Final answer:
The average acceleration that describes the change in velocity of the horse is -1.5 m/s².
Step-by-step explanation:
The average acceleration that describes the change in velocity of the horse can be found using the equation:
Acceleration (a) = Change in Velocity (v) / Time (t)
Given that the initial velocity (u) of the horse is 13 m/s and the final velocity (v) is 5.5 m/s, the change in velocity (Δv) is:
Δv = v - u = 5.5 m/s - 13 m/s = -7.5 m/s
The time interval (t) is 5 seconds. Substituting the values into the equation:
a = Δv / t = -7.5 m/s / 5 s = -1.5 m/s²
Therefore, the acceleration is -1.5 m/s².