Question:medium

A car moving at a speed 'V' is stopped in a certain distance with deceleration 'a'. If the speed of the car is 'nV', what must be the deceleration of the car to stop it in the same distance and in the same time?

Show Hint

Stopping distance $s \propto u^2/a$. Stopping time $t \propto u/a$.
Updated On: Jun 19, 2026
  • $\sqrt{n} \cdot a$
  • $n \cdot a$
  • $n^{2} \cdot a$
  • $n^{3} \cdot a$
Show Solution

The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The problem asks for the required deceleration to stop a car from a new speed \( nV \) within the original stopping distance \( s \). Note: The "same time" condition is mathematically inconsistent for constant deceleration if both \( V \) and \( s \) are fixed, so the primary constraint usually considered in such competitive exams is the "same distance".

Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:

From Newton's third equation of motion:
\[ v^2 = u^2 - 2as \] To stop, final velocity \( v = 0 \):
\[ 0 = u^2 - 2as \implies a = \frac{u^2}{2s} \]

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:

Initial Case: speed = \( V \), deceleration = \( a \), distance = \( s \).
\[ a = \frac{V^2}{2s} \] New Case: speed = \( nV \), distance = \( s \), new deceleration = \( a' \).
\[ a' = \frac{(nV)^2}{2s} \] \[ a' = n^2 \frac{V^2}{2s} \] Substituting the value of \( a \) from the initial case:
\[ a' = n^2 a \]

Step 4: Final Answer:

The deceleration must be \( n^2 a \).
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