Late night sanity check (Average Acceleration)

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on calculating the average acceleration of a car with a velocity function given by vx(t) = a + bt^2, where a=3.00 m/s and b=0.100 m/s³. The average acceleration formula used is Ave Acceleration = (v2 - v1) / (t2 - t1). The user initially miscalculated the average acceleration as 1.1 m/s, failing to account for the initial velocity at t=0. After realizing the oversight regarding the initial velocity, the user acknowledges the mistake and the challenges of late-night studying. The thread highlights the importance of careful consideration of initial conditions in physics problems.
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Homework Statement


A car's velocity as a function of time is given by vx(t) = a + bt2, where a=3.00m/s and b=0.100m/s3. Calculate the average acceleration from interval t=0 to t=5.00s.


Homework Equations


Ave Acceleration = v2-v1/t2-t1



The Attempt at a Solution


After plugging in the numbers it's:

(3+0.1t2)/5-0 =

1.1m/s

Which after 2 attempts online it's wrong. I even tried it with 1.10 to see if it picks up sig figs, but it's still wrong. Does it have something to do with m/s3?

Thanks.
 
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Wow, that's embarrassing. After reading it over, I just realized that I was neglecting the v1 because it was at 0. Even though the "a" still have a value. Ahhh, got to love the late nights.
 
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