Acceleration Vectors: Calculating Average Acceleration in a Direction Change

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a soccer player changing direction while maintaining a constant speed, focusing on calculating average acceleration during the turn. The subject area pertains to kinematics and vector analysis.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss breaking down the player's velocity into components and question whether the speed remains constant during the turn.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with some participants providing guidance on component analysis and confirming assumptions about the player's speed after the turn. Multiple interpretations regarding the setup and approach are being explored.

Contextual Notes

There is an emphasis on understanding the implications of the angle and the time taken for the direction change, with some participants expressing uncertainty about working with angles in this context.

GodOfYou
Messages
4
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



A Soccer player is running down the field with a ball at a speed of 4.0 m/s. He cuts to the right at an angle of 30.0o to his original direction to receive a pass. If it takes him 3.0s to change is direction, what is his average acceleration during the turn?

Homework Equations



a = v / t

a2+b2=c2

Sin, Cos, Tan ex. Cos 45o = delta d1 / delta d2


The Attempt at a Solution



I have drawn the triangle In attachment.
The dotted lines are me making the triangle.

Then I broke the top triangle into a right angle triangle (in second attachment)

and now I am stuck.. I have never worked with angles in this type of problem and I need help.

Thanks,
Jason
 

Attachments

  • main triangle.jpg
    main triangle.jpg
    7.2 KB · Views: 404
  • first triangle.jpg
    first triangle.jpg
    5.9 KB · Views: 408
Physics news on Phys.org
Break both his old and new velocity into components.
 
so when he turns to the right he will still be moving at 4.0 m/s?
 
Yes, it looks like we are supposed to assume the speed is still 4.0 m/s after the turn.
 

Similar threads

Replies
14
Views
2K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
7K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
3K
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
12K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
11K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
7K
Replies
4
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
3K