Question

A bicyclist in the Tour de France crests a mountain pass as he moves at 18 km/h. At the bottom, 4.0 km farther, his speed is at 75 km/h. What is the average acceleration (in m/s^2) while riding down the mountain?

Answer 1

We are given:

v0 = initial velocity = 18 km/h

d = distance = 4 km

v = final velocity = 75 km/h

a =?

We can solve this problem by using the formula:

v^2 = v0^2 + 2 a d

75^2 = 18^2 + 2 (a) * 4

5625 = 324 + 8a

a = 662.625 km/h^2