Uniformly accelerated train problem

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In summary, this conversation discusses finding the magnitude of a train's acceleration when traveling on a planar path approximating a circle and line, with a final speed of 100 km/hr at t = 300 s. The problem involves using the standard constant acceleration equations and finding the linear and centripetal accelerations.
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jlopez
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After picking up passengers, a train accelerates uniformly until its speed is 100 km/hr at t= 300 s. If during this time it is traveling on a planar path that approximates the circle and line shown in the figure, find the magnitude of the train's acceleration when (a) t = 1 min and (b) t = 2 min.

link to figure:
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b346/lopezjose/IMG00264-20100502-0017.jpg

I'm not sure what frame of reference to use and how to start this problem

normal acceleration is v^2/r
tangental acceleration is dv/dt
 
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Welcome to PF!

Hi jlopez! Welcome to PF! :smile:

(try using the X2 tag just above the Reply box :wink:)

First, use one of the standard constant acceleration equations to find the linear (tangential) acceleration.

Then find the position at 1 min and 2 min, and if the path is curved then, find the speed and the centripetal acceleration (the normal acceleration). :smile:
 

1. What is a uniformly accelerated train problem?

A uniformly accelerated train problem is a type of physics problem that involves calculating the motion of a train that is accelerating at a constant rate.

2. What are the key variables in a uniformly accelerated train problem?

The key variables in a uniformly accelerated train problem are the initial velocity, final velocity, acceleration, time, and displacement of the train.

3. How do you solve a uniformly accelerated train problem?

To solve a uniformly accelerated train problem, you can use the equation v = u + at, where v is the final velocity, u is the initial velocity, a is the acceleration, and t is the time. You can also use the equation s = ut + 1/2at^2, where s is the displacement.

4. What assumptions are made in a uniformly accelerated train problem?

In a uniformly accelerated train problem, it is assumed that the train is moving in a straight line and that the acceleration is constant. It is also assumed that there are no external forces acting on the train, such as friction or air resistance.

5. How does the mass of the train affect the solution to a uniformly accelerated train problem?

The mass of the train does not affect the solution to a uniformly accelerated train problem, as long as the acceleration is constant. This is because the mass of an object does not affect its acceleration, according to Newton's second law of motion.

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