Acceleration, Velocity, and Work

Most recent answer: 12/14/2014

Q:
Does it take more energy for higher accelerations? For example, does it take more energy to accelerate from 0 to 20 mph in 3 second than to accelerate from 0 to 20 mph in 15 seconds?
- Tony V (age 76)
Saint Augustine, FL
A:

Hello Tony,

Kinetic energy is related to velocity by   KE = 1/2 MV2 where M is the mass.    This result is independent of the rate of acceleration or the amount of time taken.

On the other hand, for a uniform acceleration, A, the amount of time it takes to reach a velocity V is V/A and the distance traveled is X = V2/2A .

 

LeeH


(published on 12/14/2014)