DISCUSSION THREAD

Ask and answer questions here. You learn both ways

HINTS
The y-component of the position of P is not given to you explicitly as a function of time. Because of this, you will need to use the chain rule of differentiation in order to find the time derivative of y that is needed for the velocity of P:  dy/dt = (dy/dx)*(dx/dt). In this problem, as in others, do not confuse dy/dt with dy/dx.

DISCUSSION
Shown below is an animation created from the simulation of the motion prescribed for this problem. Some observations on this motion:

• The x-component of the velocity of P is a constant, as specified in the problem. Do you see this in the motion?
• The sign of the y-component of velocity of P changes from positive to negative over the course of the motion. Can you see this in the motion? Do you see this in your analysis? At what value of x does this change in sign occur?
• The acceleration of P always points directly downward and with a constant magnitude. Do you see this in the animation? And, do you see this in your analysis?

As we will see in the next class period when we work with the "path description" of kinematics, the velocity of a point is always tangent to the path of the point, and the acceleration always points "inward" on the path of the point. Do you see this in the animation below?