Probing the misconception:

Same velocity means same acceleration for two objects.

References Description

 

Two cars are set to drag race. The two cars are driven by Dastardly Dave and Honest Abe. Dastardly Dave jumps the flag and starts at t = 0 s, accelerating at a constant rate. One second later Honest Abe starts, accelerating at a constant rate. At t = 4 s, they both have the same speed. Compare their accelerations at t = 4 s.

 

Since the change in speed is the same for both drivers (from rest to the "same speed" at 4 s), and Honest Abe took a smaller time (4 s) to reach that speed than did Dastardly Dave (5 s), Honest Abe must have a larger magnitude for his acceleration.

 

 

 

 


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