Final answer:
In physics, acceleration's magnitude is calculated by the change in velocity over time, represented in m/s². Examples illustrate calculating acceleration during speed changes and under different conditions, emphasizing the concept's importance in kinematics.
Step-by-step explanation:
In physics, particularly when discussing kinematics, we look at the magnitude of acceleration as the rate of change of velocity. Using the provided information, we can consider different scenarios to calculate the car's acceleration. For uniform acceleration from an initial velocity of 2 m/s to a final velocity of 10 m/s over a period of 8 seconds, acceleration, a, is found using the formula a = (v - u) / t, where v is the final velocity, u is the initial velocity, and t is the time taken. This gives us an acceleration of a = (10 m/s - 2 m/s) / 8 s = 1 m/s².For deceleration from 10 m/s to 4 m/s in 6 seconds, the negative acceleration (or deceleration) is calculated similarly: a = (4 m/s - 10 m/s) / 6 s = -1 m/s². Another scenario described requires the car to decelerate to a speed limit, for which the minimum acceleration can be determined using kinematic equations, considering the initial and final velocities and the distance to the speed trap.
Acceleration is a vital concept in physics, measured in units of m/s² (meters per second squared), indicating the change in velocity every second.