Solving for Time Given Acceleration & Initial Velocity

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on determining displacement in physics when given acceleration and initial velocity. It is established that if only acceleration is known, displacement cannot be calculated without additional information such as time or final velocity. The conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding the relevant equations of motion, particularly those that relate displacement to acceleration. The participants clarify that a more precise formulation of the problem would enhance comprehension and facilitate the application of the correct equations.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of kinematic equations of motion
  • Familiarity with concepts of acceleration and initial velocity
  • Knowledge of displacement and its relationship to time
  • Basic algebra for manipulating equations
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the kinematic equation for displacement: \( s = ut + \frac{1}{2}at^2 \)
  • Learn how to derive displacement from acceleration and initial velocity
  • Explore scenarios involving uniform acceleration in physics
  • Practice solving problems with varying initial conditions and known quantities
USEFUL FOR

Students of physics, educators teaching kinematics, and anyone looking to deepen their understanding of motion under uniform acceleration.

kara123
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Homework Statement
Which equation would you use to determine the displacement of an object moving with uniform acceleration given a value for acceleration?
Relevant Equations
a. ∆d=vi∆t+(aav(∆t)^2)/2
b. Vf=Vi+aav∆t
c. ∆d=[(vf+vi)/2]∆t
d. vf^2 =vi^2+(2aav∆d)
assuming initial velocity is 0 and we have the value for acceleration I'm unsure how to still use any of those equations because you must have a time value at least or a final velocity
 
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You are thinking correctly. If the value of the acceleration is the only thing that you know, there is no way to determine the displacement.
 
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TSny said:
You are thinking correctly. If the value of the acceleration is the only thing that you know, there is no way to determine the displacement.
Although I agree with your assessment, I don't think that the author of the question meant to imply that the acceleration is the only given quantity. This looks like a question where one needs to show an understanding of what the equations say. Of the four choices, only two are expressions for displacement. Of these, only one has acceleration on the right-hand side.

A clearer statement of the question might have been
Which equation would you use to determine the displacement of an object moving with uniform acceleration if one of the given quantities is the value of the acceleration?
 
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kuruman said:
A clearer statement of the question might have been
Which equation would you use to determine the displacement of an object moving with uniform acceleration if one of the given quantities is the value of the acceleration?
You would still have the choice of expressing the displacement as a function of any two of initial velocity, current velocity and time.
 
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