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3.7 Numerical methods (A-level only)

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Question 65

An experimental physicist is using the trapezium rule to estimate the total impulse (the area under a force-time graph) for four different test engines over the interval 0≤t≤50 \le t \le 50≤t≤5. The force F(t)F(t)F(t) (in Newtons) for each engine is modeled by the following functions:

Engine A: F(t)=1.5t+20F(t) = 1.5t + 20F(t)=1.5t+20 Engine B: F(t)=0.4t2+10F(t) = 0.4t^2 + 10F(t)=0.4t2+10 Engine C: F(t)=6t+4F(t) = 6\sqrt{t+4}F(t)=6t+4​ Engine D: F(t)=60t+3\displaystyle F(t) = \frac{60}{t+3}F(t)=t+360​

Identify the engine model for which the trapezium rule will produce an underestimate of the actual impulse over this interval. Justify your answer by considering the concavity of the models.

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3.7 Numerical methods (A-level only) Questions

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