# A cart driven by a propeller with a constant acceleration

## Homework Statement

A cart is driven by a large propeller or fan, which can accelerate or decelerate the cart. The cart starts out at the position x = 0m, with an initial velocity of +4.85m/s and a constant acceleration due to the fan. The direction to the right is positive. The cart reaches a maximum position of x = +11.8m, where it begins to travel in the negative direction. Calculate the acceleration of the cart.

## Homework Equations

x=x(i)+1/2(v+v(i))Δ(t)

## The Attempt at a Solution

i listed all my components and plugged into the formula then multiplied that t by the m/s to get acceleration i got 23.6m/s^2 but that is wrong

Think about what is happening at the position $x = 11.8\text{m}$. Is the cart accelerating? What is it's velocity?

At x= 11.8m the velocity is 0 because it stops then turns the other direction. When the cart is going in the positive direction its at a constant acceleration i thought that would be zero because its not speeding up or slowing down but when it reaches x final and stops it has to have an acceleration to speed back up, right??? i am no good at this so correct me....

i thought at first that the velocity would be the same on the way back just negative but when i use that number it doesnt make sense in the formula...

Try using this equation: $x=x_0 + v_0 t + \frac{1}{2}at^2[\itex] You are correct that the velocity is 0 because we KNOW that the cart has to go the other way. But what is the acceleration at [itex]x = 11.8\text{m}[\itex]? Acceleration, like velocity, can be negative. A negative acceleration is colloquially called "deceleration". Last edited: Simon Bridge Science Advisor Homework Helper I usually get students who are confused about this to draw the v-t graph for the motion. displacement is the area under the graph and acceleration is the slope of the graph ... it helps them get their heads around the motion. This one will just be a triangle. To use the kinematic equation method, you start by listing what you know: d = 11.8m u = 4.85m/s v = 0m/s a = ? Now find the kinematic equation with each of these letters in it, and none of the others. Note: the equation in post #5 does not do this. Last edited: hi. i dont understand you equation in post 5. i tried using the formula v^2=vnot^2+2a(x-xnot) and got 0.997m/s^2 and its still wrong seems like that is the only equation i can use since i do not have time... thanks #5 Try using this equation: [itex]x=x_0 + v_0 t + \frac{1}{2}at^2$

You are correct that the velocity is 0 because we KNOW that the cart has to go the other way. But what is the acceleration at $x = 11.8\text{m}$? Acceleration, like velocity, can be negative. A negative acceleration is colloquially called "deceleration".
Quote

CWatters
Homework Helper
Gold Member
hi. i dont understand you equation in post 5.
I wouldn't use it either.

i tried using the formula v^2=vnot^2+2a(x-xnot) and got 0.997m/s^2 and its still wrong
seems like that is the only equation i can use since i do not have time...
thanks
That looks like this equation (one of the standard equations of motion)...

V2=U2+2as.

where

V= final velocity = 0
U= initial velocity
S= displacement

You appear to have made a trivial mistake when using it to calculate "a".

Rearrange it carefully and you get..

a = -U2/2s

= -0.997m/s2

eg not +0.997m/s2. A +ve number implies the cart is accelerating (eg getting faster). A -ve number implies it's decelerating.

oh ok now i see. thanks!

Simon Bridge
Homework Helper
What simon said. It's well worth memorising the standard SUVAT equations of motion for constant acceleration.
So I've heard ... I've never been able to :( ...so I got good at drawing v-t diagrams.
Aside: The displacement is normally given the letter "s" rather than "d"
not everywhere in the World it isn't :) I'm used to "s" referring to an arc-length and S being a surface area while d for displacement gets cumbersome with calculus.
but matters not.
Indeed ... it is a good idea for students to get used to that too.

I would have worked it like this:
The v-t graph for this is a line starting at t=0, v=u and ending at t=T and v=0 (note: not given the final time - doesn't matter).
Notice that the line has a negative slope (sloping downward to the right) and the area is a right-angled triangle.

The slope of this graph is the acceleration: a=-u/T (slope = rise over run)
The area under the graph is the displacement: s=(1/2)Tu (area = half base times height)

2 equations and two unknowns - use the second to get an expression for T and substitute into the first:

T = 2s/u (since you know s and u, most people make the mistake of computing T now. It's normally fine at this level but risks rounding-off errors later.)

a = -u/(2s/u) = -u2/2s

... this is the kinematic equation that was used without the useless bits.
It is faster to memorize the kinematic equations. However, that way means you have to memorize five specific equations and this way you need only remember basic geometry and how to draw graphs - both general skills applicable outside kinematics.

Last edited:
ok that makes more sense bc iam just not physics oriented so that help me. thanks!

So I've heard ... I've never been able to :(
I never even tried. Very long time ago, I memorized the obvious ## v = v_0 + at ## and the less obvious (it was given way before any elements of calculus were given) ## s = v_0t + \frac {at^2} 2 ## and got good at massaging those (plus the energy-related equations) into whatever shape I needed.

And yes, it was ## s ## for displacement :)

Simon Bridge