Question

A snail starts from rest and accelerates at a rate of .500 mm/sec². If the snail continues uniform acceleration for 5.0 minutes, how many meters did the snail travel? (there are 60 seconds in one minute and 1000 millimeters in one meter) Which variable is missing in this story problem?

Answer 1

Using the kinematic equation for uniformly accelerated motion, the snail travels 22.5 meters after 5.0 minutes of uniform acceleration at a rate of 0.500 mm/s². No variable is missing from the question.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks to calculate the distance traveled by a snail accelerating at a rate of 0.500 mm/s² over a period of 5.0 minutes. To solve for the distance, we can use the kinematic equation for uniformly accelerated motion:

d = ut + (1/2)at²

Where d is the displacement, u is the initial velocity (which is 0 since the snail starts from rest), a is the acceleration, and t is the time in seconds. First, we convert 5.0 minutes to seconds (5.0 minutes × 60 seconds/minute = 300 seconds) and mm to meters by dividing by 1000. Applying the values we have:

d = 0 + (1/2)(0.0005m/s²)(300s)²

d = (0.5)(0.0005)(300²)

d = (0.5)(0.0005)(90000)

d = 22.5 meters

The snail has traveled a distance of 22.5 meters after 5 minutes with uniform acceleration. There isn't a variable missing in the problem statement provided; all the necessary information to solve the problem is present.