Question

During a 5.0-second interval, an object with a mass of 8.0 kg changes velocity from 25 meters per second east to 15 meters per second east. Determine the magnitude and direction of the object's acceleration.

(A) 2.0 m/s^2, east
(B) 2.0 m/s^2, west
(C) 4.0 m/s^2, east
(D) 4.0 m/s^2, west

Answer 1

The magnitude of the object's acceleration is 2 m/s² east.

Step-by-step explanation:

The magnitude of acceleration can be calculated by dividing the change in velocity by the time interval. In this case, the object's velocity changes from 25 m/s east to 15 m/s east. The change in velocity is 15 m/s - 25 m/s = -10 m/s. Since the time interval is 5 seconds, the magnitude of the acceleration is |-10 m/s / 5 s| = 2 m/s². The negative sign indicates that the acceleration is in the opposite direction of the initial velocity, so the acceleration is east.