Question

Li is riding her bicycle at 8.0 m/s. She slows down to 4.0 m/s. Her change in velocity is m/s. If Li takes 2 seconds to make this change, her acceleration is m/s2.

Answer 1

Her change in speed is (4 m/s - 8 m/s) = -4 m/s.

Her acceleration is

(change in speed) / (time for the change)

= ( -4 m/s ) / (2 sec)

= -2 m/s² .

Answer 2

You will have to use this formula:
$v = vo + a \times t$

Final Velocity (V) = 4m/s
Initial Velocity (Vo) = 8m/s
Acceleration (a) = ? m/s^2
Time (t) = 2 secs

Then:

-> 4 = 8 + a x 2
-> 4 - 8 = 2a
-> -4 = 2a
-> a = -4/2
-> a = -2 m/s^2

Ps: It's value is negative because the she was in retrograde motion.

Answer: Her acceleration is -2 m/s^2.