Figure 2-50 shows the position vs. time graph for two bicycles, A and B. (a) Identify any instant at which the two bicycles have the same velocity. (b) Which bicycle has the larger acceleration? (c) At which instant(s) are the bicycles passing each other? Which bicycle is passing the other? (d) Which bicycle has the largest instantaneous velocity? (e) Which bicycle has the larger average velocity?

Short Answer

Expert verified

The acceleration and the instantaneous velocity of bicycle A are the largest compared to bicycle B, and both of them will have a similar average velocity.

Step by step solution

01

Step 1. Distance vs. time graph

As observed from the graph, both bicycles will have identical velocities at any instant if the instantaneous slopes of their distance vs. time graph are similar. This occurs at time t1, which is marked on the graph below.

02

Step 2. Acceleration of bicycle 

In the given graph, it can be seen that bicycle B has no acceleration because it has a constant slope. On the other hand, bicycle A has positive acceleration because the graph is concave upward.

Thus, bicycle A will have more acceleration.

03

Step 3. Determine the instant at which the bicycles pass each other

In the graph, when the two graphs will cross each other, the bicycles will pass each other. This is because A and B will have the same position at that time. The graph with the steepest slope is the faster bicycle. At the first crossing, bicycle B is crossing bicycle A, and at the second crossing bicycle A is passing bicycle B.

04

Step 4. Instantaneous velocity

From the graph mentioned in part (a), it can be said that bicycle B will have the largest instantaneous velocity until time t1, where the graphs have identical slopes. Bicycle A has the largest instantaneous center throughout the time after t1. At the latest time shown in the graph, bicycle A has the largest instantaneous velocity.

05

Step 5. Average velocity

When the starting point of a graph for any bicycle, A or B, is attached to the ending point with a straight line, the slope of that line forms the average velocity. Also, for that average line, both bicycles will have similar average velocities.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

In a putting game, the force with which a golfer strikes a ball is planned so that the ball will stop within some small distance of the cup, say 1.0 m long or short, in case the putt is missed. Accomplishing this from an uphill lie (that is, putting the ball downhill, see Fig. 2–47) is more difficult than from a downhill lie. Assume that on a particular green, the ball constantly decelerates at1.8m/s2going downhill and at2.6m/s2going uphill to see why. Suppose you have an uphill lie 7.0 m from the cup. Calculate the allowable range of initial velocities you may impart to the ball so that it stops in the range 1.0 m short to 1.0 m long of the cup. Do the same for a downhill lie 7.0 m from the cup. What, in your results, suggests that the downhill putt is more difficult?

FIGURE 2-47 Problem 70

A stone is thrown vertically upward with a speed of15.5m/sfrom the edge of a 75.0 m high cliff (Fig. 2–48).

(a) How much later does it reach the bottom of the cliff?

(b) What is its speed just before hitting?

(c) What total distance does it travel?

FIGURE 2-48Problem 71.

What must your car’s average speed be in order to travel 235 km in 2.75 h?

Suppose a car manufacturer tested its cars for front-end collisions by hauling them up on a crane and dropping them from a certain height. (a) Show that the speed just before a car hits the ground, after falling from rest a vertical distance H, is given by2gH. What height corresponds to a collision at (b) 35 km/h (c) 95 km/h.

You drop a rock off a bridge. When the rock has fallen 4m, you drop a second rock. As the two rocks continue to fall, what happens to their velocities?

(a) Both increase at the same rate.

(b) The velocity of the first rock increases faster than the velocity of the second.

(c) The velocity of the second rock increases faster than the velocity of the first.

(d) Both velocities stay constant.

See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Physics Textbooks

View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free