Acceleration vs Time Graph Analysis · PhysicsBowl 2017 #30

Physics · mechanics

Problem

Two cars, P and Q, each start from rest at the origin and will move along the x-axis. The acceleration vs. time graph for each car is shown. Which one of the following choices correctly identifies the relationship for both the speeds (

v_P

and

v_Q

) and the positions (

x_P

and

x_Q

) of the cars at time T? [Figure: Acceleration vs time graph showing different patterns for cars P and Q]

	speeds	positions
(A)	$v_P = v_Q$	$x_P > x_Q$
(B)	$v_P > v_Q$	$x_P > x_Q$
(C)	$v_P = v_Q$	$x_P = x_Q$
(D)	$v_P < v_Q$	$x_P < x_Q$
(E)	$v_P = v_Q$	$x_P < x_Q$

Browse the problem library