Distance traveled when accelerateing

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the distance traveled by a vehicle accelerating from rest at a rate of 12.5 m/s² over a total distance of 1800 m in 12 seconds. Participants are exploring the application of kinematic equations to determine distance traveled during specific time intervals.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the use of kinematic equations to find distance and acceleration, with some expressing difficulty in interpreting the equations. There are attempts to calculate distance traveled in the first and twelfth seconds, along with questions about the initial conditions and the setup of the problem.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on using kinematic equations, while others are questioning their understanding and the application of these equations. There is an ongoing exploration of how to correctly interpret the results and calculations, with no clear consensus reached yet.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of a homework assignment, which may limit the information they can use or the methods they can apply. There is also a noted issue with readability of equations in the discussion.

slpnsldr
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Hey, my question is what would be the equation for figureing out distance traveled per second when accelerating from 0 at something like 12m/s2
 
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What else do you know? Try basic kinematics equations such as:
[itex] x=x_0+v_0t+\frac{at^2}{2}[/itex]
[itex] v_f^2=v_0^2+2a{\Delta}x[/itex]
 
acceleration 12.5m/s2 across 1800m in 12 seconds. final velocity of 150m/s

Thanks for the reply jhae, but i can't read the equations you posted.. its just a black box. maybe because of my browser?
 
X = Xo + volt + 1/2 at^2

Vf^2 = Vo^2 + 2a(Xf-Xo)
 
Sorry for being a nuisance, but I am really new to all this, and I can't figure out how to use those equations.
Ill lay out what I've done so far, its all been very simple up until this last part.

Vehicle moving with uniform acceleration travels a distance of 1800m in 12 seconds, find the acceleration and distance traveled during the first and twelfth seconds.

[tex]\Delta[/tex]v=[tex]\Delta[/tex]d/[tex]\Delta[/tex]t =150m/s
a=[tex]\Delta[/tex]v/[tex]\Delta[/tex]t=12.5m/s^2

Now, I am lost. My trouble is I am not sure how to use your equations.. I am not looking for the answer but maybe just a little explanation of how to use those two equations? the first one especialy
 
Well, you need to find the distance traveled during the first second. So we need an equation that has the variables position acceleration and time which would be this...
X = Xo + volt + 1/2 at^2
X=final position=what we want to find
Xo = initial position = 0
Vo=initial velocity=o
t=time=1
a=acceleration=12.5
So if we plug in everything we get x=6.25
Now we need to find the distance traveled in the 12th second. We can easily find that by subtracting how far the vehicle travels in 11s from how far it travels in 12s. Use the eq above.
 
X=Xo+volt+1/2at^2
=0+0x12+1/2(12.5x12^2)
=1/2 1800
=900

So this is saying that its postion in the 12th second is 900m? In the 12th second it should be 1800 meters, shouldn't it? Which is what we had before we divided. :confused: I am definatly doing something wrong lol
 
I also tried figuring out the velocity and position for each second, then plugging them in under Xo and Vo but it didn't work, the number was too high too fast
 
Is the car stationary when it starts accelerating?
 
  • #10
yes.
 
  • #11
So, I am pretty sure in order to figure out its position during each second its as simple as

x=at^2

This gives me 1800m in the 12th second.
I subtract second 12(1800m) from second 11(1512.5) and get 287.5m as the distance traveled in the 12th second.
 

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