SLT-Mobitel Nebula Institute of Technology

Pearson BTEC International Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Engineering

Assignment Brief
Pearson BTEC International Level 3 Foundation Diploma
Qualification in Engineering

Unit 7: Calculus to solve engineering problems

Unit number and title
A: Examine how differential calculus can be used to solve
Learning aim(s) engineering problems

Assessment 1 : Solving engineering problems that involve

Assignment title differentiation

T. Hasalanka Nagahawaththa
Assessor
IV name
Narmada Karunarathna
05-Jul-2024
Issue date
19-Jul-2024
Hand in date

• Duly filled student declaration form

AND
• One PDF file for task 1 (handwritten answer script
need to be scan and upload to LMS. Rename your PDF
file as B3_U07_LA_[student number]_[student name
Assignment Submission with initials]
Format AND
• Hardcopy should be submitted to the lecturer

Note : The assessor/ assignment board may grade the

assessment as “NA” if the submission is identified as
colluded, AI-generated, or having a similarity score > 20.

You are working as an apprentice engineer at a company

involved in the design, production and maintenance of
engineering solutions for larger customer base.

Part of your apprenticeship is to spend time working in all

Vocational Scenario or
departments; however, a certain level of understanding
Context
needs to be shown before the managing director allows
apprentices into the design team and so she has developed
a series of questions on differentiation to determine if you
are suitable.

Produce a report that contains written descriptions, analysis

Task 1 and mathematics that shows how calculus can be used to
solve engineering problems as set out below.

1
BTEC International Level 3 Authorised Assignment Brief Unit 7 Learning Aim A
 1 The equation for a distance s(m), travelled in time t(s) by
an object starting with an initial velocity u(ms-1) and
uniform acceleration a(ms-2) is:

1
𝑠 = 𝑢𝑡 + 𝑎𝑡 2
2
The tasks are to:

a) Plot a graph of distance (s) vs time (t) for the first

10s of motion if 𝑢 = 5𝑚𝑠 −1 and 𝑎 = 5𝑚𝑠 −2 without
involving differentiation.
b) Determine the gradient of the graph at 𝑡 = 2.5𝑠 and
𝑡 = 5𝑠 using graphical method.
c) Differentiate the equation to find the functions for
𝑑𝑠
i) Velocity (𝑣 = )
𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑣 𝑑2 𝑠
ii) Acceleration (𝑎 = = )
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡2
d) Use your result from part c to calculate the velocity
at 𝑡 = 2.5𝑠 and 𝑡 = 5𝑠.
e) Compare your results for part b and part d.

2 The displacement of a mass is given by the function

𝑦 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛 5𝑡 .

The tasks are to:

a) Draw a graph of the displacement y(m) against time

t(s) for the time 𝑡 = 0𝑠 to 𝑡 = 5. 𝑠 without involving
differentiation.
b) Identify the position of any turning points and
whether they are maxima, minima or points of
inflexion.
c) Calculate the turning points of the function using
differential calculus and show which are maxima,
minima or points of inflexion by using the second
derivative.
d) Compare your results from parts b and c.

3 The equation for the instantaneous voltage across a

𝑡
discharging capacitor is given by 𝑣 = 𝑉𝑂 𝑒 −𝜏 , where 𝑉𝑂 is the
initial voltage and 𝜏 is the time constant of the circuit.

The tasks are to:

a) Draw a graph of voltage against time for 𝑉𝑂 = 10𝑉

and 𝜏 = 10𝑠, between 𝑡 = 0𝑠 and 𝑡 = 10𝑠.
b) Calculate the gradient at 𝑡 = 2.5𝑠 and 𝑡 = 5𝑠.
𝑡 𝑑𝑣
c) Differentiate 𝑣 = 10𝑒 −2 and calculate the value of
𝑑𝑡
at 𝑡 = 2.5𝑠 and 𝑡 = 5𝑠.
d) Compare your answers for part b and part c.
e) Calculate the second derivative of the instantaneous
𝑑2 𝑣
voltage ( ).
𝑑𝑡2

2
BTEC International Level 3 Authorised Assignment Brief Unit 7 Learning Aim A
 4 The same capacitor circuit is now charged up to 10V and
𝑡
the instantaneous voltage is 𝑣 = 10 (1 − 𝑒 −2 ).

The tasks are to:

a) Differentiate 𝑣 with respect to 𝑡 to give an equation

𝑑𝑣
for .
𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑣
b) Calculate the value of at 𝑡 = 2.5𝑠 and 𝑡 = 5𝑠.
𝑑𝑡
𝑑2 𝑣
c) Find the second derivative ( ).
𝑑𝑡2

5 The gain of an amplifier is found to be 𝐺 = 20 log(15𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 ),:

The tasks are to find equations for:

𝑑𝐺
a)
𝑑𝑉𝑂𝑢𝑡
𝑑2 𝐺
b)
𝑑𝑉𝑂𝑢𝑡 2

6 The displacement, 𝑦(m), of a body in damped oscillation is

𝑦 = 5𝑒 −𝑡 sin 5𝑡.

The task is to:

a) Use the Product Rule to find an equation for the

𝑑𝑦
velocity of the object if 𝑣 = .
𝑑𝑡

7 The velocity of a moving vehicle is given by the equation

𝑣 = (5𝑡 + 10)5

The task is to:

a) Use the Chain Rule to determine an equation for the

𝑑𝑣
acceleration when 𝑎 = .
𝑑𝑡

8 A company is required to fence off the area around a robot

arm to comply with health and safety law. They have
750m of fencing available

The task is to:

a) Find the maximum area they can fence off?

9 You plan to make a simple, open topped box from a piece

of sheet metal by cutting a square – of equal size – from each
corner and folding up the sides as shown in the diagram:

If 𝑙 = 200𝑚𝑚 and 𝑤 = 150𝑚𝑚 calculate:

3
BTEC International Level 3 Authorised Assignment Brief Unit 7 Learning Aim A
 a) The value of x which will give the maximum volume
b) The maximum volume of the box
c) Comment of the value obtained in part b.

4
BTEC International Level 3 Authorised Assignment Brief Unit 7 Learning Aim A
Checklist of evidence Your informal report should contain:
required
● analysis
● worked solutions to the problems

Each worked solution should be laid out clearly and contain

brief explanations of the stages of the calculation to indicate
your understanding of how calculus can be used to solve an
engineering problem. Your explanation should be detailed in
response to questions 8 and 9 to show how the variables are
optimised in each case. Graphs should be well presented and
clearly labelled and comparisons between methods should be
accurate and well presented.

Criteria covered by this task:

Unit/Criteria
To achieve the criteria, you must show that you are able to:
reference
Evaluate, using technically correct language and a logical structure, the
correct graphical and analytical differential calculus solutions for each
7/A.D1
type of given routine and non-routine function, explaining how the
variables could be optimised in at least two functions.
Find accurately the graphical and analytical differential calculus solutions
7/A.M1 and, where appropriate, turning points for each type of given routine
and non-routine function and compare the results.
Find the first and second derivatives for each type of given routine
7/A.P1
function.
Find, graphically and analytically, at least two gradients for each type of
7/A.P2
given routine function.
Find the turning points for given routine polynomial and trigonometric
7/A.P3
functions.

Sources of information mathsisfun.com/index.htm

to support you with
this Assignment mathcentre.ac.uk/students/topics

5
BTEC International Level 3 Authorised Assignment Brief Unit 7 Learning Aim A