Question

During a race, a sprinter increases from 5.0 m/s to 7.5 m/s over a period of 1.25 s. What is the sprinter’s average acceleration during this period? _____m/s/s

Answer 1

Acceleration = Change in Velocity/Time taken
= 2.5/1.25
= 2m/s^2 (or 2m/s/s)

Answer 2

acceleration is the rate of change of velocity

the speed has increased from 5 m/s to 7.5 m/s over a period of 1.25 s

the formula to calculate acceleration is as follows

`a = (v-u)/(t)`

where a - acceleration

u - initial velocity

v - final velocity

t - time

substituting the values in the equation

`a = (7.5 m/s - 5.0 m/s)/(1.25 s) = (2.5)/(1.25) = 2`

acceleration is 2 m/s²