A car is traveling at a constant speed of 12 m/s. When the driver accelerates, the car reaches a speed of 26 m/s in 6 s. What is the average acceleration of the car?

1 Answer
LewisCroney · Grace
May 17, 2016

#a=7/3##m#/#s^2#

Explanation:

So the suvat equations are needed here, or rather one in particular:

#v=u+at#

(Where #u# is initial speed, #v# is final speed, #a# is acceleration and #t# is time).

This can be rearranged (to get #a#):

#at=v-u#

#a=(v-u)/t#

Since #u# is #12# #m#/#s#, #v# is #26# #m#/#s# and #t# is #6# #s#:

#a=(26-12)/6#

#a=14/6#

#a=7/3# #m#/#s^2#

These are the equations of motion if you'd like to use them without further proof: (they only work for constant acceleration, variable acceleration needs calculus).

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