The Student Room Group

Mechanics constant acceleration help

I'm stuck on the following question:

A car travels a distance of 100 metres along a straight line in 20 seconds. The car was initially at rest and travelled with uniform acceleration.
A) Find the acceleration of the car.
B) Find the speed of the car when it has travelled 100 metres.

I have the distance 100 metres, time 20 seconds, initial velocity 0ms^-1 but i dont know which formula to put them in in order to get the acceleration of the car. Please help me I don't have long to do it :/ thanks <3
Original post by Sayless
I'm stuck on the following question:

A car travels a distance of 100 metres along a straight line in 20 seconds. The car was initially at rest and travelled with uniform acceleration.
A) Find the acceleration of the car.
B) Find the speed of the car when it has travelled 100 metres.

I have the distance 100 metres, time 20 seconds, initial velocity 0ms^-1 but i dont know which formula to put them in in order to get the acceleration of the car. Please help me I don't have long to do it :/ thanks <3


You have
s
u
t
and need
a

There is only one SUVAT that uses these
Reply 2
Original post by TenOfThem
You have
s
u
t
and need
a

There is only one SUVAT that uses these


I got 0.25ms^-2 for a) and 5ms^-1 for b) is that a correct calculation?
Original post by Sayless
I got 0.25ms^-2 for a) and 5ms^-1 for b) is that a correct calculation?


Not what I got

Can you show working
Reply 4
Original post by TenOfThem
Not what I got

Can you show working

s=100
t=20
u-0
velocity = 100/20 = 5ms^-1
5-0/20 = 0.25ms^-2
Original post by Sayless
s=100
t=20
u-0
velocity = 100/20 = 5ms^-1
5-0/20 = 0.25ms^-2



What formulae did you use

It looks as though you have said v=st v = \dfrac{s}{t} you cannot do that


Find a first
Reply 6
Original post by TenOfThem
What formulae did you use

It looks as though you have said v=st v = \dfrac{s}{t} you cannot do that


Find a first


what about this suvat equation
s=ut +1/2at^2
s=0x20 +1/2a x 20^2
100=1/2a x 400
1/4=1/2a
0.50ms^2 = a

is that correct?
Original post by Sayless
what about this suvat equation
s=ut +1/2at^2
s=0x20 +1/2a x 20^2
100=1/2a x 400
1/4=1/2a
0.50ms^2 = a

is that correct?


yes

Now use v=u+at to get v
Reply 8
Original post by TenOfThem
yes

Now use v=u+at to get v


I got 0+0.50x20 = 10ms^-1 so speed is 0.50 ms^-1 is that right?
Original post by Sayless
I got 0+0.50x20 = 10ms^-1 so speed is 0.50 ms^-1 is that right?


No

Why have you turned your 10 into 0.5?
Reply 10
Original post by TenOfThem
No

Why have you turned your 10 into 0.5?


meant to say speed is 10ms-1, the acceleration is 0.5
Original post by Sayless
meant to say speed is 10ms-1, the acceleration is 0.5


yes

Quick Reply

Latest