Solve Mechanics Question: Find Acceleration, Final Speed, & Average Speed

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a mechanics problem involving a ball rolling down a ramp, where the original poster seeks to determine the ball's acceleration, final speed, and average speed based on given distance and time.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to apply a formula for acceleration and questions the relationship between acceleration and final speed. Other participants clarify the formula for displacement and discuss the calculation of average speed, raising questions about the definitions involved.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants providing feedback on the original poster's approach and clarifying concepts related to the formulas used. There is an exploration of different interpretations regarding average speed and displacement.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating through the implications of constant acceleration and the definitions of average speed versus total displacement. The original poster's understanding of the formulas is being challenged and refined.

Pseudo Statistic
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This was one of my homework assignments...
I wanted to know if my steps taken are correct.
Thanks for any feedback.

A ball rols down a ramp and travels a distance of 3.00 m in 2.05 seconds. Find (a) what is the ball's acceleration? (b) what is the ball's final speed at the bottom of the ramp? And (c) what is the ball's average speed going down the ramp?
(a) I thought I'd use the formula a = s/t^2 where s = distance, 3m, and t = time, 2.05s.
(b) I thought I'd multiply what I've gotten for acceleration by 2.05s... or is this a conceptual thing where it's assumably 0? I don't know...
(c) Average speed I'm guessing is the same as (b).
 
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s = (1/2)at^2 not at^2


average speed is (u + V)/2
 
mukundpa said:
s = (1/2)at^2 not at^2


average speed is (u + V)/2
Oh, OK...
I get the 0.5at^2 part, but isn't average speed total displacement over total time rather than the arithmetic mean of the 2 velocities? :\
 
yes, if the acceleration is constant both will give the same result.
 

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