On a recent space mission a small probe of mass m was sent into an unexplored region of space to investigate an unknown force field. It was hoped that, if the acceleration of the probe could be determined, then Newton's second law, F=ma, would give information about any forces present. The probe was launced with an initial velocity vo at time t=0, and its velocity was monitored as a function of time. A partial record of the mission is given below:
Time (s): 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0
Velocity (cm/s): 70.0, 63.0, 54.0, 45.0, 38.0, 25.0, 23.5, 15.0, 7.5
The time is accurate to the nearest 0.1 s but the velocity could be measured only to the nearest 0.5 cm/s; one or more of the values may be in error due to random errors. The probe traveled in a straight line.
1) Plot a velocity/time graph for the above data with time as the independent variable.
2) Find the slope of the graph. **Dear tutor, this is what I'm especially stuck on.
3) Did the probe experience any acceleration, if so, what was the value of the acceleration? Give both magnitude and direction.
4) what was the initial velocity of the probe?
5) ?
6) what was the velocity of the probe at t=3.5 s?
7) find an equation from the graph that relates the probe's velocity to its time of "flight".
8) What would have been the velocity (both magnitude and direction) of the probe at t=10 s? Assume constant acceleration.