Final answer:
To calculate the horizontal and vertical distances traveled by the car, use kinematic equations incorporating the angle of the hill's incline. The horizontal distance is approximately 172 meters and the vertical distance is approximately 15.9 meters after 12 seconds of acceleration.
Step-by-step explanation:
Calculating Distance of a Car Accelerating Up a Hill
When a car starting from rest accelerates up a hill at 2.4 m/s² for 12 seconds and the hill is inclined at 5.5 degrees above the horizontal, we will calculate the horizontal and vertical distances traveled using the kinematic equations of motion. The scenario is a physics problem involving kinematics and components of motion along a slope.
Known variables:
Acceleration (a) = 2.4 m/s²
Time (t) = 12 s
Angle of incline (Θ) = 5.5°
Horizontal distance (x): We use the equation x = v₀ t + (1/2) a t² cos(Θ), where v₀ is the initial velocity which is 0.
x = 0 + (1/2) × 2.4 m/s² × (12 s)² × cos(5.5°)
x ≈ 172 m (horizontal distance)
Vertical distance (y): We use the equation y = (1/2) a t² sin(Θ).
y = (1/2) × 2.4 m/s² × (12 s)² × sin(5.5°)
y ≈ 15.9 m (vertical distance)
The units are consistent (meters for distance, seconds for time), and the result seems reasonable for a car accelerating moderately for 12 seconds.