4.4. Acceleration characteristics

Try these first

1. 1.

   Define acceleration capacity.

   Hint

   Think about what affects a vehicle's speed.

2. 2.

   What happens to acceleration rates as speed increases?

   Hint

   Recall how vehicles behave when they go faster.

3. 3.

   What generally happens to acceleration rates as speed increases?

   • They increase
   • They decrease
   • They remain constant

   Hint

   Think about how vehicles behave in quick acceleration versus steady speeds.

4. 4.

   True or False: Heavier vehicles accelerate faster than lighter vehicles.

   • True
   • False

   Hint

   Consider the impact of weight on movement.

5. 5.

   Given the acceleration capacities of different vehicles, calculate how long it would take a truck to reach a speed of 30 mph from rest if its acceleration rate is 5 mph/s.

   Hint

   Use the basic formula of time = distance / speed.

6. 6.

   Design a traffic signal timing plan for an intersection heavily used by both trucks and cars, considering their acceleration characteristics.

   Hint

   Remember to account for the slower start time of trucks compared to cars.