Question

A bus moving at 5m/sec stops in 1.5 seconds. Calculate the acceleration.

a) 3.33 m/s^2
b) 2.50 m/s^2
c) 5.00 m/s^2
d) 1.25 m/s^2

Answer 1

The acceleration of the bus is found by dividing the change in velocity by the time taken. With an initial velocity of 5 m/s and stopping in 1.5 seconds, the calculation gives an acceleration of -3.33 m/s². The correct answer is (a) 3.33 m/s².

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the acceleration of a bus that stops in 1.5 seconds from a speed of 5 m/s, we can use the formula for acceleration (a), which is:

a = Δv / t

Where Δv is the change in velocity (final velocity - initial velocity) and t is the time taken for this change. Since the bus stops, the final velocity is 0 m/s, and the initial velocity is 5 m/s. Plugging these values into the formula gives:

a = (0 m/s - 5 m/s) / 1.5 s = -5 m/s / 1.5 s = -3.33 m/s²

The negative sign indicates that the acceleration is in the opposite direction of the motion (deceleration). The absolute value of the acceleration is 3.33 m/s², so the correct answer is (a) 3.33 m/s²