Question

The figure (Figure 1) shows the velocity of a solar-powered motorhome (RV) as a function of time. The driver accelerates from a stop sign, cruises for 20 s at a constant speed of 60 km/h, and then brakes to come to a stop 40 s after leaving the stop sign.
*****What is the instantaneous acceleration at t=35s??????*********

Answer 1

Explanation :

It is given that, the driver accelerates from a stop sign, cruises for 20 s at a constant speed of 60 km/h, and then brakes to come to a stop 40 s after leaving the stop sign.

We know that acceleration is defined as the rate of change of velocity.

$a=\dfrac{dv}{dt}$

Where

dv is the change in velocity, dv = 0 - 60 m/s = -60 m/s

dt is the change in time, dt = 40 s - 30 s = 10 s

So, $a=\dfrac{-60\ m/s}{10\ s}$

$a = -6\ m/s^2$

From the graph it is clear that, from 30 s to 40 s the car is decelerating. So, at every second within this time the value of acceleration will be same i.e. $-6\ m/s^2$.