Final answer:
The acceleration of a skier sliding down a 12-degree slope is most nearly 2 m/s², calculated by taking the sine of the slope angle (12 degrees) and multiplying it by the acceleration due to gravity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student is asking about the acceleration of a skier sliding down a slope that is inclined 12 degrees below the horizontal. To answer this question, we will refer to basic physics principles concerning motion on an inclined plane without considering the effects of friction and air resistance. The acceleration of an object sliding down an incline can be determined by using the component of gravitational acceleration (g) that is parallel to the slope. The gravitational acceleration is approximately 9.8 m/s2 on Earth.
To find the acceleration component parallel to the slope (a), we use the formula:
a = g × sin(θ)
Where:
θ is the angle of the slope relative to the horizontal plane (12 degrees)
Substituting the values into the formula gives us:
a = 9.8 m/s2 × sin(12°) ≈ 9.8 m/s2 × 0.2079
Which yields:
a ≈ 2.04 m/s2
Therefore, the skier's acceleration is most nearly 2 m/s2 (option b).