A car is traveling 26 m/s when the driver
applies the brakes and brings the car to a stop in 5 seconds. The acceleration can be calculated using the formula:
acceleration = (final velocity - initial velocity) / time
In this case, the initial velocity is 26 m/s, the final velocity is 0 m/s (as the car stops), and the time is 5 seconds.
acceleration = (0 m/s - 26 m/s) / 5 s
acceleration = -26 m/s / 5 s
acceleration = -5.2 m/s^2
Therefore, the car's acceleration when the driver applies the brakes is -5.2 m/s^2 (note the negative sign indicates deceleration).