Derivatives of Velocity and Acceleration

Derivatives can be related very easily to physics applications.
We can relate it to the

position function, usually denoted as s(t) or h(t), the velocity function denoted v(t),
and the acceleration function denoted a(t). Notice that are a function of time!
Warning!! Warning!! Make sure you understand the difference between average and
instantaneous. The average velocity can be described as the change between two
points, thus giving you the slope of the line connecting these two points! While the
instantaneous velocity gives you the slope at a single point in time, thus giving you
the slope of the tangent line! That's right!! It's the derivative!!!
Average formulas
Where "s" is the position at any time "t"
Instantaneous Formulas
v(t) = s'(t)
a(t) = v'(t) = s"(t)
Where v(t) is the first derivative of the position function and a(t) is the first
derivative of the velocity function. Also note it is the second derivative of the
position function!!
Comments
v(t) = 0 means the object is not moving.
v(t) = 3 means the object would be moving forward (positive)
v(t) = -2 means the object would be moving backward (negative)
a(t) = 0 means there is no change in the velocity
a(t) = 5 means the object is going faster (positive)
a(t) = -3 means the object is slowing down.
Sample problems
1) s(t) = t2 - 20. find the average velocity from t = 3 to t = 5.
Solution: Use the average velocity formula!
Therefore, the average velocity is 8

2) Find the velocity function and the acceleration function for the function
s(t) = 2t3 + 5t - 7
Solution: Use the instantaneous formulas
v(t) = s'(t) = 6t2 + 5
a(t) = v'(t) = 12t
b) Find the velocity and acceleration at t = 2 for the above function.
Solution: Simply replace t with 2 in the above formulas
v(2) = 6(4) + 5 = 29
a(2) = 12(2) = 24
3) If a ball is thrown vertically upward with an initial velocity of 128 ft/sec, the
ball's height after t seconds is s(t) = 128t - 16t2
a) What is the velocity function?
Solution: v(t) = 128 - 32t
b) What is the velocity when t = 2, 4, 6
Solution: v(2) = 128 - 32(2) = 64
v(4) = 128 - 32(4) = 32
v(6) = 128 - 32(6) = -64
c) At what time is the velocity 48 ft/sec? 16 ft/sec? -48 ft/sec?
Solution: Set the velocity function to each of the above values!
48 = 128 - 32t
16 = 128 - 32t
-48 = 128 - 32t
-80 = -32t
-112 = -32t
-176 = -32t
2.5 = t
3.5 = t
5.5 = t
d) When is the velocity zero?

Solution: Set the velocity function to zero and solve
0 = 128 - 32t
-128 = -32t
4=t
e) What is the height of the ball at the time the velocity is 0?
Solution: let t = 4 in the position function
s(4) = 128(4) - 16(16) = 512 - 256 = 256'
f) Is the answer to part "e" the maximum height?
Solution: Yes, because it is the zero of the first derivative.
g) When does the ball hit the ground?
Solution: Set the position function to zero and solve!
128t - 16t2 = 0
16t(8 - t) = 0
At t = 0, or t = 8. Think. At t = 0, you haven't thrown the ball yet! The ball will hit
the ground in 8 seconds. You could have reasoned that it took 4 seconds to reach
maximum height and another 4 secs to come back down.
h) What is the velocity when the ball hits the ground?
Solution: Find v(8)
v(8) = 128 - 32(8) = -128 ft/sec. It is
negative because the ball is coming back down! Notice it has
the same velocity as when it was thrown upward!
i) What is the acceleration function?
Solution: Find a(t) by finding the derivative of v(t)!
a(t) = -32 ft/sec2
j) What is the acceleration at t = 3, 5, 8?
Solution: a(3) = -32
a(5) = -32
a(8) = -32
No matter what time it will always be -32. (This is the effect of gravity.)
It's now time to get ready for the big test!!
Sample test is next so have plenty of water (notice the motif) and hang on to your
hat!
Don't bomb out on the sample test!!

1) Find the average rate of change for the function f(x) = 3x2 + 2x. Then find
the slope of the secant line between x1 = 1 and x2 = 3.
2) Using the definition of the derivative, find f '(x) if f(x) = 2x2 - 5. Find the
slope of the tangent line at x = 2, x = 0, x = -2. Tell if it is increasing,
decreasing or zero at that point.
3) Find the derivatives by using the formulas and then find f '(-1).
4) Find the critical points of each function and graph each function.
a) f(x) = x3 - 3x
b) f(x) = x3 - 1
5) A trough with a rectangular cross section is to be made from a long sheet
of metal 24 meters wide by turning up strips along each side. Find the
amount that must be turned up to give the greatest cross section.
6) There are 900 feet of fencing available to enclose a rectangular plot of
ground with a fence down the middle and parallel to two ends. What is the
maximum area which can be enclosed?
7) A bus company carries 2000 passengers per day at a rate of 20 cents per
passenger. In determining a rate hike, the head dudes estimate that they
would lose 200 passengers for every 5 cents they increase the rates. What
rate should they charge to maximize their income?
8) Let s(t) = 16t2 - 128t + 8. Answer each question.
a) Find v(t)
b) Find the velocity at t = 3, t = 4, t = 5. What does each answer

mean?
c) Find a(t)
d) Find the acceleration at t = 1, t = 3, t = 3. What do the answers
indicate?
9) A ball is hit straight upward with an initial velocity of 256 feet per second.
the ball's height after time t seconds is h(t) = 256t - 16t2
a) What is the velocity function?
b) What is the velocity at t = 6, t = 8, t = 10?
c) What is the acceleration function?
d) At what time does the ball hit the ground?
e) What is the velocity of the ball when it hits the ground?
f) What time does it reach maximum height?
g) What is the maximum height?

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Derivatives can be related very easily to physics applications.

We can relate it to the

Where "s" is the position at any time "t"

Therefore, the average velocity is 8

d) When is the velocity zero?

Don't bomb out on the sample test!!

b) Find the velocity at t = 3, t = 4, t = 5. What does each answer

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