If two cars are moving, labelled car A and car B. Car A moves at 15 m/s and B at 10 m/s but car B also accelerated at 2 m/s/s. If the two both travel for ten seconds, which car will travel further?

Well for this question we can use the SUVAT equations. We'll see what values we have and what we're looking for.

So firstly we have the initial speed, often denoted usign the letter u. I'm going to write Au to mean the speed of car A.

Au=15 m/s

Bu=10 m/s

Now we also have the accelration, denoted by a. Car A doesn't change speed so its accelration is zero. Car B acceraltes by 2 m/s/s, so for every second that passes its speed increases by 2 m/s.

Aa=0

Ba=2

We also have the time taken, denoted by t. Both cars move for ten seconds so.

At=10

Bt=10

We're trying to find how far each one goes, this is denoted with the letter s.

As=?

Bs=?

With what we have we should use the SUVAT equation: s=ut+1/2at.

This equation uses the inital speed and the acceleration to find out how far an object has moved. Lets work it out for car A.

As=15 * 10+1/2 * 0 *10

As=15 * 10 = 150 m

Now for car B.

Bs=10*10 + 1/2 * 2 * 10

Bs= 100 + 10

Bs=110 m

So car A moves 150 m and car B moves 110 m, so car A moves further. 

Answered by Tom W. Physics tutor

5928 Views

See similar Physics A Level tutors

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

Describe how the average density of matter in the universe affects its ultimate fate?


Where does the simple harmonic motion equation come from and what does it mean?


What is meant by a uniform electric field?


Give the ideal gas equation, defining and justifying the inclusion of each variable, and state 5 assumptions made in the kinetic theory:


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo
Cookie Preferences