To tackle the problem where the vector \( \mathbf{r} \) is defined as \( \mathbf{r} = a \cos(t) \mathbf{i} + a \sin(t) \mathbf{j} + t \mathbf{k} \), we need to find the derivatives \( \frac{d\mathbf{r}}{dt} \) and \( \frac{d^2\mathbf{r}}{dt^2} \). Let's break this down step by step.
Step 1: Understanding the Components of \( \mathbf{r} \)
The vector \( \mathbf{r} \) consists of three components:
- The \( x \)-component: \( a \cos(t) \)
- The \( y \)-component: \( a \sin(t) \)
- The \( z \)-component: \( t \)
Here, \( a \) is a constant, and \( t \) is the parameter that varies over time.
Step 2: Finding the First Derivative \( \frac{d\mathbf{r}}{dt} \)
To find the first derivative, we differentiate each component of \( \mathbf{r} \) with respect to \( t \):
- For the \( x \)-component:
\( \frac{d}{dt}(a \cos(t)) = -a \sin(t) \)
- For the \( y \)-component:
\( \frac{d}{dt}(a \sin(t)) = a \cos(t) \)
- For the \( z \)-component:
\( \frac{d}{dt}(t) = 1 \)
Putting it all together, we have:
\( \frac{d\mathbf{r}}{dt} = -a \sin(t) \mathbf{i} + a \cos(t) \mathbf{j} + 1 \mathbf{k} \)
Step 3: Calculating the Second Derivative \( \frac{d^2\mathbf{r}}{dt^2} \)
Next, we differentiate \( \frac{d\mathbf{r}}{dt} \) to find the second derivative:
- For the \( x \)-component:
\( \frac{d}{dt}(-a \sin(t)) = -a \cos(t) \)
- For the \( y \)-component:
\( \frac{d}{dt}(a \cos(t)) = -a \sin(t) \)
- For the \( z \)-component:
\( \frac{d}{dt}(1) = 0 \)
Combining these results gives us:
\( \frac{d^2\mathbf{r}}{dt^2} = -a \cos(t) \mathbf{i} - a \sin(t) \mathbf{j} + 0 \mathbf{k} \)
Final Results
In summary, we have derived the following derivatives:
This process illustrates how to differentiate vector functions with respect to a parameter, which is essential in understanding motion in three-dimensional space. If you have any further questions or need clarification on any part, feel free to ask!