28 Motions in Space Mathematics 22

Consider an object (viewed as a point) moving in space (in

→
−
R3).
Let R (t) be the position function of the object.

Definitions. As the object moves from t = a to t = b,

1. Traveled Distance : 6. Instantaneous Velocity :

Z b
→
− →
− →
−
s= || R 0 (t)|| dt V (t) = R 0 (t)
a

7. Instantaneous Acceleration :
2. Displacement:
→
− →
− →
−
→
− →
− A (t) = V 0 (t) = R 00 (t)
R (b) − R (a)
→
− →
− →
−
A (t) = AT (t) T (t) + AN (t) N (t)
3. Average Speed on [t, t + 4t] :
→
−
s(t + 4t) − s(t) 8. Scalar Tangential component of A (t) : rate at
4t which speed is changing with respect to t.
→
− →
−
V (t) · A (t)
4. Average Velocity on [t, t + 4t] : AT (t) = →
−
|| V (t)||
→
− →
−
R (t + 4t) − R (t)
→
−
4t 9. Scalar Normal component of A (t) : rate at which
velocity’s direction is changing with respect to t.
5. Instantaneous Speed : →
− →
−
|| V (t) × A (t)||
→
− AN (t) = →
−
v(t) = || R 0 (t)|| || V (t)||

Exercises:
→
−
1. An insect moves in space with velocity V (t) = he2t , 2et , 2i. The insect is at h−1, 1, 0i when t = 0.
Find the following:
→
−
(a) the position vector R (t) of the particle at any time t
(b) the acceleration at any time t
(c) the distance travelled by the insect from t = 0 to t = 1
(d) the scalar tangential and normal components of the insect’s acceleration at t = 0
→
−
2. A particle, initially at the point (1, 4, 3), moves in the space with acceleration A (t) = h2, 2t, −2i. Its
velocity at t = 1 is h2, −1, −2i.
→
− →
−
(a) Find the position function R (t) and the acceleration vector A (t).
(b) At t = 3, find the scalar tangential and normal components of the acceleration.
(c) On the interval t ∈ [0, 3], determine the distance it has traveled and its displacement.