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A car travels at a constant speed along the curved path shown from above in figure Q3.21 Five possible vectors are also shown in the figure. Letter E represents the zero vector.

Which vector best represents A the cars velocity at position 1
B the car's acceleration at position 1?
C the car's velocity at position 2?
D the car's acceleration at position 2?
E the car's velocity at position 3?
F the car's acceleration at position 3?

1 Answer

3 votes

Final Answer:

A. The car's velocity at position 1 is represented by vector C.

B. The car's acceleration at position 1 is represented by vector E.

C. The car's velocity at position 2 is represented by vector A.

D. The car's acceleration at position 2 is represented by vector D.

E. The car's velocity at position 3 is represented by vector B.

F. The car's acceleration at position 3 is represented by vector E.

Step-by-step explanation:

At position 1, the car's velocity, represented by vector C, aligns tangentially with the curved path, indicating its direction of motion. Velocity represents the rate of change of displacement, and at this point, the direction of the velocity coincides with the tangent of the curved path.

For the car's acceleration at position 1, vector E is the zero vector, indicating no change in the car's speed or direction. In a curved path, velocity can remain constant while the direction changes, resulting in a non-zero acceleration that's directed towards the center of curvature. However, in this scenario, the car maintains a constant speed, so the acceleration vector is zero.

Moving to position 2, the car's velocity (vector A) points tangentially along the curved path, reflecting its direction of motion at that specific instant.

The car's acceleration at position 2 (vector D) signifies the centripetal acceleration, directed towards the center of the curvature. This acceleration accounts for the change in direction while maintaining a constant speed, as the car moves along the curved path.

At position 3, the car's velocity (vector B) aligns tangentially with the new direction of the curved path.

Lastly, the car's acceleration at position 3 (vector E) remains zero as the car maintains a constant speed without any change in its velocity or direction.

These vectors showcase the relationship between velocity and acceleration along a curved path, indicating their directions and changes at different positions along the path.

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