Kinematics Question. Car's acceleration

In summary, kinematics is the study of motion and its causes, specifically in relation to a car's acceleration. Acceleration for a car is calculated by dividing the change in velocity by the time it took to change. Several factors can affect a car's acceleration, including engine power, weight, and friction. Acceleration differs from speed in that it measures changes in velocity, while speed measures changes in distance. A car can have a negative acceleration, which occurs when its velocity decreases over time.
  • #1
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A van is traveling with uniform acceleration along a straight road. The road has marker posts every 100 m. When the car passes one post, it has a speed of 10 ms-1 and, when it passes the next one, its speed is 20 ms-1.

What is the car’s acceleration?
 
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  • #2
Per forum rules, please list the relevant equations and show an attempt at a solution, and someone will be glad to help. You should be familiar with the kinematic equations of motion for constant acceleration.
 

1. What is kinematics and how does it relate to a car's acceleration?

Kinematics is the study of motion and its causes. In the context of a car's acceleration, kinematics refers to the study of how the car's velocity changes over time due to external forces such as the engine's power and friction from the road.

2. How is acceleration calculated for a car?

Acceleration is calculated by dividing the change in velocity by the time it took to change. 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.

3. What factors affect a car's acceleration?

Several factors can affect a car's acceleration, such as the power and torque of the engine, the weight of the car, the friction between the tires and the road, and any external forces acting on the car, such as air resistance.

4. How does acceleration differ from speed?

Acceleration is the rate at which an object's velocity changes, while speed is the rate at which an object's distance changes. In other words, acceleration measures how quickly an object is speeding up or slowing down, while speed measures how fast an object is moving at a particular moment.

5. Can a car have a negative acceleration?

Yes, a car can have a negative acceleration, also known as deceleration or slowing down. This can happen when the car's velocity decreases over time, such as when the brakes are applied or when the car is traveling uphill against gravity.

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