Question

An ice skater accelerates backwards for 5.0 seconds to a final speed of 12 m/s. If the acceleration backwards was at a rate of 1.5 m/s^2 what was the skaters initial speed?

Answer 1

Vo = 4.5 [m/s]

Step-by-step explanation:

In order to solve this problem, we must use the following equation of kinematics.

`v_(f)=v_(o)+a*t`

where:

Vf = final velocity = 12 [m/s]

Vo = initial velocity [m/s]

a = acceleration = 1.5 [m/s²]

t = time = 5 [s]

Now replacing:

`12=v_(o)+1.5*5\\v_(o)=12- (7.5)\\v_(o)= 4.5[m/s]`