Final answer:
To calculate the acceleration of a passenger hitting a steering wheel, we use the formula a = Δv / Δt. The question lacks the collision time, but with an example time of 0.5 seconds and initial velocity of 38 m/s, the acceleration is -76 m/s².
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the acceleration of a passenger into a steering wheel during an abrupt stop, we can use the formula derived from the equation of motion under uniform acceleration, which is a = Δv / Δt, where Δv is the change in velocity and Δt is the time taken for the change. Although the question does not specify the time duration of the collision, we can provide the formula so the student can insert the time value when it is known. The car comes to a stop, so its final velocity is 0 m/s. If we assume a hypothetical collision time (which is necessary for this calculation), we can then insert this value along with the initial velocity of 38 m/s into the formula. For example, if the collision time was 0.5 seconds, the acceleration would be a = (0 - 38 m/s) / 0.5 s = -76 m/s². The negative sign indicates that the acceleration is in the opposite direction to the initial velocity.