Final answer:
The child's centripetal acceleration on the merry-go-round is calculated using the formula a = v^2 / r resulting in an acceleration of 4.5 m/s^2.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is asking to calculate the child's acceleration while riding on a merry-go-round. To find the acceleration of the child, we need to use the formula for centripetal acceleration, which is a = v^2 / r, where v is the linear speed and r is the radius of the circular path. Inserting the values given in the question, acceleration a would be equal to (3 m/s)^2 / 2 m, which results in 4.5 m/s2. Therefore, the child's centripetal acceleration is 4.5 m/s2.