MEI AS Mathematics Variable acceleration

Topic assessment
1. A racing car accelerates from rest along the track. Its speed, v ms-1, is modelled for the
first four seconds of its motion by

v = t 3 − 9t 2 + 24t , 0t 4.

(a) Find an expression for the distance travelled by the car in the first t seconds. [2]
(b) Calculate the distance travelled from t = 2 to t = 4. [2]
(c) Show that the acceleration, a ms-2, of the car at time t is given by a = k (t − 2)(t − 4) ,
where k is a constant to be determined. [2]

2. A particle moves on the x-axis. Its displacement, x m, from the origin O is given by
x = 3t 2 − 3t + 2 , where t is the time in seconds.
How far is the particle from O when it is instantaneously at rest? [4]

3. At t = 0 a particle travels through point P with a velocity of -9 ms-1. The acceleration of

the particle is given by a = 0.6t − 3.9 .

(a) Find the times when the velocity, v, is -18 ms-1. [4]
(b) Find the distance covered by the particle when v  −18 ms−1 . [3]

4. An insect moves in a straight line. The time, t, is in seconds and distance travelled is in
metres.
The velocity, v ms-1, of the insect is given by

v = t 2 − 4t , 0  t  6,
v = c, 6  t  10,
v = at + b, 10  t  15.

You are also given that v = 4 when t = 12.

(a) Show that c = 12. [2]
(b) Calculate the values of a and b and briefly describe the motion of the insect in the
interval 10  t  15 . [3]
(c) Sketch the v-t curve for the motion of the insect in the interval 0  t  6 . [3]
(d) Calculate the distance travelled by the insect in the interval 0  t  10 . [6]

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5. The motion of a particle is represented on the velocity time graph shown below. The
motion is given by the equations:

v = 2t 2 − 3t − 13 t 3 , 0t 4
v = 1.5t + c , t4

The particle returns to its starting position at time T.

Find the velocity of the particle at time T. [9]

Total 40 marks

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Solutions to topic assessment

1. (a) v = t 3 − 9t 2 + 24t
s =  v dt = 41 t 4 − 3t 3 + 12t 2 + c
When t = 0, s = 0  c = 0
s = 41 t 4 − 3t 3 + 12t 2 [2]

(b) Distance travelled from t = 2 to t = 4 is

(1
4 ) (
 4 4 − 3  43 + 12  42 − 41  24 − 3  23 + 12  22 )
= 64 − 192 + 192 − 4 + 24 − 48 = 36
Distance travelled = 36 m. [2]

dv
(c) a =
dt
( )
= 3t 2 − 18t + 24 = 3 t 2 − 6t + 8 = 3(t − 2)(t − 4)

so k = 3. [2]

2. x = 3t 2 − 3t + 2
dx
v= = 6t − 3
dt
When particle is instantaneously at rest, 6t − 3 = 0
t = 0.5
When t = 0.5, x = 3  0.5 − 3  0.5 + 2
2

= 1.25
It is 1.25 m from O when it is instantaneously at rest.
[4]

3. (a) v =  adt
= 0.3t 2 − 3.9t + C
At t = 0, v = -9  c = −9
v = 0.3t 2 − 3.9t − 9
Solve for v = -18
0.3t 2 − 3.9t − 9 = −18
0.3t 2 − 3.9t + 9 = 0
t 2 − 13t + 30 = 0
(t − 3)(t − 10) = 0
t =3
t = 10
The particle is travelling at -18 ms-1 at t = 3 seconds and t = 10 seconds. [4]

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MEI AS Maths Variable acceleration Assessment solutions
10
10
 vdt = 0.1t − 1.95t 2 − 9t 
3
(b) x =
3
3

= (100 − 195 − 90) − (2.7 − 17.55 − 27)

= −143.15
Distance travelled is 143.15 m. [3]

4. v = t 2 − 4t , 0  t  6,
v = c, 6  t  10,
v = at + b, 10  t  15.

(a) When t = 6, v = 62 − 4  6 = 12
Therefore c = 12.
[2]
(b) When t = 10, v = 12  10a + b = 12
When t = 12, v = 4  12a + b = 4
Subtracting: −2a = 8  a = −4, b = 52
The insect is decelerating at a constant rate.
[3]
(c) v = t − 4t = t (t − 4)
2

so the curve is a quadratic with v = 0 when t = 0 and t = 4, and by symmetry

minimum where t = 2, so minimum (2, -4)

[3]

4
(d) Displacement for 0  t  4 =  (t 2 − 4t )dt = − 323
0
6
Displacement for 4  t  6 =  (t 2 − 4t )dt = 32
3
4

Displacement for 6  t  10 = 12  4 = 48
Total distance travelled = 323 + 323 + 48 = 69.3 m. [6]

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MEI AS Maths Variable acceleration Assessment solutions

5. v = 2t 2 − 3t − 31 t 3
At t = 4, v = 2  42 − 3  4 − 31  43
= − 34
1.5  4 + c = − 34
c = − 223
 v = 1.5t − 223 , t  4

4
For 0  t  4 x =  (2t 2 − 3t − 31 t 3 )dt = − 83
0
T
For 4  t  T x =  ( 32 t- 223 )dt
4
T
=  34 t 2 − 223 t 
4

At time T, total displacement is zero.

( )
T − 223 T − ( − 523 ) − 83 = 0
3 2
4
3
4
T 2 − 223 T + 443 = 0
T = 6.9735... or 2.8042... , as T>4

At time T, v = 1.5  6.97... − 223

= 3.13 ms−1
[9]

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