Home / IB Mathematics AHL 5.13 Kinematic problems involving displacement-AI HL Paper 2- Exam Style Questions

IB Mathematics AHL 5.13 Kinematic problems involving displacement-AI HL Paper 2- Exam Style Questions- New Syllabus

Question

Sora is an air traffic controller monitoring the airspace near an airport. At 10:00 am, Sora identifies a commercial airliner and a migrating flock of birds with the following position vectors:
Commercial Airliner: \( \displaystyle \begin{pmatrix} x \\ y \\ z \end{pmatrix} = \begin{pmatrix} 5 \\ -2 \\ 7 \end{pmatrix} + t_1 \begin{pmatrix} -1.4 \\ 1.65 \\ 0 \end{pmatrix} \)
Migrating Birds: \( \displaystyle \begin{pmatrix} x \\ y \\ z \end{pmatrix} = \begin{pmatrix} -11 \\ 30 \\ 6 \end{pmatrix} + t_1 \begin{pmatrix} -0.40 \\ -0.35 \\ 0.1 \end{pmatrix} \)
In these models, the \(x\)-coordinate is the distance east of the tower, the \(y\)-coordinate is the distance north of the tower, and the \(z\)-coordinate represents altitude. All distances are measured in kilometres, and \(t_1\) represents the time in minutes past 10:00 am.
(a) Calculate the speed of the migrating birds in kilometres per minute.
(b) Provide two distinct descriptions regarding the flight path of the commercial airliner based on its vector equation.
(c) (i) Determine the time at which the airliner and the birds reach the same altitude.
  (ii) Using your result from part (c)(i), justify why a collision between the birds and the airliner will not occur.
At 10:20 am, Sora detects a private jet moving according to the equation:
Private Jet: \( \displaystyle \begin{pmatrix} x \\ y \\ z \end{pmatrix} = \begin{pmatrix} -95 \\ 32 \\ 1.5 \end{pmatrix} + t_2 \begin{pmatrix} 1.3 \\ 1.45 \\ 0.2 \end{pmatrix} \)
where \(t_2\) is the time in minutes past 10:20 am.
(d) Express the vector equation of the commercial airliner’s position in terms of \(t_2\).
Safety regulations mandate that the private jet and commercial airliner must maintain a minimum distance of 5 kilometres from one another at all times.
(e) Determine if the safety regulation will be violated at any point along their paths.

Most-appropriate topic codes:

AHL 3.12: Vector equations of lines and 3D kinematics — all parts
AHL 5.13: Velocity and speed as the magnitude of a vector — part (a)
▶️ Answer/Explanation

(a)
Speed = magnitude of velocity vector \( \begin{pmatrix} -0.40 \\ -0.35 \\ 0.1 \end{pmatrix} \):
\( \sqrt{(-0.40)^2 + (-0.35)^2 + (0.1)^2} = \sqrt{0.16 + 0.1225 + 0.01} = \sqrt{0.2925} \approx 0.541 \text{ km/min}. \)
\( \boxed{0.541 \text{ km/min}} \)

(b)
Two valid statements:
1. The airplane is flying in a straight line in a north-west direction (since velocity components are negative in \(x\) (east) and positive in \(y\) (north)).
2. It is flying at a constant altitude of 7 km (since \(z\)-component of velocity is 0).
\( \boxed{\text{Flying in a straight NW direction at constant altitude 7 km.}} \)

(c)(i)
Set \(z\)-coordinates equal: \( 7 = 6 + 0.1t_1 \implies 0.1t_1 = 1 \implies t_1 = 10 \text{ minutes}. \)
\( \boxed{t_1 = 10 \text{ minutes after 10:00 am}} \)

(c)(ii)
At \(t_1 = 10\):
Airplane position: \( \begin{pmatrix} 5 \\ -2 \\ 7 \end{pmatrix} + 10 \begin{pmatrix} -1.4 \\ 1.65 \\ 0 \end{pmatrix} = \begin{pmatrix} -9 \\ 14.5 \\ 7 \end{pmatrix}. \)
Birds position: \( \begin{pmatrix} -11 \\ 30 \\ 6 \end{pmatrix} + 10 \begin{pmatrix} -0.40 \\ -0.35 \\ 0.1 \end{pmatrix} = \begin{pmatrix} -15 \\ 26.5 \\ 7 \end{pmatrix}. \)
The \(x\) and \(y\) coordinates differ (\(-9 \ne -15\) and \(14.5 \ne 26.5\)), so they are not at the same horizontal position when at the same height. Hence, no collision.
\( \boxed{\text{At } t_1=10 \text{, their (x,y) positions differ, so they do not collide.}} \)

(d)
At 10:20, \(t_1 = 20\) for the airplane. Its position then:
\( \mathbf{r}_{A}(20) = \begin{pmatrix} 5 \\ -2 \\ 7 \end{pmatrix} + 20 \begin{pmatrix} -1.4 \\ 1.65 \\ 0 \end{pmatrix} = \begin{pmatrix} -23 \\ 31 \\ 7 \end{pmatrix}. \)
For \(t_2 \ge 0\), airplane equation: \( \mathbf{r}_{A}(t_2) = \begin{pmatrix} -23 \\ 31 \\ 7 \end{pmatrix} + t_2 \begin{pmatrix} -1.4 \\ 1.65 \\ 0 \end{pmatrix}. \)
\( \boxed{\begin{pmatrix} x \\ y \\ z \end{pmatrix} = \begin{pmatrix} -23 \\ 31 \\ 7 \end{pmatrix} + t_2 \begin{pmatrix} -1.4 \\ 1.65 \\ 0 \end{pmatrix}} \)

(e)
Let \( \mathbf{r}_J(t_2) = \begin{pmatrix} -95 \\ 32 \\ 1.5 \end{pmatrix} + t_2 \begin{pmatrix} 1.3 \\ 1.45 \\ 0.2 \end{pmatrix} \)
Let \( \mathbf{r}_A(t_2) = \begin{pmatrix} -23 \\ 31 \\ 7 \end{pmatrix} + t_2 \begin{pmatrix} -1.4 \\ 1.65 \\ 0 \end{pmatrix} \)
Difference: \( \mathbf{d}(t_2) = \mathbf{r}_J – \mathbf{r}_A = \begin{pmatrix} -72 \\ 1 \\ -5.5 \end{pmatrix} + t_2 \begin{pmatrix} 2.7 \\ -0.2 \\ 0.2 \end{pmatrix}. \)
Distance: \( D(t_2) = \sqrt{(2.7t_2 – 72)^2 + (-0.2t_2 + 1)^2 + (0.2t_2 – 5.5)^2}. \)
Using GDC to minimise: minimum distance \( \approx 4.33 \text{ km} \) (occurs at some \(t_2 > 0\)).
Since \(4.33 < 5\), they will break the 5 km separation rule.
\( \boxed{\text{Yes, minimum distance } \approx 4.33 \text{ km} < 5 \text{ km, so law is broken.}} \)

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