Question

A car travels to the left at a steady speed for a few seconds, then brakes for a stop sign. Draw a complete motion diagram of the car

Short answer

The complete motion diagram of the car is shown

Step-by-step solution

Step 1. Write the given information

The car travels toward the left with constant speed.

The car applies breaks to stop after few seconds.
Thus, the final speed of the car is zero.

Step 2. To draw the motion diagram.

Each point in the motion diagram represents the position of the car with respect to time. The velocity of the car from one point to another is higher for the points which are at a higher distance from each other. the acceleration of the car at any point is determined by the change in velocity of the car with respect to time. The vector diagram is shown below;

1. The car travels at constant speed till point 5.
2. The acceleration of the car till point 5 is zero as there is no change in the velocity.
3. It applies break at point 5.
4. The car slows down. Therefore, the points in the motion diagrams are shown closer to each other after point 5.
5. The acceleration at points 5, 6, and 7 is towards the left. It is against the motion of the car.
6. At point 9, the car stops.