Question

A Thomson's gazelle can reach a speed of 13 m/s in 3.0 s. A lion can reach a speed of 9.5 m/s in 1.0 s. A trout can reach a speed of 2.8 m/s in 0.12 s. Which equation from the formula sheet should you use to determine which animal has the largest acceleration?

Answer 1

Answer:

The acceleration of Trout is largest.

Explanation:

Speed of Thomson's gazelle, v = 13 m/s in 3 s. Let us assumed that initial speed is 0. Acceleration is given by :

$a_T=\dfrac{v-u}{t}\\\\a_T=\dfrac{v}{t}\\\\a_T=\dfrac{13\ m/s}{3\ s}\\\\a_T=4.34\ m/s^2$

Speed of lion is 9.5 m/s in 10 s. Let us assumed that initial speed is 0. Acceleration is given by :

$a=\dfrac{v-u}{t}\\\\a_l=\dfrac{v}{t}\\\\a_l=\dfrac{9.5\ m/s}{1\ s}\\\\a_l=9.5\ m/s^2$

A trout can reach a speed of 2.8 m/s in 0.12 s. Let us assumed that initial speed is 0. Acceleration is given by :

$a=\dfrac{v-u}{t}\\\\a_t=\dfrac{v}{t}\\\\a_t=\dfrac{2.8\ m/s}{0.12\ s}\\\\a_t=23.34\ m/s^2$

It is clear that the acceleration of Thomson's gazelle, lion and trout is $4.34\ m/s^2, 9.5\ m/s^2\ and\ 23.34\ m/s^2$ respectively. So, the acceleration of Trout is largest.