Exploring the Relationship Between Deceleration and Stopping Distance in Physics

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In summary, the relationship between acceleration and stopping distance for a given maximum velocity is inversely proportional. This means that if the rate of decceleration is two times slower than the rate of acceleration, the object will need two times the distance to come to a stop as it did to accelerate. This can be derived using the kinematic formulas for uniformly accelerated motion.
  • #1
willworkforfood
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Is it true that if the rate of decceleration is two times slower than the rate of acceleration for the same object, that it will need two times the distance to come to a stop as it did to accelerate?
 
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  • #2
The answer to this question depends on if this is a homework question... :biggrin:
 
  • #3
It is but it is for extra credit :rofl:
 
  • #4
It's not a very dificult question. Find the distance traveled under constant acceleration for a given period of time. Use what you know about how much the velocity change to solve for the time taken in terms of the maximum velocity and acceleration. Plug this into the equation you had for the distance travelled. Now you have the distance traveled in terms of the acceleration and maximum velocity. By seeing how the acceleration varies with distance your problem is solved.
 
  • #5
Figure it out for yourself! How does the distance required to accelerate from a speed of 0 to V (or decelerate from V to 0) depend on the acceleration? (Work out or look up the kinematic formulas for uniformly accelerated motion.)
 
  • #6
Doc Al said:
Figure it out for yourself! How does the distance required to accelerate from a speed of 0 to V (or decelerate from V to 0) depend on the acceleration?

I have no idea where to start or how the distance is related to the acceleration.
 
  • #7
Are you familiar with the kinematics of uniformly accelerated motion? (If not, then you are not ready to solve this problem.)
 
  • #8
I know that the equation for acceleration is final velocity - initial velocity divided by time, but I really don't see how that helps answer my original question :(
 
  • #9
willworkforfood said:
I know that the equation for acceleration is final velocity - initial velocity divided by time
That's a start: You have a relation connecting acceleration and velocity (and time). Now figure out how to get the distance. (Hint: Distance equals average speed X time.)
 
  • #10
The problem doesn't give me average speed or time though.
 
  • #11
willworkforfood said:
The problem doesn't give me average speed or time though.
You don't need actual values. You are trying to find the relationship between acceleration and distance. So far you have:
(1) a = v/t (the initial speed is zero)

I suggest you combine that with my "hint" about distance and average speed. (If something goes from 0 to V, what is its average speed?) Write my statement mathematically. Then you'll have two equations that you can combine to relate distance with acceleration.
 
  • #12
So equation 2 would be x = v*t and you substitute v = at and get

x = a*t^2

Is that right?

Wow I feel stupid thanks for the help on that. :smile:
 
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  • #13
willworkforfood said:
So equation 2 would be x = v*t
No... you need average speed, which is v/2, not v.
and you substitute v = at and get

x = a*t^2
When you combine the equations, don't eliminate v; instead, eliminate t. You want to end up with an equation relating v, a, and x.
 
  • #14
So instead equation 2 would be

x=(vt)/2

Solving for t would be

t = 2x/v

Substituting that into equation 2 would be:

a= v * (v/2x) or a = v^2 / 2x

Meaning when acceleration is 2 times decceleration then you need half the distance to accelerate? Thanks I think I get it now, I am not worthy :P
 
  • #15
Exactly. The derived relationship a = v^2 / 2x tells you that acceleration and stopping distance are inversely related (for a given maximum speed).

Note that this same equation can help you understand why, for a given deceleration, that if you are moving twice as fast it takes 4 times the distance to stop.
 

1. What is deceleration?

Deceleration, also known as negative acceleration, is the rate at which an object's velocity decreases over time.

2. How is deceleration related to stopping distance?

Deceleration is directly related to stopping distance. The greater the deceleration, the shorter the stopping distance will be.

3. What factors affect deceleration?

Several factors affect deceleration, including the mass of the object, the force applied to it, and the friction between the object and the surface it is moving on.

4. How can deceleration be calculated?

Deceleration can be calculated by dividing the change in velocity by the time taken for the change to occur. It can also be calculated by dividing the force applied to an object by its mass.

5. How can the relationship between deceleration and stopping distance be demonstrated?

The relationship between deceleration and stopping distance can be demonstrated through experiments using objects of different masses and applying different forces to them. The resulting stopping distances can be measured and compared to show the direct correlation between deceleration and stopping distance.

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