(a) By definition,
v′(t)=a(t)=⟨cost,sint,0⟩⟹v(t)=⟨sint+c1,−cost+c2,c3⟩
for some constants c1, c2, c3. To satisfy v(0)=⟨0,−1,1⟩,
we need c1=0, c2=0 and c3=1. So
v(t)=⟨sint,−cost,1⟩. Similarly,
r′(t)=v(t)=⟨sint,−cost,1⟩⟹r(t)=⟨−cost+d1,−sint+d2,t+d3⟩
for some constants d1, d2, d3. To satisfy r(0)=⟨−1,0,0⟩,
we need d1=0, d2=0 and d3=0. So
r(t)=⟨−cost,−sint,t⟩.
(b) To test for orthogonality, we compute the dot product
v(t)⋅a(t)=⟨sint,−cost,1⟩⋅⟨cost,sint,0⟩=sintcost−costsint+1×0=0
so v(t)⊥a(t) for all t.
(c)
At t=−2π the particle is at
r(−2π)=⟨0,1,−2π⟩ and has velocity
v(−2π)=⟨−1,0,1⟩. So the tangent line must pass through ⟨0,1,−2π⟩ and have direction vector
⟨−1,0,1⟩. Here is a vector parametric
equation for the tangent line.
r(u)=⟨0,1,−2π⟩+u⟨−1,0,1⟩
(d) True. Look at the path followed by the particle from
the top so that we only see x and y coordinates. The path we see (call
this the projected path) is
x(t)=−cost, y(t)=−sint, which is a circle of radius one centred
on the origin. Any tangent line to any circle always remains outside the
circle. So no tangent line to the projected path can pass through the (0,0).
So no tangent line to the path followed by the particle can pass through
the z–axis and, in particular, through (0,0,0).