Magnitude and direction of acceleration

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the magnitude and direction of acceleration while sliding towards home plate after initially moving at a speed of 5.9 m/s. The scenario includes a time duration of 1.1 seconds until coming to a stop.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the calculation of acceleration and question its direction. There is an exploration of the equations of motion to determine the distance slid and the relationship between distance, time, and acceleration.

Discussion Status

Some participants have offered guidance on the equations that could be used to find the distance slid, while others express confusion about the various equations involved. Multiple interpretations of the problem are being explored, particularly regarding the direction of acceleration.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating through the constraints of coming to a stop and the implications for the equations they are considering. There is an acknowledgment of the need to clarify the relationships between the variables involved.

bumblebee
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1. You are going toward home plate at speed of 5.9 m/s when you hit the dirt. You slide for 1.1 s just reaching the plate as you stop.
a)What is the magnitude and direction of your acceleration?
b) How far did you slide?
I got 5.36 m/s^2 for the acceleration. Not sure if I did this right.
 
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bumblebee said:
1. You are going toward home plate at speed of 5.9 m/s when you hit the dirt. You slide for 1.1 s just reaching the plate as you stop.
a)What is the magnitude and direction of your acceleration?
b) How far did you slide?
I got 5.36 m/s^2 for the acceleration. Not sure if I did this right.

Welcome to PF.

That looks OK for magnitude. Which direction was the acceleration? Toward the plate or toward 3rd base?

Now how far was the slide. Do you have an equation that would give you the distance if you know the acceleration and time?
 
Thanks, LowlyPion.

Is it d=vt + 1/2at^2?

I'm getting all these equations confused.
 
bumblebee said:
Thanks, LowlyPion.

Is it d=vt + 1/2at^2?

I'm getting all these equations confused.

That works as long as you realize that you are coming to a stop, so velocity will be 0.

Alternatively since you also know velocity you could use the relationship that

V2 = 2 a x

That should yield the same result.

It's important to understand that the relationships between distance, time, acceleration can be reworked in a number of ways to express things in terms that you may have directly to find what you need.

This link may provide you with a list of the equations as a brief reference:

https://www.physicsforums.com/showpost.php?p=905663&postcount=2
 
Last edited:
Thanks! This helps!
 

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