BCEE 231– Homework Set #1 (worth 5%)
Chapters 1, 2, 3, and 4
Due date: Monday Feb 10th
Check the course outline for the procedure of submission
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Note: Questions have equal marks
Question 1:
According to special relativity, a rod of length L moving at velocity v will shorten by
an amount δ, given by:
where c is the speed of light (about 300×106 m/s). Create a script and define
appropriate variables (like L, c, v). Write a variable δ based on the variables you
defined before. Then, calculate how much a rod 2 meter long will contract when
traveling at 5,000 m/s.
Question 2:
Create the following matrix by using vector notation for creating vectors with constant
spacing and/or the linspace command. Do not type individual elements explicitly.
Question 3:
Define p and w as scalars: p=2.5 and w=5.7. Define t, x, y as vectors: t=[1 2 3 4
5], x=[2.5 3.1 4.2 1.9 5.5] and y=[10 21 14 7 3]. Use these variables to calculate
the following expressions using element-by-element calculations for the vectors.
Question 4:
1
The position as a function of time (x(t),y(t)) of a projectile fired with a speed of v0 at
an angle α is given by
where g = 9.81 m/s2. The polar coordinates of
the projectile at time t are (r(t),θ(t)), where
Consider the case where v0=160 m/s and θ=60°. Write a script that determines r(t)
and θ(t) for t=1, 5, 9, …,33s and displays the results in a three-column table where
the values of t, r, and θ are displayed in the first, second, and third columns,
respectively.
Question 5:
Create a random 3 x 5 matrix. Perform each of the following:
• Find the maximum value in each column.
• Find the maximum value in each row.
• Find the maximum value in the entire matrix.
• Find the cumulative maxima.
Question 6:
The net heat exchange by radiation from plate 1 with
radius b to plate 2 with radius a that are separated by
distance c is given by:
where T1 and T2 are the absolute temperatures of the
plates.
is the Stefan-Boltzman constant, and F1-2 is a shape factor
which, for the arrangement in the figure, is given by:
where X=a/c and, Y=c/b, and Z=1+(1+X2)Y2.
2
Write a script file that calculates the heat exchange q. For input the program asks
the user to enter values for T1, T2, a, b, and c. For output, the program prints a
summary of the geometry and temperatures and then prints the value of q.
As an example, use your script to calculate the results for T1=400K, T2=600K, a=1m,
b=2m, and c=0.1, 1, and 10m and displays the results as follows:
Question 7:
Write a script to plot the function f(x) = sin2(x)cos(2x) and its derivative, both on
the same plot, for 0 ≤ x ≤ 2π. Plot f(x) with a solid line, and f’(x) with a dashed line
with different colors. Add a legend and label the axes.
Hint: use linspace to create a vector of x values then feed that vector, separately, to
your f(x) and f’(x) to create y values.
Question 8:
Write a user-defined function that calculates grade point average (GPA) on a scale
of 0 to 4, where A = 4, A- = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, B = 3, B- = 2.7, C+ = 2.3, C = 2, C- =
1.7, D+ = 1.3, D = 1, and E = 0.
For the function name and arguments, use av = GPA (g,h). The input argument g is
a vector whose elements are the numerical values of the grades. The input argument
h is a vector with the corresponding credit hours. The output argument av is the
calculated GPA.
Use your function (i.e., call your function) to calculate the GPA for a student with the
following record:
Question 9:
Write a user-defined function that determines the polar y coordinates of a point
from the Cartesian coordinates in a two-dimensional plane.
For the function name and arguments, use [th rad] =CartToPolar (x, y). The input
arguments are the x and y coordinates of the point, and the output arguments are
the angle θ and the radial distance to the point. The angle θ is in degrees and is
measured relative to the positive x axis, such that it is a positive number in quadrants
I and II, and a negative number in quadrant III and IV.
3
Call your function to determine the polar coordinates of points (14, 9), (-11, -20),
and (-15, 4).
Cartesian to Polar → x = radial distance * cos(θ) radial distance 2
= x2 + y2
Hint: You need to use if-statement as part of your function to find θ.
Question 10:
In chemistry, the pH of an aqueous solution is a measure of its acidity. The pH scale
ranges from 0 to 14, inclusive. A solution with a pH of 7 is said to be neutral, a
solution with a pH greater than 7 is basic, and a solution with a pH less than 7 is
acidic. Write a script that will prompt the user for the pH of a solution, and will print
whether it is neutral, basic, or acidic. If the user enters an invalid pH, an error
message will be printed.
