A car, initially at rest travels 20 m in 4 sec along a straight line with constant acceleration. Find the acceleration of car?

CONCEPT:

• Equation of motion: The mathematical equations used to find the final velocity, displacements, time, etc of a moving object without considering force acting on it are called equations of motion.
• These equations are only valid when the acceleration of the body is constant and they move on a straight line.

There are three equations of motion:

V = u + at

V2 = u2 + 2 a S

\({\text{S}} = {\text{ut}} + \frac{1}{2}{\text{a}}{{\text{t}}^2}\)

Where, V = final velocity, u = initial velocity, s = distance traveled by the body under motion, a = acceleration of body under motion, and t = time taken by the body under motion.

EXPLANATION:

Given that:

Initial velocity (u) = 0

Distance (S) = 20 m

Time (t) = 4 sec

Use \({\text{S}} = {\text{ut}} + \frac{1}{2}{\text{a}}{{\text{t}}^2}\)

20 = 0 + \(\frac{1}{2} \times a \times 4^2\)

acceleration = a = 20/8 = 2.5 m/s²