A car initially traveling at 30 m/s passes a road sign located 750 meters ahead in a time of 12 seconds. When the car reaches the road sign, the driver applies the breaks and brings the car to rest at a traffic light located 900 meters ahead of the road sign. Determine the cars acceleration during the first 12 seconds of motion in m/s^2

Question

A car initially traveling at 30 m/s passes a road sign located 750 meters ahead in a time of 12 seconds. When the car reaches the road sign, the driver applies the breaks and brings the car to rest at a traffic light located 900 meters ahead of the road sign. Determine the cars acceleration during the first 12 seconds of motion in m/s^2

Answer 1

To find the car's acceleration during the first 12 seconds of motion, we can use the equation:

acceleration = (final velocity - initial velocity) / time

The car's initial velocity is 30 m/s (given), and the final velocity is 0 m/s since the car comes to rest at the traffic light. The time is 12 seconds (given).

acceleration = (0 m/s - 30 m/s) / 12 s
= -30 m/s / 12 s
= -2.5 m/s^2

Therefore, the car's acceleration during the first 12 seconds of motion is -2.5 m/s^2. Note that the negative sign indicates deceleration or slowing down.