Final answer:
The average acceleration of an object moving with an initial velocity of 6.0 m/s and coming to a stop in 4.0 seconds is -1.5 m/s², which indicates deceleration.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the average acceleration of an object that comes to a complete stop from an initial velocity, we can use the formula for acceleration (a), which is defined as the change in velocity (Δv) divided by the time taken for that change (t), a = Δv / t.
Given that the object has an initial velocity (vo) of 6.0 m/s and that it comes to a stop, its final velocity (vf) is 0 m/s. The time taken (t) for this change is 4.0 seconds. Using the formula, we have:
Acceleration, a = (vf - vo) / t
= (0 m/s - 6.0 m/s) / 4.0 s
= -1.5 m/s²
The negative sign indicates that the acceleration is in a direction opposite to the initial velocity, which in this case, means it is slowing down. This is called deceleration or negative acceleration.