# of accelerators in a car?

[justinbaker]

Any help would be great,
How many "accelerators" are in your car? There are at least 3 that can be used to accelerate the car. What are they, and what accelerations do they produce?



I know this is a simple question, but i am very confused. please help

 

[Pyrrhus]

Think about the concept of acceleration.

 

[Janus]

Think of this way: An accelerator is anything that changes the velocity of the car in any way.

 

[justinbaker]

still a little confused i guess. i don't really see at least 3 accelerators

is the engine considered one, or am i just way off

 

[chroot]

The question is asking for a list of the controls inside your car that can change the car's speed or direction (which, together, are called velocity).

- Warren

 

[justinbaker]

ok i see so are they gas pedal which produces positive a
brake which produces a negative a
and the steering wheel since it produces centripetal acceleration

 

[justinbaker]

what ya'll think?

 

[chroot]

You got it.

- Warren

 

[tony873004]

Depending on how picky your teacher is, there are a lot of other "accelerators" in your car. Your air condititioner robs power from the engine when you turn it on. This slows down your car until you apply more gas from the gas pedel. To a much lesser extent, every electrical accessory does the same. It's small and unnoticable, but turning on your headlights, or even increasing the volume on your stereo increases the load on your alternator, which increases the load on your engine and slows you down, but its very insignificant. Also, rolling down the windows makes your car less aerodynamic, which slows it down. And of course the transmission can be shifted into a different gear and cause your car to change velocity.

I imagine accelerator, brake and steering wheel are the answers they're looking for.