^2 Here:

  • HH is the initial distance from the top of the building.
  • v0v_0 is the initial velocity of the rock.

Velocity Equation

The velocity of the rock over time from this reference point is: v(t)=v0+gtv(t) = -v_0 + g t This shows that the velocity decreases as the rock goes up (because of gravity) and increases in magnitude in the downward direction as it falls.

Graphs of Position and Velocity

  1. Position vs. Time:

    • The position graph y(t)y(t) would start from HH and decrease initially as the rock goes up (approaching a maximum height and minimum value of yy).
    • After reaching the peak, the position begins increasing as the rock falls back toward the ground (from the perspective of the top of the building).
  2. Velocity vs. Time:

    • The velocity graph v(t)v(t) starts at v0-v_0 (because we defined upward as negative).
    • It linearly increases over time due to the constant gravitational acceleration, crossing zero at the peak of the trajectory and becoming positive as the rock falls back down.

I'll generate these graphs based on a sample set of values for height HH, initial velocity v0v_0, and gravitational acceleration gg.

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Kinematics
Position and Velocity Graphs
Reference Frames

Formulas

Position equation: y(t) = H - v_0 t + (1/2) g t^2
Velocity equation: v(t) = -v_0 + g t

Theorems

Equations of motion under constant acceleration

Suitable Grade Level

Grades 11-12