What is the magnitude of the train’s acceleration after its wheel begins to stick?
Posted on 03. Sep, 2010 by Toy Expert in Deluxe train set
A toy train is pushed forward and released at x=2.0m with a speed of 2.0m/s. It rolls at a steady speed for 2.0s, then one wheel begins to stick. The train comes to a stop 6.0 m. from the point at which it was released.
Rackbrane
03. Sep, 2010
Let:
x be the distance covered at steady speed,
u be the steady speed (2.0 m/s),
t be the time (2.0 s) the train travels at steady speed,
s be the distance covered from the train’s release point until it stops.
x = ut
0^2 = u^2 + 2a(s – x)
a = – u^2 / [ 2(s - ut) ]
= – 2.0^2 / [ 2(6.0 - 2.0 * 2.0) ]
= – 1.0 m/s^2.