Can anyone confirm the answer I have to this question?

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Total time: 225 sec
Total distance travelled: 8100 m
Speed: 36 m/s

2 Answers
Feb 4, 2017

Given

For first phase journey

u_1-> "initial velocity of the car "=0
t_1->"duration of first phase journey"=15s
a_1->"uniform acceleration in first phase"=2.4ms^-2

So applying kinematic equation s=ut+1/2at^2
we get distance traversed in first phase

s_1=u_1xxt_1+1/2xxa_1xxt_1^2

=>s_1=0xx2.4+1/2xx2.4xx15^2=270m

For Second phase journey

At the end first phase it will acquire velocity v_2 which will be initial velocity for second phase journey.

So v_2=u_1+a_1xxt_1=0xxt_1+2.4xx15=36ms^-1

t_2-> "duration of second phase journey"=200s

This journey occurs at constant velocity v_2

So distance traversed in this phase

s_2=v_2xxt_2=36xx200=7200m

For third phase journey

v_2->"initial velocity"=36ms^-1

a_2->"uniform acceleration in 3rd phase"=-3.6ms^-2

v_3-> "Final velocity of the car "=0

t_3->"duration of 3rd phase journey"=?

So v_3=v_2+a_2xxt_3

=>0=36+(-3.6)xxt_3

=>t_3=10s

Distance traversed in 3rd phase

s_3=1/2(v_2+v_3)xxt_3

=>s_3=1/2(36+0)xx10=180m

So total duration " "T=t_1+t_2+t_3=15+200+10=225s

Total distance traversed

S=(s_1+s_2+s_3)=(270+7200+180)m=7650m

So average speed V_"av"=S/T=7650/225ms^-1=34ms^-1

Feb 4, 2017

"A different approach"

Explanation:

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"------------------------------------------------"

"use triangle OAE(for phase 1)"

tan alpha="acceleration"

2.40=v/15

v=36 " m/s"

"area=distance covered"

"area="(36*15)/2=270" meters"

"-----------------------------------------------"

"use rectangle ABFE(for phase 2)"

"area=distance covered for interval t=15 and t=215"

"area="200*36=7200" meters"

"-----------------------------------------------"

"use triangle BFC(for phase 3)"

tan beta="deceleration"

3.6=36/k

k=36/3.6=10

t=10+215=225" s"

"area=distance covered for interval t=215 and t=225"

area=(36*10)/2=360/2=180" meters"

"time elapsed="15+200+10=225 " seconds"

"total distance covered="270+7200+180=7650" meters"

"average speed=" ("total distance covered")/("elapsed time")

"average speed="7650/225=34" m/s"