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Pictured here is the University of Manitoba Center for Earth Observation Science's air/ice boat "Skippy". Skippy has a large fan at the back to allow it to accelerate as it slides across icy surfaces. Suppose you are piloting a similar craft on very slippery ice which will not slow your craft the boat at all if it is coasting. Suppose also that the fan on your craft can boat can be reversed instantanously, switching its direction of thrust from forward to backward. Assume the action of the fan (when it is on) always produces an acceleration with the same constant magnitude. Air resistance is negligible.
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This simple model of the air/ice boat is not realistic. We have chosen it to illustrate the properties of motion with constant acceleration. As you work through this example, decide which aspects are contradicted by your own experience. How would you develop a more realistic model of the boat's behavior? |
For the questions in this example, use the following coordinate system. You have a Base Camp at position x=0. Your group's assignment is to make observations of ice thickness and atmospheric conditions at two stations. Station One is 1 mile east of Base Camp, and Station Two is 2 miles west of Base Camp. Take east to be the positive x-direction.
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