particle movement, partial differentiation

• October 26th 2013, 06:11 AM
lauramorrison93
particle movement, partial differentiation
Can someone explain how to do this question?

"A particle moves such that its position at time t is given by r=(t,t2,t3).
Find the rate of change of the distance of the particle from the origin."

I don't understand the way r is described, does it mean the x,y and z coordinates of r? If so, how do you use the chain rule to differentiate this?

Thanks
Laura
• October 26th 2013, 06:36 AM
MINOANMAN
Re: particle movement, partial differentiation
Hi

We cannot explain something either you haven;t study yet or you forgot it...
Please have a look first here
http://www.ittc.ku.edu/~jstiles/220/...n%20Vector.pdf

Position (vector) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Position Vector Of Point In Space - YouTube
• October 26th 2013, 06:52 AM
lauramorrison93
Re: particle movement, partial differentiation
Oh ok, that makes a bit more sense. Still struggling with how to differentiate it though.
• October 26th 2013, 07:35 AM
HallsofIvy
Re: particle movement, partial differentiation
First there is just the one independent variable, t, so this is NOT "partial differentiation", just ordinary differentiation.

This is a vector equation: $r= = $. Do you know how to differentiate t with respect t? What about $t^2$ or $t^3$.
• October 26th 2013, 03:49 PM
Prove It
Re: particle movement, partial differentiation
For a vector valued function \displaystyle \begin{align*} \mathbf{r}\,(t) = \left( x(t), y(t), z(t) \right) \end{align*}, its rate of change is \displaystyle \begin{align*} \mathbf{r}'(t) = \left( x'(t), y'(t), z'(t) \right) \end{align*}.
• October 27th 2013, 02:03 AM
lauramorrison93
Re: particle movement, partial differentiation
I get an answer of 1+2t+3t^2, but that is not the correct answer
• October 27th 2013, 02:11 AM
Prove It
Re: particle movement, partial differentiation
• October 27th 2013, 02:22 AM
lauramorrison93
Re: particle movement, partial differentiation
I am still obviously not fully understanding this and need more of an explanation.

What I have understood so far is that r is a vector with coordinates (x(t),y(t),z(t)). Where x(t)=t, y(t)=t2 and z(t)=t3.
In order to find the rate of change of r I must find the derivatives x'(t), y'(t) and z'(t) which are 1, 2t and 3t2, respectively. I also know you can write the coordinates in terms of unit vectors: r= t(i)+t2(j)+t3(k). Is this all correct? What happens to the unit vectors if that is the case?
• October 27th 2013, 02:54 AM
Prove It
Re: particle movement, partial differentiation
Quote:

Originally Posted by lauramorrison93
I am still obviously not fully understanding this and need more of an explanation.

What I have understood so far is that r is a vector with coordinates (x(t),y(t),z(t)). Where x(t)=t, y(t)=t2 and z(t)=t3.
In order to find the rate of change of r I must find the derivatives x'(t), y'(t) and z'(t) which are 1, 2t and 3t2, respectively. I also know you can write the coordinates in terms of unit vectors: r= t(i)+t2(j)+t3(k). Is this all correct? What happens to the unit vectors if that is the case?

They stay there.