Question

A world record was set for the men's 100 m dash in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing by Usain Bolt of Jamaica. Bolt "coasted" across the finish line with a time of 9.69 s.

a) If we assume that Bolt accelerated for 2.82 s to reach his maximum speed, and maintained that speed for the rest of the race, calculate his maximum speed (in m/s) and his acceleration (in ).
b) During the same Olympics, Bolt also set the world record in the 200 m dash with a time of 19.30 s. Using the same assumptions as for the 100 m dash, what was his maximum speed for this race (in m/s)?

Answer 1

Usain Bolt's maximum speed and acceleration for the 100 m and 200 m dashes in the 2008 Olympics can be calculated using the given information.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate Usain Bolt's maximum speed and acceleration for the 100 m dash in the 2008 Olympics, we can use the information provided. Bolt accelerated for 3.00 s and maintained that speed for the rest of the race. We need to find his maximum speed and acceleration.

To find the maximum speed, we divide the distance by the time Bolt accelerated for. The maximum speed = distance / time = 100 m / 3.00 s = 33.33 m/s.

To find the acceleration, we use the formula: acceleration = change in velocity / time. Since Bolt reached his maximum speed and maintained it, the change in velocity is 0 m/s. Therefore, the acceleration is 0 m/s².

Using the same assumptions for the 200 m dash, we can calculate Bolt's maximum speed. The maximum speed = distance / time = 200 m / 3.00 s = 66.67 m/s.