Question

Acceleration is sometimes expressed in multiples of g, where g = 9.8 m/s^2 is the magnitude of the acceleration due to the earth's gravity. In a test crash, a car's velocity goes from 26 m/s to 0 m/s in 0.15 s. How many g's would be experienced by a driver under the same conditions?

Answer 1

Acceleration = 18g

Step-by-step explanation:

Given the following data;

Initial velocity, u = 26m/s

Final velocity, v = 0

Time = 0.15 secs

To find the acceleration;

In physics, acceleration can be defined as the rate of change of the velocity of an object with respect to time.

This simply means that, acceleration is given by the subtraction of initial velocity from the final velocity all over time.

Hence, if we subtract the initial velocity from the final velocity and divide that by the time, we can calculate an object’s acceleration.

Mathematically, acceleration is given by the equation;

`Acceleration (a) = (final \; velocity - initial \; velocity)/(time)`

Substituting into the equation, we have;

`a = (0 - 26)/(0.15)`

`a = (26)/(0.15)`

Acceleration = 173.33m/s2

To express it in magnitude of g;

Acceleration = 173.33/9.8

Acceleration = 17.7 ≈ 18g

Acceleration = 18g