Chapter 3.2, Problem 40SSC

To determine

To Explain: The way to calculate the acceleration of an automobile.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity.

To measure the acceleration of a car one would require a speedometer and a stopwatch.

Then measure the speed of the vehicle at various time intervals noting down the time and the respective speed.

Plot a graph with time in the x axis and speed in the y axis. Calculate the slope which is the vertical change over the horizontal change. The slope will provide the acceleration of the automobile.

Conclusion:

Plot a graph of speed v/s time and calculate the slope which is the acceleration.