A truck on a straight road starts from rest, accelerating at 2.00m/s^2 until it reaches a speed of 20.0m/s. Then the truck travels for 20.0s at constant speed until the brakes are applied, stopping the truck in a uniform manner in an additional 5.00s. (a) How long is the truck in motion?
(b) What is the average velocity of the truck for the motion described?

Explanation:

a )

Time to reach the speed of 20 m/s with an acceleration of 2 m/s² can be calculated as follows .

v = u + a t

20 = 0 + 2 t

t = 20 /2 = 10 s .

Total time = 10 s + 20 s + 5 s = 35 s .

b) Average velocity = Total distance travelled / total time

Distance travelled in first 10 s

S₁ = ut + 1/2 a t²

= 0 + .5 x 2 x 10²

= 100 m

Distance travelled in next 20 s

S₂= 20s x 20 m/s  = 400 m

Distance travelled in last 5 s .

deceleration in last 5 s

v = u + at

0 = 20 m/s + a x 5

a = - 4 m/s²

v² = u² - 2 a s

0 = (20 m/s)² - 2 x 4 m/s² x s

s = 50 m

S₃ = 50 m

Total distance = S₁ + S₂ + S₃

= 100 m + 400 m + 50 m

= 550 m .

Average velocity = 550 m / 35 s

= 15.71 m /s .