Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.

Eric asked in Science & MathematicsPhysics · 8 years ago

Average acceleration problem?

an object is moving along the x axis with a velocity of 20 m/s. in 3.0 seconds, its velocity increases to 58 m/s. what is the average acceleration? if the velocity then decreases to 12 m/s in 8.0 seconds, what is the average acceleration?

1 Answer

Relevance
  • Ian
    Lv 6
    8 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    Over a chosen time interval, final velocity is equal to initial velocity, plus the change in velocity (acceleration) multiplied by time

    Vf = Vi + a*t

    58m/s = 20m/s + a(3.0s)

    38m/s = a(3.0s)

    12.7m/s^2 = a = the acceleration experienced going 20m/s -->58m/s in 3.0s

    For the second part we can change what we're using as 'inital' and 'final' velocities, since this is a different time interval we're now considering. 58m/s will now be the initial velocity, and 12m/s will be the final velocity, while 8s will be the time interval.

    Vf = Vi + a*t

    12m/s = 58m/s + a(8.0s)

    - 46m/s = a(8.0s)

    - 5.75m/s^2 = a = acceleration experienced going 58m/s --> 12m/s in 8.0s

Still have questions? Get your answers by asking now.