Final answer:
When decelerating at a constant rate, the speed of an object decreases over time. To determine the speed when you have traveled only half the distance, we can use the formula: Final speed = Initial speed - (Deceleration rate * Time).
Step-by-step explanation:
When decelerating at a constant rate, the speed of an object decreases over time. In this case, the initial speed is 13.5 m/s and the deceleration rate is 3.1 m/s². To determine the speed when you have traveled only half the distance, we can use the formula:
Final speed = Initial speed - (Deceleration rate * Time)
Since we are only interested in the speed when half the distance is covered, we can substitute the time with half the total time taken to stop.
Let's denote the total time taken to stop as T. So the final speed when half the distance is covered can be calculated as:
Final speed = 13.5 m/s - (3.1 m/s² * (T/2))
Therefore, to determine whether the speed is 6.8 m/s, greater than 6.8 m/s, or less than 6.8 m/s, we need to substitute the value of T into the equation and do the calculation.