How Long Does It Take to Brake a Train from 28.6 m/s to 11.4 m/s?

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A train approaches a small town with a constant velocity of +28.6 m/s. The operator applies the brake, reducing the train’s velocity to +11.4 m/s. If the average acceleration of the train during braking is –1.35 m/s^2, for what elapsed time does the operator apply the brake?



2. i tried to use the equation for definition of acceleration



3. i set up my diagram and my question is; what is the initial velocity when the operator starts applying the brakes?
 
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lockmantican said:
A train approaches a small town with a constant velocity of +28.6 m/s. The operator applies the brake, reducing the train’s velocity to +11.4 m/s. If the average acceleration of the train during braking is –1.35 m/s^2, for what elapsed time does the operator apply the brake?



2. i tried to use the equation for definition of acceleration



3. i set up my diagram and my question is; what is the initial velocity when the operator starts applying the brakes?


The train is traveling at 28.6m/s when it starts to experience a negative acceleration of 1.35m/s^2 until it is traveling at 11.4m/s

So initial velocity is 28.6, final velocity is 11.4 and acceleration is -1.35

Just look at your kinematics equations, you should be able to use

Vf = Vo +at
 
aftershock said:
The train is traveling at 28.6m/s when it starts to experience a negative acceleration of 1.35m/s^2 until it is traveling at 11.4m/s

So initial velocity is 28.6, final velocity is 11.4 and acceleration is -1.35

Just look at your kinematics equations, you should be able to use

Vf = Vo +at

why wouldn't the final velocity be 0 m/s
 
lockmantican said:
why wouldn't the final velocity be 0 m/s

Why would it be? The train is starting at 28.6m/s and ending up at 11.4m/s so final velocity is 11.4

The final velocity would be zero if the train came to a stop, but it doesn't.