How Do You Determine Maximum Acceleration from a Velocity-Time Graph?

  • Thread starter Thread starter ProBasket
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Car Graph Sports
Click For Summary
To determine maximum acceleration from a velocity-time graph, one must calculate the slope of the velocity function, which represents acceleration. The acceleration is found by identifying changes in velocity over corresponding changes in time, expressed as Δv/Δt. For a calculus-based physics class, this involves using the derivative of the velocity function. If the graph appears complex, using a ruler to measure slopes between points can help clarify the changes in velocity. Understanding these concepts is crucial for accurately determining maximum acceleration.
ProBasket
Messages
140
Reaction score
0
The graph shows the velocity v of a sports car as a function of time t . Use the graph to answer the following questions.

1.) Find the maximum acceleration a_max of the car
Express your answer in meters per second squared to the nearest integer.
a_max= _____________________ m/s^2


from the graph, should the acceleration be around 55m/s? but the answer must be in m/s^2, should am i suppose to convert it first? I'm new to physics, so all of this is pretty confusing.
 

Attachments

  • M1K_va_3.jpg
    M1K_va_3.jpg
    8 KB · Views: 747
Physics news on Phys.org
Is this from a non-calculus based physics class?
 
ProBasket said:
The graph shows the velocity v of a sports car as a function of time t . Use the graph to answer the following questions.

1.) Find the maximum acceleration a_max of the car
Express your answer in meters per second squared to the nearest integer.
a_max= _____________________ m/s^2


from the graph, should the acceleration be around 55m/s? but the answer must be in m/s^2, should am i suppose to convert it first? I'm new to physics, so all of this is pretty confusing.

velocity is in m/s is it not? Acceleration is the change of velocity with respect to a change in time or \Delta v/\Delta t. Loot athe the graph and equate changes in velocity with their corresponding change in time.
 
Is this from a non-calculus based physics class?
it's a cal-based class.

faust9 said:
velocity is in m/s is it not? Acceleration is the change of velocity with respect to a change in time or \Delta v/\Delta t. Loot athe the graph and equate changes in velocity with their corresponding change in time.


how would i find the changes in velocity? it's all over the place. and for time, would the change in time be 1?
 
ProBasket said:
it's a cal-based class.




how would i find the changes in velocity? it's all over the place. and for time, would the change in time be 1?

If this is a calculus based class then you should know that acceleration is the slope of a velocity function.

given a function y(x) then the slope of said function is dy/dx. Given a function of v(t) then the slope is dv/dt which is acceleration.

Think slope and grab a ruler.
 
The book claims the answer is that all the magnitudes are the same because "the gravitational force on the penguin is the same". I'm having trouble understanding this. I thought the buoyant force was equal to the weight of the fluid displaced. Weight depends on mass which depends on density. Therefore, due to the differing densities the buoyant force will be different in each case? Is this incorrect?

Similar threads

  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
3K
Replies
7
Views
613
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
3K
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
1K
Replies
7
Views
3K
  • · Replies 23 ·
Replies
23
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
9K
  • · Replies 23 ·
Replies
23
Views
5K