Speed and Acceleration Reflection

How do speed and acceleration relate to each other in a moving car?

As a car accelerates uniformly from rest at +5.3m/s², what is the speed of the car when it has traveled 1.5 meters?

Exploring the Relationship Between Speed and Acceleration in a Car

Speed and acceleration are interconnected concepts that play a crucial role in understanding the motion of a car. In this scenario, the car starts from rest, which means the initial velocity is 0. As the car accelerates uniformly at +5.3m/s², it gains speed over time.

When the car has traveled a distance of 1.5 meters, we can determine its speed by applying the equations of motion to calculate the final velocity.

Understanding the Calculation of Speed in a Moving Car

When a car accelerates uniformly, its speed increases at a constant rate. In this case, the acceleration of the car is given as +5.3m/s², indicating that the speed is increasing by 5.3 meters per second every second.

By utilizing the equation of motion v² = u² + 2as, where v is the final velocity, u is the initial velocity, a is the acceleration, and s is the displacement, we can determine the speed of the car when it has traveled 1.5 meters.

Substituting the given values into the equation, where initial velocity (u) is 0, acceleration (a) is +5.3m/s², and displacement (s) is 1.5 meters, we can solve for the final velocity (v) after the car has traveled 1.5 meters.

After performing the necessary calculations, the final speed of the car when it has traveled 1.5 meters is approximately 3.99 meters per second. This showcases the direct relationship between speed and acceleration in determining the motion of a car.