Answer: Calculate Average Acceleration with 10m and 50s

AI Thread Summary
To calculate average acceleration, the correct formula is a = 2d/t², where d is the distance and t is the time taken. The problem involves a piston that moves 5 cm in a quarter cycle, with the piston rising and falling 50 times per second, leading to a time of 0.005 seconds for one-quarter of the cycle. Using this time in the formula yields an acceleration of 4000 m/s². The discussion highlights confusion over the terminology and assumptions in the problem, emphasizing the need for clarity in physics problems. The final correct answer for average acceleration is 4000 m/s².
mido22
Messages
4
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


the problem in a game asked me about average accelration
[PLAIN]http://keddo.net/up/images/76ld3092n3dq9exr2rst.png

hint:
[PLAIN]http://keddo.net/up/images/xhb5m73r6xz5tduy6pe8.png


Homework Equations



i think it is:
a=2d/s^2
or
a=d/s^2

The Attempt at a Solution



i tried a lot but all are wrong last i answered
a=(2*10)/(50^2) and it was wrong
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
mido22 said:

Homework Equations



i think it is:
a=2d/s^2
or
a=d/s^2

The Attempt at a Solution



i tried a lot but all are wrong last i answered
a=(2*10)/(50^2) and it was wrong

What are s and d in your equations? The picture shows s = (1/2)at^2, where did your d come from and what happened to time? Try solving for acceleration using their symbols first, then figure out your unknowns. Also, I think the picture should say, "Then I would calculate the time that the piston needs to travel the 5cm to the midpoint."
 
thx for reply
and those are more information:
[PLAIN]http://store2.up-00.com/Jun10/B7o30680.png
[PLAIN]http://store2.up-00.com/Jun10/X8E30680.png
 
Last edited by a moderator:
please anyone help me
 
First of all, use the given symbols, as PiTHON said...

s = \frac12 at^2 \implies a = 2s/t^2

The issue is what is t? This is the time it takes for the piston to move the distance s. (Focus on the third paragraph in the hint.)
 
dulrich said:
First of all, use the given symbols, as PiTHON said...

s = \frac12 at^2 \implies a = 2s/t^2

The issue is what is t? This is the time it takes for the piston to move the distance s. (Focus on the third paragraph in the hint.)

t=0.3s

first find the velocity

distance = 1000 cm = 10m/60s

0.166666666m/s=v

d = vt
t = d/v
t = 0.05m/0.166666666m/s
t = 0.3s

plug into the eq'n and you get a=2d/t^2 as PiTHON said

a= 2(5)/0.3^2
a=111.1111111111m/s^2
 
You know, the more I look at the "help" this computer program is giving you, the more confused I get -- it's quite sloppy. It uses both s and d for distance. It says the movement is "uniform" as though that were more specific than "evenly accelerated" which it is not. Why are we being asked about the "median" (which is different than average) accleration if we are just going to assume it's constant? And to top it all off, why is this problem even using d = 0.5at2? This is really a simple harmonic motion problem.

Anyway, the formula given is a = 2d/t2. This formula is only valid if the object starts from rest. (:bugeye: -- didn't see that mentioned in the explanation? It's not there.) We are going to assume the hub of the piston starts at the top (where the velocity is momentarily zero). We are going to assume the hub undergoes constant acceleration for the first quarter cycle. (Why? In the first quarter, the hub is speeding up, but in the second quarter it is slowing down. Clearly we can't have constant acceleration through the whole period. I guess we are supposed to assume constant acceleration in the first quarter, then constant deceleration in the second.) The distance covered in the first quarter cycle is 5 centimeters, or 0.05 meters.

What about the time? This is what I don't get. The second paragraph of the hint says "it is imperative that you figure out how many times the piston rises and falls per second..." Doesn't it just say that above? "The piston ... rises and falls 50 times per second." You can't "figure it out" -- it has to be given.

Since the hub is moving up and down and up again (a full cycle) 50 times each second, it takes 0.02 seconds per cycle. But remember, we are only interested in one-quarter of that cycle, so t = 0.005 seconds.

Put it all together and you get 4000 m/s2. Try it and see if it works.

If I were to do this in a way that seems proper to me, we would assume simple harmonic motion, in which the maximum acceleration would be a = 4π2d/(4t)2 = 4935 m/s2. But this is the maximum. To get the median we should divide by sqrt(2), which is 3489 m/s2. Which is actually pretty close to the other way.
 
thx all very much
the correct answer:
4000 m/s2
thx dulrich

and i think there are alt of mistakes in describing the problem

and i ynderstand u thx
 
Back
Top