Stopping distance with nonconstant deceleration

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a car traveling at 72 km/hr that experiences a nonconstant deceleration described by the equation s''(t) = -t (in m/s²). The objective is to determine how far the car travels before coming to a stop. Participants note that similar problems typically involve constant deceleration, leading to questions about how to approach this nonconstant scenario.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the need to find the time taken for the car to come to rest and explore the implications of the nonconstant deceleration. There are attempts to integrate the acceleration to find velocity and position, with some confusion about the correct setup and initial conditions.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided hints regarding the integration process and the need to establish initial conditions. Others express confusion about the calculations and the overall approach, indicating that multiple interpretations of the problem are being explored.

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of the difficulty in applying standard methods for constant deceleration to this nonconstant case, leading to questions about the adequacy of the provided information and the assumptions being made.

m0286
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Hi
Another question
It says:
A car is traveling at 72km/hr. At a certain instant its brakes are applied to produce a nonconstant deceleration of s"(t)=-t(in m/s^2) How far does the car travel before coming to rest?

Now there's a lot of questions like this in the book, however they use a constant deceleration which is given along with the velocity.

but what would i use as my deceleration? I believe there probably is, but to me now it seems like there isn't enough information to answer the question. I am not asking for the solution because i know that's not what your here for, but could someone give me a hint at what I do with this nonconstant deceleration? Thanks
 
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Last edited:
still confused?

Sorry.. this question is driving me crazy:frown:
I just can't seem to understand it.. I've been staring at that website, and nothings making sense to me. Do I need to figure out the time first? because by those equations that's whut its looking like... But I can't figure out how to do that either.. This questions is just confusing me soo much ... Is there anything else you could say to help me out? Thanks
 
Yes, you need to determine the time first, you can do this by finding the integral;

v(t) = \int -t \;dt

What is v before the breaks are applied? What is v when the car is stopped?

Edit: There's no need to apologise, we're all here to learn :smile:
 
Last edited:
I still don't get it!

Ok this could be very wrong, I am just not sure how to do it any other way.
(im going to use $ for the integral sign)

v(t)=$-t dt

=-1/2 t^2

so v(t)=-1/2 t^2 ( and I've changed km/h to m/s)
20m/s=-1/2 t^2
t=sq root( 20/-1/2) t=sq root(40) t= 6.324s


Since s"(t)=-t in (m/s^2)
does that just mean that the deceleration is -6.324m/s^2?

t is $$-t dt so -1/3t^3
and v(t)=-1/3t^3
t=sq root (20/-1/3) t=sq root(60) t=7.75s

is v=d/t d=v*t = 20m/s*7.75s=154m

This definitely is not right... I am soooo confused i have no idea what's going on here, please HELP! :frown:
 
m0286 said:
Ok this could be very wrong, I am just not sure how to do it any other way.
(im going to use $ for the integral sign)

v(t)=$-t dt

=-1/2 t^2
Almost: v(t)= -(1/2)t2+ C for some constant C.
If you set t=0, you get v(0)= C so C is the initial velocity. Since your initial value was "A car is traveling at 72km/hr. At a certain instant its brakes are applied to produce a nonconstant deceleration of s"(t)=-t(in m/s^2) How far does the car travel before coming to rest?", C= 72 km/h = 72000 m/hr= 72/60= 1.2 m/min= 1.2/60= 0.02 m/s and
v(t)= -(1/2)t2+ 0.02.

Since v(t)= dx/dt= -(1/2)t2+ 0.02,
x(t) is the integral of that: x(t)= -(1/6)x3+ 0.02t+ C. Taking x(0)= 0 to be the initial position, x(0)= -(1/6)x2+ 0.02t.
Now, "How far does the car travel before coming to rest?"
When does the car come to rest? That is, what is t when
v(t)= -(1/2)t2+ 0.02= 0. Using that value of t, then find x(t)= -(1/6)x2+ 0.02t.
 

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