A family drives 400 milles in 8 hours. Explain how the acceleration of their car changed?
To explain how the acceleration of the car changed, we first need to understand the basic formula for acceleration:
Acceleration (a) = Change in velocity (Δv) / Time taken (Δt)
In this case, we are given the distance traveled (400 miles) and the time taken (8 hours). However, we do not have specific data on the initial and final velocities, which are required to calculate the acceleration directly.
To determine the acceleration, we need to make some assumptions. Let's assume the car started from rest (initial velocity = 0) and reached a final velocity (v) after 8 hours.
The distance traveled (d) is given as 400 miles. We can use the formula for average velocity:
Average Velocity (v_avg) = d / t
In this case, the average velocity (v_avg) is:
v_avg = 400 miles / 8 hours = 50 miles/hour
Since the car started from rest, the initial velocity (v_initial) is 0. The final velocity (v_final) can be calculated using the formula for average velocity, assuming the acceleration is constant:
v_final = v_initial + a * Δt
Since Δt is 8 hours and v_initial is 0, we can simplify the equation to:
v_final = a * 8
To find the value of a (acceleration), we need additional information. Without it, we cannot determine how the acceleration of the car changed.