What equations can be used to determine acceleration in constant motion?

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a body moving along the x-axis with constant acceleration, where the displacement, time, and final velocity are provided. Participants are discussing the appropriate equations to determine the acceleration based on these parameters.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are attempting to identify the correct equations of motion for constant acceleration. Questions have been raised about the specific formulas needed to express displacement and calculate acceleration. Some participants are also discussing the relationships between initial velocity, final velocity, and average velocity.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with some participants providing hints and references to external resources. There is a mix of interpretations regarding the equations needed, and while some guidance has been offered, there is no explicit consensus on the correct approach yet.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the assumption that the motion is characterized by constant acceleration, and they are exploring the implications of this condition on the equations they should use. There is a mention of needing to find multiple variables, including initial velocity and acceleration, based on the provided data.

pieman396
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I can not figure out how to do this problem. Can anyone tell me?

A body moving on the x-axis with a constant acceleration increases its x-coordinate by 80m in a time period of 5.0s and has a velocity of +20m/s at the end of this time. Determine the acceleration of the body during this time.


Thanks much!
 
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Which is the equation which expresses the displacement of a body moving on a line with constant acceleration?
 
radou said:
Which is the equation which expresses the displacement of a body moving on a line with constant acceleration?

is it Vi - Vo / time?
 
The hint they give you in the question is that it is constant acceleration.
So you can use you constant acceleration equations of motion.

Type "constant acceleration +equations of motion" into google to learn a bit more about it.

Given you know these variables:

vf=20 m/s
t= 5s
x-xi = 80 m

You can decide which of the standard constant acceleration equations of motion you need to use to solve the problem.
 
im getting 4m/s^-2
 
No that's not right.

http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~vawter/PhysicsNet/Topics/Kinematics/ConstantAccEqMotion.html

From your question I can see that you'd need to use three of those equations.

One equation to find the average velocity.
One equation to solve for the initial velocity.
Then one equation to solve for the acceleration.

average velocity = distance/time

v with a bar over the top of it is average velocity so just look on that page to find the equation relating the average velocity, final velocity and initial velocity so you can solve for the inital velocity.

Then you just need to find the remaining equation that uses all your known variables to solve for the unknown acceleration.
 
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