Math Problem Statement

A subway train starts from rest at a station and accelerates at a rate of 1.60 m/s2 for 14.0 s. It runs at a constant speed for 70.0 s and slows down at a rate of 3.50 m/s2 until it stops at the next station. Find the total distance covered.

Solution

We can break the motion of the subway train into three stages:

  1. Acceleration phase: The train accelerates at a1=1.60m/s2a_1 = 1.60 \, \text{m/s}^2 for t1=14.0st_1 = 14.0 \, \text{s}.
  2. Constant speed phase: The train moves at a constant speed for t2=70.0st_2 = 70.0 \, \text{s}.
  3. Deceleration phase: The train decelerates at a3=3.50m/s2a_3 = 3.50 \, \text{m/s}^2 until it comes to rest.

Step 1: Distance during acceleration

The initial velocity u1=0u_1 = 0 (since the train starts from rest), and the acceleration is a1=1.60m/s2a_1 = 1.60 \, \text{m/s}^2. The velocity at the end of this phase is:

v1=u1+a1t1=0+(1.60m/s2)(14.0s)=22.4m/sv_1 = u_1 + a_1 t_1 = 0 + (1.60 \, \text{m/s}^2)(14.0 \, \text{s}) = 22.4 \, \text{m/s}

The distance covered during this phase can be found using the equation:

d1=u1t1+12a1t12=0+12(1.60m/s2)(14.0s)2d_1 = u_1 t_1 + \frac{1}{2} a_1 t_1^2 = 0 + \frac{1}{2} (1.60 \, \text{m/s}^2) (14.0 \, \text{s})^2

d1=12(1.60)(196)=156.8md_1 = \frac{1}{2} (1.60)(196) = 156.8 \, \text{m}

Step 2: Distance during constant speed

The velocity during this phase is the same as v1=22.4m/sv_1 = 22.4 \, \text{m/s}. The distance covered during this phase is:

d2=v1t2=(22.4m/s)(70.0s)=1568md_2 = v_1 t_2 = (22.4 \, \text{m/s}) (70.0 \, \text{s}) = 1568 \, \text{m}

Step 3: Distance during deceleration

In this phase, the train decelerates to rest. The final velocity v3=0v_3 = 0, the initial velocity v2=22.4m/sv_2 = 22.4 \, \text{m/s}, and the deceleration is a3=3.50m/s2a_3 = -3.50 \, \text{m/s}^2. Using the equation:

v32=v22+2a3d3v_3^2 = v_2^2 + 2 a_3 d_3

Solving for d3d_3:

0=(22.4m/s)2+2(3.50m/s2)d30 = (22.4 \, \text{m/s})^2 + 2 (-3.50 \, \text{m/s}^2) d_3

d3=(22.4)22(3.50)=501.767.0=71.68md_3 = \frac{(22.4)^2}{2(3.50)} = \frac{501.76}{7.0} = 71.68 \, \text{m}

Total distance covered

Now, we sum up the distances from all three phases:

dtotal=d1+d2+d3=156.8m+1568m+71.68m=1796.48md_{\text{total}} = d_1 + d_2 + d_3 = 156.8 \, \text{m} + 1568 \, \text{m} + 71.68 \, \text{m} = 1796.48 \, \text{m}

Thus, the total distance covered by the train is approximately 1796.5 meters.


Would you like more details or have any questions?

Here are 5 related questions for further practice:

  1. How would the total distance change if the acceleration rate was increased?
  2. What is the total time taken for the journey?
  3. How much time would it take for the train to decelerate if the deceleration was reduced to 2.0 m/s²?
  4. What would be the distance covered if the train maintained a higher constant speed for the same duration?
  5. How would the problem change if the initial speed was not zero?

Tip: Always break a motion problem into phases—acceleration, constant speed, and deceleration—to simplify the calculation.

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Kinematics
Uniform Acceleration
Constant Speed
Deceleration

Formulas

v = u + at (Final velocity after acceleration)
d = ut + 0.5at² (Distance under constant acceleration)
d = vt (Distance at constant speed)
v² = u² + 2ad (Distance under deceleration)

Theorems

Equations of motion for uniformly accelerated motion

Suitable Grade Level

Grades 9-12