When its brakes are applied, a car moving at 10 m/s undergoes an acceleration of -1.2 m/s2. How far does the car travel before it comes to a stop?
To determine the distance the car travels before it comes to a stop, we can use the following equation of motion:
v^2 = u^2 + 2as
Where:
v = final velocity (0 m/s since the car comes to a stop)
u = initial velocity (10 m/s)
a = acceleration (-1.2 m/s^2)
s = distance traveled
Rearranging the equation, we have:
s = (v^2 - u^2) / (2a)
Substituting the values, we get:
s = (0^2 - 10^2) / (2 * -1.2)
s = (-100) / (-2.4)
s = 41.67 meters
Therefore, the car travels approximately 41.67 meters before it comes to a stop when its brakes are applied.