Kinetic energy is the energy that is associated with motion. It is the energy possessed by an object that is moving. It is calculated from one-half the product of the mass and the square of the velocity of the object. From this, we can calculate the mass of the object. We do as follows:
Since the car speeds up at a constant rate, we can use the kinematic equation for distance (assuming that the initial position is x=0, and choosing t₀ =0), as follows:
Since the car starts from rest, v₀ =0.
We know the value of t = 5 sec., but we need to find the value of a.
Applying the definition of acceleration, as the rate of change of velocity with respect to time, and remembering that v₀ = 0 and t₀ =0, we can solve for a, as follows:
Replacing a and t in (1):
Now, if the truck slows down at a constant rate also, we can use (1) again, noting that v₀ is not equal to zero anymore.
Since we have the values of vf (it's zero because the truck stops), v₀, and t, we can find the new value of a, as follows:
Replacing v₀, at and t in (1), we have:
Therefore, as the truck travels twice as far as the car, the right answer is a).
