A ball starts at rest and…

Physics Questions

A ball starts at rest and rolls down a ramp with constant acceleration. It moves 1 foot between t = 0 seconds and t = 1 second. How far does it move between t = 1 second and t = 2 seconds?

Short Answer

The motion of the ball begins with an initial velocity of 0 ft/s and constant acceleration, allowing for distance calculations using the formula s = (1/2)at². At t = 1s, the acceleration is determined to be 2 ft/s², enabling the distance at t = 2s to be calculated as 4 ft, leading to a distance of 3 ft traveled between 1s and 2s.

Step-by-Step Solution

Step 1: Understand the Initial Conditions

The motion of the ball starts with an initial velocity of 0 ft/s and experiences a constant acceleration. Knowing these values is crucial for analyzing how the ball travels over time. Here we can summarize the parameters:

  • Initial velocity (u) = 0 ft/s
  • Acceleration = constant

Step 2: Calculate Distance Traveled at Specific Times

The formula used to calculate the distance traveled by the ball is s = ut + (1/2)at². Since the initial velocity is 0, this simplifies to s = (1/2)at². We can now compute the acceleration at time 1s while knowing the distance traveled:

  • For distance s = 1 ft at time t = 1s, we find a = 2 ft/s¬≤.
  • Additionally, we can calculate the distance at time t = 2s using the determined acceleration: s = 4 ft.

Step 3: Find the Distance Between Two Time Intervals

To determine how far the ball traveled between t = 1s and t = 2s, we subtract the distance traveled at 1s from the distance at 2s. This leads to a straightforward calculation:

  • The distance at t = 2s is 4 ft.
  • The distance at t = 1s is 1 ft.
  • Therefore, the distance traveled between the two time points is s = 4 ft – 1 ft = 3 ft.

Related Concepts

Initial velocity

The speed of an object at the start of its motion, measured in ft/s

Acceleration

The rate of change of velocity per unit of time, which can be constant or variable, measured in ft/s²

Distance

The length of the path traveled by an object between two points in time, often calculated using the formula s = ut + (1/2)at².

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