Question

A sprinter accelerates at 7.5 m/s from rest in 2.0 s, what distance did she go? (15 m)

Answer 1

Answer:

The sprinter traveled a distance of 7.5 m

Explanation:

Motion With Constant Acceleration

It's a type of motion in which the rate of change of the velocity of an object is constant.

The equation that rules the change of velocities is:

$v_f=v_o+at\qquad\qquad [1]$

Where:

a   = acceleration

vo = initial speed

vf  = final speed

t    = time

The distance traveled by the object is given by:

$\displaystyle x=v_o.t+\frac{a.t^2}{2}\qquad\qquad [2]$

Using the equation [1] we can solve for a:

$\displaystyle a=\frac{v_f-v_o}{t}$

The sprinter travels from rest (vo=0) to vf=7.5 m/s in t=2 s. Computing the acceleration:

$\displaystyle a=\frac{7.5-0}{2}$

$a=3.75\ m/s^2$

Now calculate the distance:

$\displaystyle x=0*2+\frac{3.75*2^2}{2}$

$\displaystyle x=7.5\ m$

The sprinter traveled a distance of 7.5 m