Calculate Acceleration for Race Car Driving

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the average acceleration of a race car that accelerates from 0 mi/h to 40 mi/h over a period of 5 seconds. The problem involves understanding the concept of acceleration and its calculation in specific units.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the calculation of average acceleration, with some suggesting multiplication of speed and time, while others propose dividing velocity by time. There is also a mention of the unusual units requested for the answer.

Discussion Status

The conversation includes attempts to clarify the calculation process, with some participants expressing uncertainty about the steps involved. Guidance has been offered regarding the relationship between time and acceleration, and the mixed units of measurement have been noted as a point of confusion.

Contextual Notes

There is an emphasis on the unusual units for the answer, which may affect how participants approach the problem. The discussion reflects a lack of consensus on the method to arrive at the solution.

Thousands
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1. If your car goes from 0 mi/h to 40 mi/h in
5 s, what is your average acceleration?
Answer in units of
miles
h · s



2. i think i multiply 40 times the 5 and then the answer by something else. I'm not too sure
 
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Thousands said:
1. If your car goes from 0 mi/h to 40 mi/h in
5 s, what is your average acceleration?
Answer in units of
miles
h · s



2. i think i multiply 40 times the 5 and then the answer by something else. I'm not too sure

The acceleration will be the change in velocity, divided by the time it took to change that velocity. Think of it this way -- the smaller the time, the higher the acceleration, right?

Now what do you think you do to get the answer?
 
then i just divide 40 by 5 right?
 
Thousands said:
then i just divide 40 by 5 right?

Yes. The mixed units for the answer that they ask for are quite strange, and you normally would not leave your answer in mixed units, but they seem to be doing that just to make it easier for you to do the first steps of the math.
 

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