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At a time T, a car mounts a curb of height H, and its front suspension undergoes a sudden change. At a time 2T, the car drops down the other side of the curb to \frac{1}{4}H. It is suggested that the graph of this process is as given as a function f(t) above.
Try to work out the graph of f '(t) against t. What parts make sense and what parts don't? Could you alter the graph of f(t) slightly to make the derivative function make more sense?
Next imagine that a car drives at a steady 20 km h^{-1} over a concrete block of height 10cm and rectangular cross section of width 50 cm. Make a mathematical model of the height of the front suspension over time. Be clear as to your assumptions and make a clear note of any possible refinements to your model.
What does your model say about the derivative of the height over time?
What is the maximum G-force the suspension of a car is likely to be subjected to in normal use?
On a physical note, think about the implications that this sort of modelling process might have on the design of shock-absorbers for cars.
If a is the radius of the axle, b the radius of each ball-bearing, and c the radius of the hub, why does the number of ball bearings n determine the ratio c/a? Find a formula for c/a in terms of n.
Bricks are 20cm long and 10cm high. How high could an arch be built without mortar on a flat horizontal surface, to overhang by 1 metre? How big an overhang is it possible to make like this?
The shortest path between any two points on a snooker table is the straight line between them but what if the ball must bounce off one wall, or 2 walls, or 3 walls?