For a fish swimming at a speed v relative to the water, the energy exp

Stefan Hendricks

Stefan Hendricks

Answered question

2021-12-11

For a fish swimming at a speed v relative to the water, the energy expenditure per unit time is proportional to v3. It is believed that migrating fish try to minimize the total energy required to swim a fixed distance. If the fish are swimming against a current u(u<v), then the time required to swim a distance L is Lvu and the total energy E required to swim the distance is given by
E(v)=av3Lvu
where a is the proportionality constant.

Answer & Explanation

Terry Ray

Terry Ray

Beginner2021-12-12Added 50 answers

Step 1
1) THe domain of v is v>u
2) limuv+E(v)= and limv+E(v)=
The conclusion is that the minimum requirement and the lowest possible amount are the same.
We will differentiate E with respect to v, then solve for the local minimum value. dEdv=0
dEdv=ddv[av3Lvu]
The Quotient Rule for differentiation
d dx [f(x)g(x)]=f(x)g(x)f(x)g(x)[g(x)]2
dEdv=(av3L)(vu)(av3L)(vu)(vu)2
dEdv=3av31L(vu)(av3L)(10)(vu)2
dEdv=aL[3v2(vu)v3](vu)2
dEdv=aLv2[3(vu)v](vu)2
dEdv=aLv2[2v3u](vu)2
dEdv=02v3u=0v=32u
E is minimized when v=32u

Medicim6

Medicim6

Beginner2021-12-13Added 33 answers

Step 1
Determine the value v that minimizes E.
E(v)=(vu)3v2aLav3L1(vu)2
=aLv2(3(vu)v)(vu)2
=aLv2(2v3u)(vu)2
Note that E(v) is undefined if v=u. So
E(v)=0
when v=0  or  v=3u2
Step 2
Here, v = 0 is out of the domian because it implies that the fish is not swimming at all, so the onlycritical number is v=3u2
E (v)=(vu)2(aLv22+(2v3u)2aLv)aLv2(2v3u)2(vu)1((vu)2)2
=(vu)2(6aLv26aLvu)2aLv2(2u3v)(vu)(vu)4
=(vu)2(vu)(6aLv)2aLv2(2u3v)(vu)(vu)4
=(vu)26aLv2aLv2(2v3u)(vu)3
=(v22vu+u2)6aLv4aLv3+6aLv2u(vu)3
 

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