Question

A train engineer started the train from a standstill and sped up to 5 meters per second, she then rounded a corner at a constant speed. She then sped the train up to 10 meters per second on the next straightaway. Next, the train chugged around another bend at 10 m/sec, and then its speed slowed to 5 meters per second after coming out of the bend. Finally, the train reached the station, and the engineer applied the brakes and brought the engine to a stop. How many times did the train accelerate?

Answer 1

I just did a test with this problem on it and the answer is 6

Answer 2

4 times

Step-by-step explanation:

For the right answer, one needs to know the true definition of acceleration.

Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity. Now the key point is, every time the velocity changes, body is accelerated. The acceleration can be negative which means the reduction in speed or acceleration can be positive, which means increase in speed.

Now in the given question, when train start from rest, it accelerated first time, when train jumped from 5 m/s to 10 m/s it accelerated second time. When train again came to 5 m/s, it accelerated again, means the third time, but this time acceleration was negative. Finally, when brakes were applied to stop the train, it accelerated negatively on fourth time and stopped. So, it is total four times when train experienced any kind of acceleration.