Find acceleration from distance and time, with a twist

In summary, this conversation involves a drag racer starting from rest and covering the last 40 meters of a 400 meter race in 0.20 seconds. The acceleration for both racers is constant and the first driver beats the second driver by 0.05 seconds. The first driver's acceleration can be calculated using kinematics equations and the second driver's acceleration can be found using the hint provided. The problem can be solved by working backwards and using the formulas for displacement and velocity.
  • #1
qwertyertyuiop
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Homework Statement


A drag racer starts from rest and covers the last 40 meters of a 400 meter race in 0.20 seconds.
a) What was his acceleration
b) He beat another driver by 0.05 seconds, what was the second drivers acceleration?
c) How far was the first driver ahead when he crossed the finish line?

Acceleration is constant for both drag racers.

Homework Equations



All kinematics equations can be used.

The Attempt at a Solution



I tried to create an equation using variables but this proved tricky. I am unsure of where to start and how to proceed. Also we were given a hint: t2=t1-0.20

__________t1____________
---------------------------
_________t2______/(40 m)/
 
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  • #2
Conceptually this is a simple problem - it just require the careful application of some basic facts about one-dimensional motion and knowledge of the basic kinematics formulas. It's probably easiest to work backwards.

You'll need the following formulas:

$$Δx = v_{1} Δt + \frac{1}{2} a (Δt)^{2}$$
$$v_{2} = v_{1} + a Δt$$
 

What is acceleration?

Acceleration is the rate at which an object's velocity changes over time. It can be thought of as the object's change in speed or direction.

How do you calculate acceleration?

Acceleration can be calculated by dividing the change in velocity by the change in time. The formula for acceleration is a = (vf - vi) / t, where a is acceleration, vf is final velocity, vi is initial velocity, and t is time.

What units is acceleration measured in?

Acceleration is typically measured in meters per second squared (m/s²) in the metric system and feet per second squared (ft/s²) in the imperial system.

Can acceleration be negative?

Yes, acceleration can be negative. A negative acceleration, also known as deceleration, means that the object's velocity is decreasing over time.

What is the difference between average acceleration and instantaneous acceleration?

Average acceleration is the overall change in velocity over a given time period, while instantaneous acceleration is the acceleration of an object at a specific moment in time. Instantaneous acceleration can be found by taking the derivative of an object's position function with respect to time.

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