Kinematics, getting position and velocity equations from an acceleration graph

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around solving a kinematics problem involving a car's motion under varying acceleration. Key points include the initial conditions of the car at rest, the need to derive velocity and position equations from the acceleration graph, and the challenge of calculating the stopping distance after applying brakes. The user successfully plotted the acceleration and derived expressions for velocity and position but encountered difficulties in determining the correct stopping distance. Clarification is sought on the calculations, particularly regarding the integration and evaluation of position at different time intervals.
Telemachus
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Homework Statement


I have some doubts to the next exercise. It reads:

A car that at the initial time at rest was 2 km of a post roadman is subjected to acceleration, whose tangential component during the first 10 seconds, varies with time as shown in Fig. From that moment the brakes are applied to subject the car to an acceleration whose tangential component is constant and stops the car in the first 100 meters

index.php?action=dlattach;topic=36734.png


a) Complete the graph shown qualitatively in Fig.
b) To obtain expressions in terms of time for the module of the velocity vector of the car, valid for each of the time intervals considered.
c) To obtain expressions in terms of time to measure the position of the car along the road, about the position roadman, valid for each of the time intervals considered.
d) Determine how far the post roadman stops the car.
e) Perform qualitative graphical function of time for the module of its velocity vector and its position, measured along the path, for the post runners.

The Attempt at a Solution



At first I did was plotted, as requested. Consider that the braking acceleration is constant, and therefore a constant line plot from the 10s.

Then I got the expressions for the velocity (from here m=meters, t=time in seconds):

a(t)=\displaystyle\frac{tm}{5s^3} t\leq{10}

v(t)=\displaystyle\frac{t^2m}{10s^3} t\leq{10}

v(10s)=10m/s

From here I wanted to get acceleration after ten seconds:

\displaystyle\frac{\Delta x}{\Delta v}=\Delta t\Rightarrow{\Delta t=10s}

a=\displaystyle\frac{\Delta v}{\Delta t}=\displaystyle\frac{-1m}{s^2}

v(t)=20\displaystyle\frac{m}{s}-\displaystyle\frac{tm}{s^2}

b) v(t)=\begin{Bmatrix} \displaystyle\frac{t^2m}{10s^3} & \mbox{ si }& t\leq{10}\\20m/s-tm/s^2 & \mbox{si}& 20s>t>10s\end{matrix}

c)Position x_i=2000m

Integrating I get
x(t)=2000m+t^3m/30s^3 \forall{t\in{[0,10]}}

For the initial position in the second interval I've considered the position at 10s:
x(10)=2000m+1000m/30=\displaystyle\frac{6100m}{3}\approx{2033.3m}

Then integrating:

x(t)=\begin{Bmatrix} x(t)=2000m+t^3m/30s^3 \forall{t\in{[0,10]}}\\\displaystyle\frac{6100m}{3}+20\displaystyle\frac{m}{s}-\displaystyle\frac{t^2m}{2s^2}\forall{t\in{[10,20]}\end{matrix}

This is where the problem is, the point d asks to calculate the distance that the vehicle is stopped
This distance should be according to my calculations:

\displaystyle\frac{6100m}{3}+100m=\displaystyle\frac{6400m}{3}

But this should be equal to x (t), evaluated at the 20s:

x(20s)=\displaystyle\frac{6100m}{3}+\displaystyle\frac{20m}{s}20s-\displaystyle\frac{(20s)^2m}{2s^2}=\displaystyle\frac{6100}{3}m+400m-200m=\displaystyle\frac{6700m}{3}\approx{2233.3m}

What Am I doing wrong?

Bye there!
 
Last edited:
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Can you show your plot of acceleration vs time, please?

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