Time Taken for Moving 200m with Constant Speed of 10m/s

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The discussion revolves around calculating the time taken to move 200 meters at a constant speed of 10 m/s, emphasizing that acceleration is zero. The equation S = ut + 1/2at² simplifies to t = s/u when acceleration (a) is zero, leading to a straightforward calculation of t = 20 seconds. Participants clarify that if acceleration is not zero, the quadratic formula can be used to solve for time, but it cannot be applied when a = 0. The conversation highlights the need for a piecewise function to address both scenarios of acceleration in solving for time. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for accurately applying the equations of motion.
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NOT a home work
A person moves with constant speed of 10m/s(Initially as well as finally). His acceleration is therefore zero.Distance moved is 200meter.Find time taken.I tried to use the equation below but had difficulty making t the subject
S=ut+1/2at2
a=Acceleration
t=time
u=speed
S=Distance moved
If I use the values given I could easily make t the subject
That is 200=10t+1/2*0*t2
Giving 200=10t (t=200/10) that is t=s/u in this case

I can't make t the subject using letters ONLY.There should be a way
 
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If a man travels for 2 hours at 60 mph, how far does he go? What equation do you need to solve that question?
 
hi adjacent! :smile:
adjacent said:
S=ut+1/2at2

I can't make t the subject using letters ONLY.There should be a way


if a ≠ 0, this is a quadratic equation, which you can solve with t = -b ± √(b2 - ) etc

if a = 0, it's simply s = ut, so t = s/u :wink:
 
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tiny-tim said:
if a ≠ 0, this is a quadratic equation, which you can solve with t = -b ± √(b2 - ) etc
if a = 0, it's simply s = ut, so t = s/u :wink:

S=ut+1/2at2
That means t cannot be made the subject of the formula by methods I use with (S=1/2(u+v)t)Etc?
What if S=ut+1/2at2 is given and asked to solve for t?
 
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yes, solve it as a quadratic equation!
 
adjacent said:
S=ut+1/2at2

What if S=ut+1/2at2 is given and asked to solve for t?

For example no values for a,u,tetc were given.I solve it as a quadratic,If a turn out to be 0 then It would be wrong.Right?Meaning the equation is wrong for non accelerating objects(when for t)but when solved for S it is right even for non accelerating objects.How is it?I need proof
 
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i don't understand :confused:

show us your solution for the quadratic​
 
tiny-tim said:
i don't understand :confused:

show us your solution for the quadratic​
For example,
a=0
s=200m
u=10m/s
t=20s
I can solve the equation even when a=0,(for s)
S=ut+1/2at2
=10*20+1/2*0*202 =200m:smile:
But for t,
0.5at2+ut-s=0
t=(-b+√(b2-4ac)/2a
t=(-10+√(102-4(0)(-200))/(2*0) = MATH ERROR:confused:
In general If acceleration=0 - cannot solve for t
If acceleration≠0 - can solve for t
If acceleration is either ≠or= -can solve for S
Why?
 
adjacent said:
In general If acceleration=0 - cannot solve for t
If acceleration≠0 - can solve for t
If acceleration is either ≠or= -can solve for S
Why?

because the quadratic formula (-b ± √etc) does not work for a = 0
 
  • #10
tiny-tim said:
because the quadratic formula (-b ± √etc) does not work for a = 0
But if it can be solved for S,There should be some method to solve for t too.(Except t=s/u which is obtained once you know the value of a)
Just Algebra(Only letters)?
 
  • #11
adjacent said:
But if it can be solved for S,There should be some method to solve for t too.(Except t=s/u which is obtained once you know the value of a)
Just Algebra(Only letters)?

tiny-tim answered your question in post #3. There are two cases: a = 0 and a ≠ 0.

If a = 0, then t = s/v.
If a ≠ 0, then you can solve for t by using the quadratic formula.
 
  • #12
adjacent said:
But if it can be solved for S,There should be some method to solve for t too.(Except t=s/u which is obtained once you know the value of a)
Just Algebra(Only letters)?

A quadratic equation means that a≠0.
##0x^2 + 2x + 4## is not a quadratic.
 
  • #13
adjacent said:
But if it can be solved for S,There should be some method to solve for t too.(Except t=s/u which is obtained once you know the value of a)
Just Algebra(Only letters)?

I see what you're saying, and the answer to it is that the quadratic expression given by t = ... isn't quite complete because it assumes a\neq 0. What we need is a piecewise function to describe it

If s = ut + 1/2at^2

Then

t = <br /> \begin{cases}<br /> \frac{-u\pm \sqrt{u^2+2as}}{a}, &amp; a\neq 0 \\<br /> \frac{s}{u}, &amp; a=0<br /> \end{cases}

You need to also keep in mind that if the discriminant is less than zero, which is a\neq 0 but u^2+2as&lt;0 then you won't have a real value for t. Physically, this means that the object won't ever cross the line at displacement s because it would be accelerating away from that direction.
 
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