Duplicate Post: Hi Guys, See Below Thread

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving a car's acceleration, resistive forces, and power output. Participants are addressing specific calculations related to average acceleration, time taken for acceleration, tractive force, and power output at different speeds, with a focus on resolving discrepancies in the initial attempts.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents a physics problem involving a car's acceleration from 20 km/h to 200 km/h over a distance of 120 m, with a specified resistive force of 1000 N.
  • Another participant challenges the accuracy of the time calculation provided, asserting that the equation and numbers do not align, and offers their own calculated time of 3.93 seconds.
  • The same participant expresses confidence in their calculations for average acceleration and tractive force, providing values of 12.73 m/s² for acceleration and 6092 N for tractive force.
  • Concerns are raised regarding the power output calculation, with a suggestion that power is derived from the product of force and velocity, leading to values of 166.7 kW or 223.5 HP.
  • It is noted that real-life conditions may affect acceleration and resistive forces, which depend on speed, emphasizing the use of average values in the problem.
  • A later reply indicates that the original poster has improved their understanding and confirmed the final values after further study.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There is some agreement on the values for average acceleration and tractive force, but discrepancies remain regarding the time calculation and the approach to power output. The discussion reflects both corrections and confirmations of initial mistakes without reaching a consensus on all points.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference specific equations and values, but there is an acknowledgment that the actual conditions may vary, and the calculations depend on certain assumptions about resistive forces and acceleration.

Brinkley23
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Homework Statement
Car with mass of 400kg accelerates from 20km/h to 200km/h over a distance of 120m. Friction and wind resistance forces can be assumed to be 1000N during acceleration.
Relevant Equations
4 equations for linear motion to find displacement, initial velocity, final velocity and uniform linear acceleration.
Hi guys see below thread (duplicated by mistake).

Many Thanks
 
Last edited:
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Hi,

I have made an attempt to answer the 4 following questions:

Car mass 400kg accelerates from 20-200km/h over a distance of 120m. A resistive force of 1000N is to be assumed during acceleration.

determine:
a) the average acceleration from 20km/h to 200km/h
b) time taken to accelerate from 20km/h to 200km/h
c) the tractive force to provide this acceleration, considering the additional 1000N resistive force.
d) the power output required to maintain constant speed if the car reaches 300km/h with a resistive force of 2000N (i had no idea how to do this)

See attached images for my attempts at each of the above.

Many Thanks
 

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It seems to me that your answer to b) is incorrect, as your equation and numbers do not match.
Always check your units at the end.
My answer is 3.93 seconds.

Your answers to a) and c) seem to be correct.
Nevertheless, I would improve the expression to show what is actually happening.
##Average~acceleration=(F_{tractive}-F_{resistive})/m##
My values are ##12.73~m/s^2## and ##6092~N## respectively.

I can't see all your work on d).
Why don't you have any idea?
Power is the product of force and velocity in this case.
If you work your velocity to show in m/s, you wil obtain Joules/second or watts when combined with Newtons.
My values are ##166.7~KW## or ##223.5~HP##.

Note how you need a greater tractive force to accelerate than to keep a constant speed.
Note also that the actual acceleration and resistive forces are not constant in real life, as they depend on the square of the speed.
That is the reason for the problem to give you average values for both.
 
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Thanks for replying Lnewqban, After spending some more time familiarising myself with the equations I seemed to understand it much better and I too came up with those final values, which confirms I must have done something right and corrected my initial mistakes.

Thanks again!
 
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You are welcome. :smile:
 

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