A lighthouse is on a small island 4 km from the nearest point P on a straight shoreline. Its beacon of light makes one revolution every 10 seconds. How fast is the beam of light moving along the shoreline when it is 1 km from P?

Calculus: Early Transcendentals
8th Edition
ISBN:9781285741550
Author:James Stewart
Publisher:James Stewart
Chapter1: Functions And Models
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1RCC: (a) What is a function? What are its domain and range? (b) What is the graph of a function? (c) How...
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### Problem-Solving Questions in Physics

#### Question 5:

**Scenario:** 
A lighthouse is situated on a small island, 4 km away from the nearest point P on a straight shoreline. The lighthouse's beacon of light makes one complete revolution every 10 seconds. 

**Question:** 
How fast is the beam of light moving along the shoreline when it is 1 km from point P?

**Diagram:** 
- **Lighthouse:** Denoted as point L, located 4 km from point P on the shoreline.
- **Shoreline:** Represented by a straight horizontal line.
- **Beacon of Light:** Rotates making one full revolution every 10 seconds.

**Key Considerations:** 
- Use the relationship between the distance from P, angular velocity, and the resulting speed on the shoreline to solve for the speed of the beam.

#### Question 6:

**Scenario:** 
A streetlight is mounted at the top of a vertical pole with a height of 36 feet. A flag is being raised at a rate of 3 feet per second on a vertical flagpole positioned 45 feet away from the streetlight pole.

**Question:** 
How fast is the shadow of the flag moving along the ground when the flag is 9 feet above the ground?

**Diagram:**
- **Streetlight Pole:** Denoted as pole S, with a height of 36 feet.
- **Flagpole:** Positioned 45 feet away from the streetlight pole.
- **Flag:** Raised at 3 feet per second on the flagpole.
- **Shadow:** The movement of the flag's shadow along the ground.

**Key Considerations:** 
- Apply the principles of similar triangles and rates of change to determine the speed of the shadow.

### Explanation:

Both questions involve the application of concepts such as related rates and angular velocity to solve real-world physics problems. Follow these steps to solve the problems:

1. **Identify the Relationships:** Understand the geometric relationships or ratios involved.
2. **Find the Relevant Rates:** Determine how one rate (e.g., angular velocity of the light, rate of raising the flag) influences another (e.g., speed of light beam along the shoreline, speed of shadow on the ground).
3. **Apply Mathematical Tools:** Use differentiation and the chain rule to find the required rates.

By practicing these types of questions, students can enhance their problem-solving skills in physics and better understand real-world applications of mathematical concepts.
Transcribed Image Text:### Problem-Solving Questions in Physics #### Question 5: **Scenario:** A lighthouse is situated on a small island, 4 km away from the nearest point P on a straight shoreline. The lighthouse's beacon of light makes one complete revolution every 10 seconds. **Question:** How fast is the beam of light moving along the shoreline when it is 1 km from point P? **Diagram:** - **Lighthouse:** Denoted as point L, located 4 km from point P on the shoreline. - **Shoreline:** Represented by a straight horizontal line. - **Beacon of Light:** Rotates making one full revolution every 10 seconds. **Key Considerations:** - Use the relationship between the distance from P, angular velocity, and the resulting speed on the shoreline to solve for the speed of the beam. #### Question 6: **Scenario:** A streetlight is mounted at the top of a vertical pole with a height of 36 feet. A flag is being raised at a rate of 3 feet per second on a vertical flagpole positioned 45 feet away from the streetlight pole. **Question:** How fast is the shadow of the flag moving along the ground when the flag is 9 feet above the ground? **Diagram:** - **Streetlight Pole:** Denoted as pole S, with a height of 36 feet. - **Flagpole:** Positioned 45 feet away from the streetlight pole. - **Flag:** Raised at 3 feet per second on the flagpole. - **Shadow:** The movement of the flag's shadow along the ground. **Key Considerations:** - Apply the principles of similar triangles and rates of change to determine the speed of the shadow. ### Explanation: Both questions involve the application of concepts such as related rates and angular velocity to solve real-world physics problems. Follow these steps to solve the problems: 1. **Identify the Relationships:** Understand the geometric relationships or ratios involved. 2. **Find the Relevant Rates:** Determine how one rate (e.g., angular velocity of the light, rate of raising the flag) influences another (e.g., speed of light beam along the shoreline, speed of shadow on the ground). 3. **Apply Mathematical Tools:** Use differentiation and the chain rule to find the required rates. By practicing these types of questions, students can enhance their problem-solving skills in physics and better understand real-world applications of mathematical concepts.
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