Final answer:
To find the float's position at 3.5 s, we substitute into the equation to get -3.95 m. To determine when the float is at x = 0, we solve the equation for time, resulting in 6.13 s. These calculations are based on the provided motion equation in the context of kinematics, within high school physics.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question involves determining a float's position in a parade given its equation of motion and then finding at what time the float is at a specific position. This can be categorized under kinematics, a topic within high school physics.
a) Where is the float at 3.5 s?
To find the float's position at 3.5 seconds, we substitute t with 3.5 seconds into the equation x = -9.2 + (1.5 m/s) * t:
x(3.5 s) = -9.2 m + (1.5 m/s) * (3.5 s) = -9.2 m + 5.25 m = -3.95 m
So, the float is at -3.95 meters from the reference point at 3.5 seconds.
b) At what time is the float at x = 0?
To find the time when the float is at the position x = 0, we set the equation to zero and solve for t:
0 = -9.2 m + (1.5 m/s) * t
t = 9.2 m / (1.5 m/s) = 6.13 seconds
Therefore, the float crosses the position x = 0 at approximately 6.13 seconds.
a) To find the position of the float at 3.5 seconds, we substitute t = 3.5 into the equation x = -9.2 + (1.5 m/s) * t:
x = -9.2 + (1.5 m/s) * 3.5
x = -9.2 + 5.25
x = -3.95 m
So, the float is at -3.95 meters at 3.5 seconds.
b) To find the time when the float is at x = 0, we set the equation x = -9.2 + (1.5 m/s) * t equal to 0 and solve for t:
-9.2 + (1.5 m/s) * t = 0
1.5 m/s * t = 9.2
t = 9.2 / 1.5
t = 6.13 s
Therefore, the float is at x = 0 at 6.13 seconds.