When will the skier come to a stop?

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a skier who begins sliding down a ski run with an initial velocity of 8.2 m/s and, after 3.0 seconds, her velocity decreases to 3.1 m/s. The task is to determine how long it takes for her to come to a complete stop, assuming constant acceleration.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss finding acceleration using the change in velocity over time, and some suggest using the known velocities and time to derive the necessary equations. Questions arise regarding the use of displacement and how to isolate time in the equations provided.

Discussion Status

There is an ongoing exploration of how to approach the problem, with participants offering various methods to find acceleration and subsequently time. Some express confusion about the relevance of the initial conditions and how to apply them correctly. Guidance has been provided regarding the use of specific equations, but no consensus has been reached on a definitive method.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the importance of sign conventions in determining acceleration and the implications of the skier's changing velocity. There is also mention of the need to consider the skier's final velocity of 0 m/s when calculating time.

aksarb
Messages
12
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



A skier is going 8.2m/s when she falls and starts sliding down the ski run. After 3.0s, her velocity has changed to 3.1m/s. How many seconds after she originally fell did she finally come to a stop? (Assume constant acceleration)

Homework Equations



Δd = 1(v1+v2)Δt
2
2aΔd = v2^2 - v1^2

Δd = v1 Δt + 1/2 a (Δt)2

Δd = v2 Δt - 1/2 a (Δt)2

The Attempt at a Solution



Since the question gave me 3 pieces of information, I just tired to sub it into the equations no problem. I realized afterwards that I was only going to find displacement, not the time. But, I already have time, so I have no clue how to get this question. Please help me.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
From the information given you can find the acceleration. Once you have found the acceleration you know the initial speed (8.2 m/s) and the final speed (0 m/s) and you can then solve for time.
 
So, I would have to use basically get acceleration from v2-v1 then from there use
t
t = v2-v1 to get the answer?
a
 
Sorry I missed that equation. Yes you can simply solve from the following equation knowing that the final velocity will be 0.

d = \frac{v_i+v_f}{2} t

I assumed since the question gave extra information you'd have to work out acceleration.
 
Im not sure about the d. I do not have a displacement and I am not trying to find it, so how can I eliminate the d so the time can be by itself?
 
OK got confused with another thread I'm helping with.

v = v_0 + a t

You will need to solve for acceleration and then again for time.

Sorry about that.
 
Ok, this question is asking for time right? So I just have to find acceleration from the information given then find time of the skier finally coming to a full stop after she originally fell?
 
Yes that should do it. I apologise for the confusion. I'm not on form tonight. I've already confused the other person with a kinematics question. :redface:
 
Its ok, thanks for your help, I can finally relax :)
 
  • #10
The question has the following data "After 3.0s, her velocity has changed to 3.1m/s." How come I didn't have to use the 3.0 seconds or the 3.1 m/s to get the answer?
 
  • #11
aksarb said:
The question has the following data "After 3.0s, her velocity has changed to 3.1m/s." How come I didn't have to use the 3.0 seconds or the 3.1 m/s to get the answer?

You will need to use that to find acceleration. v0 = 8.2m/s, v = 3.1 and t = 3.
 
  • #12
Ok thanks. Can you check the answer for this question? I did

a=v2-v1/t
= 3.1m/s + 8.2m/s / 3.0s
= 3.8 m/s^2

t = v2-v1 / a
= 3.1m/s + 8.2 m/s / 3.8m/s^2
= 3.0s
 
  • #13
aksarb said:
Ok thanks. Can you check the answer for this question? I did

a=v2-v1/t
= 3.1m/s + 8.2m/s / 3.0s
= 3.8 m/s^2

be careful with signs.

t = v2-v1 / a
= 3.1m/s + 8.2 m/s / 3.8m/s^2
= 3.0s

Remember that when the skier comes to a rest the speed will be 0 m/s. Signs again as well.
 
  • #14
Should it be positive because the 8.2m/s is going down due to the regualr sign conventions as left or down being negative? I conserded the sign conventions so the speed became -8.2m/s. Since there is the negative sign, it turned into a positive.
 
  • #15
If you take 8.2 away from 3.1 you will end up with a negative value for acceleration which makes sense since the skier is slowing down. When you solve for time the negative signs cancel so it all works out fine.
 
  • #16
First you use V=V(initial)+at to find the acceleration. This will give you -1.71.

Then you plug that into the same equation ^ but this time you make the final velocity equal zero and just find the time.
It works out to 4.8s.
 
  • #17
jus realized that this has been alredy answered...LOOL!
 
  • #18
aksarb said:

Homework Statement



A skier is going 8.2m/s when she falls and starts sliding down the ski run. After 3.0s, her velocity has changed to 3.1m/s. How many seconds after she originally fell did she finally come to a stop? (Assume constant acceleration)

Homework Equations



Δd = 1(v1+v2)Δt
2
2aΔd = v2^2 - v1^2

Δd = v1 Δt + 1/2 a (Δt)2

Δd = v2 Δt - 1/2 a (Δt)2

The Attempt at a Solution



Since the question gave me 3 pieces of information, I just tired to sub it into the equations no problem. I realized afterwards that I was only going to find displacement, not the time. But, I already have time, so I have no clue how to get this question. Please help me.


In 3 seconds, her velocity reduced from 8.2 to 3.1 - she lost 5.1.
She has another 3.1 to lose; so is should take an additional (3.1/5.1) of 3 seconds to stop.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
6K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
7K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 22 ·
Replies
22
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Replies
12
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
4K