Final answer:
The ball, traveling west at 3 m/s and decelerating at 0.25 m/s², will take 12 seconds to come to a stop.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a ball is travelling at a speed of 3 m/s west and encounters a force which slows the ball at a rate of 0.25 m/s², we can determine how long it takes for the ball to stop by using the formula for deceleration: time (t) equals the change in velocity (Δv) divided by the acceleration (a). In this case, since the ball comes to a stop, the final velocity (vf) is 0 m/s, and the initial velocity (vi) is 3 m/s.
The deceleration is given as 0.25 m/s², which we can consider as the acceleration (a), but since it is slowing down the ball, it should be taken as negative. Therefore, we can calculate the time (t) it takes for the ball to stop as follows:
t = Δv / a
t = (0 - 3 m/s) / (-0.25 m/s²)
t = 3 m/s / 0.25 m/s²
t = 12 seconds
So, the ball will take 12 seconds to come to a stop.