Mechanics - SUVAT Equations
Pearson Edexcel Mathematics 2022
See Physics - SUVAT EquationsA, it’s largely the same.
Choosing an equation with no time
If you have two cars which decelerate the same amount ($a$) over the same distance ($s$), which SUVAT equation can you use?
\[v^2 = u^2 + 2as\]
Two cars, $A$ and $B$, have a $100ms^{-1}$ and $80ms^{-1}$ velocity respectively. Car $B$ reaches a final velocity of $0ms^{-1}$. Car $A$ reaches a final velocity of $x\\, ms^{-1}$. They decelerate the same amount ($a$) over the same distance ($s$). What two SUVAT equations can you come up with?
\[0^2 = 80^2 + 2as\]
\[x^2 = 100^2 + 2as\]
Acceleration due to gravity arithmetic
Equating velocities at a shared point
You are told that 
It seems like there’s one equation with two unknowns. How can you find $k$?
It seems like there’s one equation with two unknowns. How can you find $k$?Use the fact that the velocity at $k$ must be equal for both curves.