What is its velocity at the end of the acceleration?

Question

A car traveling initially at 6.4 m/s accelerates uniformly at the rate of 1.1 m/s2 for a distance of 156 m. What is its velocity at the end of the acceleration?

Answer 1

For a uniform acceleration, d = (1/2)at²

• d = distance = 156 m
• a = acceleration = 1.1 m/s2
• t = time

 

Solving for time (t):

 

t = √(2d/a)

t = √(2·156/1.1)

t = 16.8 sec

 

The car accelerates for 16.8 seconds.  It's final speed will be:

 

v = v₀ + a·t

• v₀ = starting speed = 6.4 m/s
• a = acceleration = 1.1 m/s²
• t = time = 16.8 sec

 

Plug in the numbers and compute the answer.