A car that performs stunts moves along a track, as shown in the diagram below. The car accelerates from rest at point `A`, is launched into the air by the ramp `BO` and lands on a second section of track at or beyond point `C`. This second section of track is inclined at `10^@` to the horizontal.
Due to tailwind, the effect of air resistance is negligible. Point `O` is taken as the origin of a cartesian coordinate system and all displacements are measured in metres. Point `C` has the coordinates `(16, 4)`.
At point `O`, the speed of the car is `u` ms`\ ^(-1)` and it takes off at an angle of `theta` to the horizontal direction. After the car passes point `O`, it follows a trajectory where the position of the car's rear wheels relative to point `O`, is given by
`underset~r(t) = ut cos(theta) underset~i + (ut sin(theta) - 1/2 g t^2)underset~j` until the car lands on the second section of track that starts at point `C`.
- Show that the path of the rear wheels of the car, while in the air, is given in cartesian form by
- `y = x tan(theta) - (4.9x^2)/(u^2cos^2(theta))`. (1 mark)
- If `theta = 30^@`, find the minimum speed, in ms`\ ^(-1)`, that the car must reach at point `O` for the rear wheels to land on the second section of track at or beyond point `C`. Give your answer correct to two decimal places. (2 marks)
- The ramp `BO` is constructed so that the angle `theta` can be varied.
- For what values of `theta` and `u` will the path of the rear wheels of the car join up smoothly with the beginning of the second section of track at point `C`? Give your answer for `theta` in degrees, correct to the nearest degree, and give your answer for `u` in ms`\ ^(-1)`, correct to one decimal place. (3 marks)
The car accelerates from rest along the horizontal section of track `AB`, where its acceleration, `a` ms`\ ^(-2)`, after it has travelled `s` metres from point `A`, is given by `a = 60/v`, where `v` is its speed at `s` metres.
- Show that `v` in terms of `s` given by `v = (180x)^(1/3)`. (2 marks)
- After the car leaves point `A`, it accelerates to reach a speed of 20 ms`\ ^(-1)` at point `B`. However, if the stunt is called off, the car immediately brakes and reduces its speed at a rate of 9 ms`\ ^(-2)`. It is only safe to call off the stunt if the car can come to rest at or before point `B`. Point `W` is the furthest point along the section `AB` at which the stunt can be called off.
- How far is point `W` from point `B`? Give your answer in metres, correct to one decimal place. (3 marks)