I have a Work word problem I need help completing?

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1 Answer
May 18, 2018

See below

[Be careful about units. I have pretty much never used the old Imperial System before.]

Explanation:

The net upward force on the bucket, #F#, is:

#F = T - ( 4 + m)g#

  • #T# is the tension in the rope

  • #m = m(t)# is the mass of water

Newton's Second Law:

#F = (d)/(dt) ( mv) = dot m v + m dot v = T - ( 4 + m)g#

The bucket travels at constant velocity #v = 2#, so then #dot v = 0#:

  • #implies 2 dot m = T - ( 4 + m)g#

  • #implies T = 2 dot m + ( 4 + m)g#

Because the bucket is leaking at constant rate:

#(dm)/(dt) = - alpha, quad alpha > 0#

It also travels at constant velocity:

#v = (ds)/(dt) = 2#, where #s# is displacement in upward direction

Thus:

#(dm)/(ds) = (dm)/(dt) (dt)/(ds) = - alpha /2#, which is also constant

So

#(dm)/(ds) = (Delta m)/(Delta s) = (30 - 50)/100 = -0.2 text( lb/ft)#

# implies m(s) = 50 - 0.2 s#

And

#dot m = - 0 .4 text( lb/sec)#

  • #implies T(s) = - 0.8 + ( 4 + (50 - 0.2 s))g#

#= -0.2 g \ s + 54 g - 0.8#

The work done by #T# in lifting the bucket is:

  • #W = int_0^(100) T(s) \ ds #

# = int_0^(100) -0.2 g s + 54 g - 0.8 \ ds#

# = ( -0.1 g\ s^2 + (54 g - 0.8)\ s )_0^(100) = 140720 text( lb)^2 text(ft)^2 text(sec)^(-2)#

Using #g = 32 \ ft* sec^(-2)#

Reality check:

  • Assuming no leak, it would be #54 * 32 * 100 = 172,000# so it is correct order of magnitude and lower.

  • The bucket still retains #60 "%"# of the water so you would expect it to be closer to the ideal no-leak position