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Examples of uniform acceleration in everyday life include a car accelerating from a stop, a falling object, and a roller coaster ride.
A car accelerating from a stop is a common example of uniform acceleration. When the driver steps on the gas pedal, the car starts moving from rest and its speed increases at a steady rate. This is because the force exerted by the engine is constant, resulting in a constant acceleration. The car continues to accelerate until it reaches its desired speed. If you were to plot the car's speed against time, you would see a straight line, indicating uniform acceleration.
Another example is a falling object. When an object is dropped from a height, it accelerates towards the ground due to the force of gravity. This acceleration is uniform, meaning it increases at a constant rate. This is why, for example, if you drop a ball from a certain height, it will fall faster and faster until it hits the ground. The acceleration due to gravity is approximately 9.8 m/s² on Earth, which means that for every second an object falls, its speed increases by about 9.8 m/s.
A roller coaster ride is another example of uniform acceleration. When the roller coaster is going up the first big hill, it is accelerating at a constant rate. This is because the force exerted by the motor is constant. Then, when the roller coaster reaches the top and starts to descend, it begins to accelerate downwards due to gravity. Again, this acceleration is uniform because the force of gravity is constant. The roller coaster continues to accelerate until it reaches the bottom of the hill, at which point it starts to decelerate, or slow down, at a constant rate. This cycle of acceleration and deceleration continues throughout the ride, providing the thrilling experience that roller coaster enthusiasts love.
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