CAPA problem - Kinematics in 1 Dimension

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a kinematics problem involving a car accelerating at a constant rate. The car passes two marks 29.6 m apart at specific times, and the original poster is trying to determine the car's initial velocity at t=0.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to apply kinematic equations to find the initial velocity, questioning whether their calculations are correct. Some participants clarify that the velocity being calculated is at a different time than requested, prompting further exploration of the problem.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, providing corrections and alternative approaches. There is recognition of errors in the calculations, and some guidance is offered regarding the correct interpretation of the problem's requirements.

Contextual Notes

There is a noted confusion regarding the initial conditions and the specific time at which the velocity is being calculated. The original poster expresses frustration over previous attempts and the impact on their scores.

ghostanime2001
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Homework Statement



A car accelerates at 2.10 m/s2 along a straight road. It passes two marks that are 29.6 m apart at times t=4.10 s and t=4.90 s. What was the car's velocity at t=0?

I'm assuming the car has constant acceleration of 2.10 m/s2

Given
[tex]\Delta[/tex]x = 29.6 m
a = 2.10 m/s2
vi = ?
[tex]\Delta[/tex]t = ? (I was thinking it might be 0.8 s because of 4.9 - 4.1 s )

The equation I think I should use is:
[tex]x_{f} = x_{i} + v_{i}\Delta t + \frac{1}{2}a(\Delta t)^{2}[/tex]

[tex]x_{f} - x_{i}= v_{i}\Delta t + \frac{1}{2}a(\Delta t)^{2}[/tex]

[tex]\Delta x= v_{i}\Delta t + \frac{1}{2}a(\Delta t)^{2}[/tex]

solving for [tex]v_{i}[/tex] gives the expression:

[tex]\frac{\Delta x - \frac{1}{2}a\Delta t^{2}}{\Delta t} = v_{i}[/tex]

substitute all the numbers:

[tex]\frac{(29.6) - \frac{1}{2}(1.2)\(0.8)^{2}}{((0.8)}[/tex]

[tex]36.52 m/s = v_{i}[/tex]

Am I right or wrong with this answer? Also, I couldn't check to make sure if its right or wrong because I kept on thinking the initial velocity should be zero and i held on to that and kept on asnwering that on CAPA and so as a result, I used up all of my tries :(
 
Last edited:
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That vi is the velocity at the first mark, at 4.1 s, but the problem asks v(0) the velocity at t=0. ehild
 
Okay so is it like this then?

[tex]v_{f}=v_{i}+a\Delta t[/tex] from ti=0 to tf=4.1

[tex]36.52=v_{i}+(2.1)(4.1)[/tex]

[tex]-v_{i}=(2.1)(4.1)-36.52[/tex]

[tex]-v_{i}=-27.91[/tex]

[tex]v_{i}=27.91[/tex] m/s

Okay now?
 
Last edited:
ghostanime2001 said:
substitute all the numbers:

[tex]\frac{(29.6) - \frac{1}{2}(1.2)\(0.8)^{2}}{((0.8)}[/tex]

[tex]36.52 m/s = v_{i}[/tex]

(

The acceleration is 2.1 m/s^2. Correct your result.

ehild
 
36.16?
 
Yes, and correct the value of (v0), too.

ehild
 
wow.. after so long finally I figured it out :( and I lost all my marks on that one question.
 
how do I know this is the answer?
 
How do you did not know? You knew al the necessary background, all the equations, just to had to plug in the proper data without mistyping them.

ehild
 
  • #10
very naaaiiiceee
 
  • #11
It traveled 29.6m in .8 seconds and then you can change that to m/s for the velocity
 

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