Solving Velocity & Acceleration - A Physics Challenge

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a bus that accelerates from rest, travels at a constant velocity, and then decelerates to a stop, with the goal of determining the total time taken to cover a distance of 400 meters. The subject area includes kinematics, specifically focusing on velocity and acceleration.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the phases of motion: acceleration, constant velocity, and deceleration. There are attempts to apply basic kinematic equations to calculate time and distance for each phase. Some participants question the application of formulas and seek clarification on the use of LaTeX for presenting their work.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants sharing their approaches and reasoning. Some guidance has been offered regarding the use of kinematic equations, but there is no explicit consensus on the solution yet.

Contextual Notes

Participants are at varying levels of understanding, with some expressing uncertainty about the formulas and calculations involved. The original poster has indicated difficulty in arriving at the answer despite using basic formulas.

wells=mvp
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Hi, I just had a question i had trouble answering, I am sure its an easy one, but i can't get it, (since I am just starting physics):

a bus starts at rest and accelerates at 1.5m/s^2 until it reaches a velocity of 9m/s. The bus continues at this velocity and then decelerates at -2m/s^2 until it comes to a stop 400m from its starting point. How much time did the bus take to cover the 400m? (ans: 50 seconds)

Im using basic velocity and acceleration formulas and I can't get the answer.
 
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wells=mvp said:
Hi, I just had a question i had trouble answering, I am sure its an easy one, but i can't get it, (since I am just starting physics):

a bus starts at rest and accelerates at 1.5m/s^2 until it reaches a velocity of 9m/s. The bus continues at this velocity and then decelerates at -2m/s^2 until it comes to a stop 400m from its starting point. How much time did the bus take to cover the 400m? (ans: 50 seconds)

Im using basic velocity and acceleration formulas and I can't get the answer.

show us how you work the problem. Have you ever used latex?
 
Last edited:
wells=mvp said:
Hi, I just had a question i had trouble answering, I am sure its an easy one, but i can't get it, (since I am just starting physics):

a bus starts at rest and accelerates at 1.5m/s^2 until it reaches a velocity of 9m/s. The bus continues at this velocity and then decelerates at -2m/s^2 until it comes to a stop 400m from its starting point. How much time did the bus take to cover the 400m? (ans: 50 seconds)

Im using basic velocity and acceleration formulas and I can't get the answer.

there are three types of movement: the acceleration phase, the movement woth constant velocity and the decceleration.

1.To calculate the time and distance during the acceleration and decceleration use:

[tex]a = \frac {\Delta v} {\Delta t}[/tex]

--> distance at these phases: [tex]s = \bar{v} \cdot t[/tex] with

[tex]\bar{v} = \frac {1} {2} (v_{2} - v_{1})[/tex]

2. To calculate the time of the remaining distance with constant velocity use [tex]s = v \cdot t[/tex]

3. Then sum the calculated times to get to the answer: [tex]t = t_{acc} + t_{cst. v} + t_{dec}[/tex]
 
Last edited:
Alternatively, one could use equations of uniform acceleration.
 

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