How was Hubble Space Telescope deployed?

Calculus Level 4

The Hubble Space Telescope was deployed on April 24, 1990, by the space shuttle Discovery. A model for the velocity of the shuttle during this mission, from liftoff at t = 0 t=0 until the solid rocket boosters were jettisoned at t = 126 t=126 , is given by:

v ( t ) = 0.001302 t 3 0.09029 t 2 + 23.61 t 3.083 v(t)=0.001302t^3-0.09029t^2+23.61t-3.083

( in feet per second) . Referring to this model, if the integer part of the absolute maximum and minimum values of the acceleration (in feet per second square) of the shuttle between liftoff and the jettisoning of the booster is I 1 I_1 and I 2 I_2 respectively, compute I 1 + I 2 I_1+I_2 .

Details and Assumptions:

  • Since this is a real life application problem, the numbers look tedious. So use of a four-function calculator (only) is allowed.


The answer is 83.

This section requires Javascript.
You are seeing this because something didn't load right. We suggest you, (a) try refreshing the page, (b) enabling javascript if it is disabled on your browser and, finally, (c) loading the non-javascript version of this page . We're sorry about the hassle.

2 solutions

Rushikesh Jogdand
Mar 24, 2016

We are given, v ( t ) = 0.001302 t 3 0.09029 t 2 + 23.61 t 3.083 v(t)=0.001302t^3-0.09029t^2+23.61t-3.083 acceleration a ( t ) = δ v δ t = 0.003906 x 2 0.18058 x + 23.61 feet s 2 \therefore\text{ acceleration } a(t)=\frac{\delta{v}}{\delta{t}}=0.003906x^2-0.18058x+23.61 \quad\frac{\text{feet}}{s^2}

Observe:
\rightarrow a ( t ) a(t) is a proper polynomial function (continuous, differentiable), but its domain is a closed interval .
\rightarrow So, its (local and global) extreme's can be only at points where its derivative is 0 0 and at the boundary values (domain is a closed interval, remember!) .
\rightarrow So, if we evaluate the function at all such points and compare the result with each other, we'd have found the global maximum and minimum values.


a ( t ) = 0.007821 x 0.18058 a'(t)=0.007821x-0.18058 a ( t ) = 0 x = 0.18058 0.007821 = 23.089119038486125 a'(t)=0\implies x=\frac{0.18058}{0.007821}=23.089119038486125 a ( 23.089119038486125 ) = 21.522884458634206 a(23.089119038486125)=21.522884458634206 a ( 0 ) = 23.61 (the lower bound value of domain) a(0)=23.61\quad\ldots\text{(the lower bound value of domain)} a ( 126 ) = 62.868576000000004 ( the upper bound value of domain ) a(126) = 62.868576000000004 \quad \ldots \text{ ( the upper bound value of domain )} l 1 = 62 & l 2 = 21 l 1 + l 2 = 83 \therefore l_1=62 \text{ \& }l_2=21\implies l_1+l_2=\boxed{83}

Nice solution! +1

Nihar Mahajan - 5 years, 2 months ago

Yes. In a closed interval, boundary is also to be seen. I missed there.

Niranjan Khanderia - 5 years, 2 months ago

I failed to see the minus on the t^2 term.:(

Alexander Gibson - 5 years, 2 months ago

Challenge Student Note: Your solution is incomplete. You have to prove that there exist no other points where minima(lesser than 21.522...) exists. You'll have to prove it by the second derivative method.

Aditya Kumar - 5 years, 2 months ago

Log in to reply

  • a ( t ) a(t) is a proper polynomial function (continuous, differentiable).
  • So, its (local and global) extreme values can be only at points where its derivative is 0 0 . (and at the boundary values if it's domain is a closed interval)
  • So, if we found values of the function at all such points and compare them with each other, we'd have found the global maximum and minimum values.

Rushikesh Jogdand - 5 years, 2 months ago

Log in to reply

I know that. I wanted you to add that to your answer.

Aditya Kumar - 5 years, 2 months ago

Log in to reply

@Aditya Kumar Thanks, I really missed on that.

Rushikesh Jogdand - 5 years, 2 months ago
Arjen Vreugdenhil
Mar 26, 2016

The acceleration is a quadratic function, a ( t ) = 0.003906 t 2 0.18058 t + 23.61. a(t) = 0.003906\:t^2 - 0.18058\:t + 23.61. Since the quadratic coefficient is positive, this function has precisely one minimum, at the vertex, where t = ( 0.18058 ) 2 0.003906 = 23.12 s . t_\star = \frac{-(-0.18058)}{2\cdot 0.003906} = 23.12\ \text{s}. This lies in the given interval ( 0 23.12 126 0 \leq 23.12 \leq 126 ), so this is where the minimum acceleration happens. Evaluate a = a ( t ) = 21.523 ft/s 2 I 2 = 21. a_\star = a(t_\star) = 21.523\ \text{ft/s}^2\ \ \therefore\ \ I_2 = 21. The maximum must occur at the edges of the domain. Clearly, a ( 0 ) = 23.61 a(0) = 23.61 , but this is less than a ( 126 ) = 62.87 ft/s 2 I 1 = 62. a(126) = 62.87\ \text{ft/s}^2\ \ \therefore\ \ I_1 = 62. The desired answer is therefore I 1 + I 2 = 83 I_1 + I_2 = \boxed{83} .

Woahh! This is extremely well written! Wonderful

Pi Han Goh - 5 years, 2 months ago

0 pending reports

×

Problem Loading...

Note Loading...

Set Loading...