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A sprinter with a mass of 84 kg starts from rest and runs the first 11 m in 3.0 s at a constant acceleration. The question is: what is a reasonable model to describe the sprinter's acceleration?

A. 0.5 m/s²
B. 1.0 m/s²
C. 1.5 m/s²
D. 2.0 m/s²

User Tyler Rash
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1 Answer

4 votes

Final answer:

A reasonable model to describe the sprinter's acceleration is approximately 2.4 m/s².

Step-by-step explanation:

The sprinter's initial speed is 0 m/s and the distance covered is 11 m. The time taken is 3.0 s. To find the model for the sprinter's acceleration, we can use the equation:

distance = initial velocity x time + (1/2) x acceleration x time^2

Using the given values, we have:

11 m = 0 x 3.0 s + (1/2) x acceleration x (3.0 s)^2

Simplifying the equation:

11 m = (1/2) x acceleration x 9.0 s^2

22 m = acceleration x 9.0 s^2

acceleration = 22 m / 9.0 s^2 ≈ 2.4 m/s²

Therefore, a reasonable model to describe the sprinter's acceleration is approximately 2.4 m/s² (Option D).

User Jerluc
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