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Ch 01: Units, Physical Quantities & Vectors
Chapter 1, Problem 2

CALC. A car's velocity as a function of time is given by v_x(t) = α + βt^2, where α = 3.00 m/s and β = 0.100 m/s^3. (c) Draw v_x-t and a_x-t graphs for the car's motion between t = 0 and t = 5.00 s.

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1
Identify the given variables from the velocity equation v_x(t) = α + βt^2, where α = 3.00 m/s and β = 0.100 m/s^3.
Plot the velocity-time graph (v_x-t graph) by substituting different values of time (t) into the velocity equation from t = 0 s to t = 5.00 s. Calculate the velocity at each time point and plot these points on the graph.
To find the acceleration as a function of time, differentiate the velocity equation with respect to time. The derivative of v_x(t) = α + βt^2 with respect to t gives the acceleration equation a_x(t) = 2βt.
Substitute different values of time (t) into the acceleration equation a_x(t) = 2βt from t = 0 s to t = 5.00 s. Calculate the acceleration at each time point.
Plot the acceleration-time graph (a_x-t graph) using the calculated acceleration values corresponding to each time point.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Velocity as a Function of Time

Velocity is defined as the rate of change of position with respect to time. In this case, the car's velocity is expressed as a function of time, v_x(t) = α + βt^2, where α represents the initial velocity and β is a coefficient that affects how velocity changes over time. Understanding this function is crucial for analyzing the car's motion and predicting its behavior at different time intervals.
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Acceleration

Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity with respect to time. It can be derived from the velocity function by taking its derivative. For the given velocity function, the acceleration a_x(t) can be calculated as a_x(t) = d(v_x(t))/dt, which will yield a linear function in this case, indicating how the car's velocity changes over time. This concept is essential for understanding the dynamics of the car's motion.
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Graphing Motion

Graphing motion involves plotting the relationships between time, velocity, and acceleration on a coordinate system. The v_x-t graph shows how the car's velocity changes over time, while the a_x-t graph illustrates how acceleration varies. These visual representations help in analyzing the motion's characteristics, such as identifying periods of constant velocity or acceleration, and are fundamental tools in physics for interpreting motion.
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