Final answer:
To catch the shuttle before it reaches the barrier, you need to reach the same distance in a shorter time. Using the equation v = u + at, and plugging in the given values, the minimum velocity is approximately 45.07 m/s.
Step-by-step explanation:
To catch the shuttle before it reaches the barrier, you need to reach the same distance in a shorter time. The minimum velocity can be calculated using the equation:
v = u + at
where v is the final velocity, u is the initial velocity, a is the acceleration, and t is the time. Since the shuttle has a constant acceleration of 4.6 m/s² and the distance is 45.2 m, let's assume the initial velocity is 0 m/s. Plugging in the values, we get:
v = 0 + 4.6t
45.2 = 0 + 4.6t
t = 45.2 / 4.6
t ≈ 9.83 s
Now we can plug this value of t back into the equation to find the minimum velocity:
v = 0 + 4.6(9.83)
v ≈ 45.07 m/s
Therefore, the minimum velocity you have to run at to catch the bus before it reaches the barrier is approximately 45.07 m/s.