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. 

TW
Answered by Tom W. Physics tutor

7247 Views

See similar Physics A Level tutors

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

Calculate the threshold frequency for a metal with a work function of 3eV


A space probe of mass 1000kg, moving at 200m/s, explosively ejects a capsule of mass 300kg. The speed of the probe after the explosion is 250m/s. What is the velocity of the capsule?


A ball with radius 10cm is filled with an ideal gas at pressure 2*(10)^5Pa and temperature 300K. The volume of the gas is changed at constant pressure so that the radius of the ball is reduced with 1cm. Find the amount of gas and the new temperature


In an electric propulsion system, alpha particles are accelerated through a potential difference of 100kV at an average rate of 10^20 alpha particles per second. Calculate the average thrust the system can provide.


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning