Question

While traveling along a highway, a driver slows from 24 m/s to 12 m/s in 4 seconds. What is the acceleration?

a) 3 m/s/s
b) 3 m/s^2
c) 9 m/s/s

Answer 1

the answer is -3m/s^2 for the given question

Answer 2

To calculate the acceleration of a driver slowing down from 24 m/s to 12 m/s in 4 seconds, we use the formula a = Δv/Δt, resulting in an acceleration of -3 m/s², indicating deceleration.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks, "While traveling along a highway, a driver slows from 24 m/s to 12 m/s in 4 seconds. What is the acceleration?" To find the acceleration, we use the formula a = Δv/Δt, where Δv is the change in velocity and Δt is the change in time.

The change in velocity is the final velocity minus the initial velocity (Δv = vf - vi). We substitute 12 m/s for vf (final velocity) and 24 m/s for vi (initial velocity) to get Δv = 12 m/s - 24 m/s = -12 m/s. The negative sign indicates that the car is slowing down.

The change in time (Δt) is 4 seconds. Finally, we calculate the acceleration by dividing the change in velocity by the change in time, which gives us a = (-12 m/s) / (4 s) = -3 m/s2.

Therefore, the correct answer is (b) 3 m/s2, with the understanding that the negative sign represents deceleration.