Final answer:
The distance traveled by the car, which accelerated uniformly from 15 m/s to 21 m/s over 12 seconds, is calculated using the equations of motion, resulting in a total distance of 216 meters, which is not one of the provided options.
Step-by-step explanation:
To solve for the total distance traveled, we can use the equations of motion. The initial speed (vi) is 15 m/s, and the final speed (vf) is 21 m/s. The time (t) taken to accelerate is 12 s. Firstly, we need to calculate the acceleration (a). a = (vf - vi) / t = (21 m/s - 15 m/s) / 12 s = 0.5 m/s2. Now, to find the total distance (d), we use the formula: d = vit + 0.5at2 Substituting the known values: d = (15 m/s)(12 s) + 0.5(0.5 m/s2)(12 s)2, d = 180 m + 0.5(0.5)(144 m), d = 180 m + 36 m, d = 216 m. Therefore, the correct answer is not present among the options provided. The total distance the car traveled in this 12-second time interval is actually 216 meters.