Final answer:
Caitlyn's deceleration, which is a negative acceleration, is calculated using the formula for acceleration with the given values. The resulting acceleration is -4 m/s², indicating a decrease in speed over 3 seconds.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question provided refers to calculating the acceleration of a person named Caitlyn who is decelerating from an initial velocity of 16 m/s to a final velocity of 4 m/s over a period of 3 seconds. Acceleration is defined as the rate of change of velocity and can be calculated using the formula:
acceleration (a) = (final velocity (vf) - initial velocity (vi)) / time (t)
By inputting the given values:
a = (4 m/s - 16 m/s) / 3 s
a = (-12 m/s) / 3 s
a = -4 m/s2
The negative sign indicates that Caitlyn is decelerating. Therefore, Caitlyn's acceleration is -4 m/s2.