Question

World-class sprinters can accelerate out of the starting blocks with an acceleration that is nearly horizontal and has a magnitude of 15 m/s². What is the magnitude of the acceleration?

1) 15 m/s²
2) 0 m/s²
3) 9.8 m/s²
4) 30 m/s²

Answer 1

The magnitude of the world-class sprinter's acceleration out of the starting blocks is 15 m/s², which is option 1).

Step-by-step explanation:

The magnitude of the acceleration for a world-class sprinter out of the starting blocks, which is nearly horizontal, is 15 m/s². This value is given directly in the question and does not need any calculation. The sprinter's acceleration is a measure of how quickly they can increase their velocity over time. Magnitude in physics refers to the size or quantity of a physical property, in this case, acceleration, without considering its direction. Thus, the magnitude of the acceleration in the scenario described is 15 m/s², making option 1) the correct answer.