A top fuel dragster can accelerate from 0-330mph in the time it takes to go 1000ft. assume that the acceleration is constant. what is the acceleration
x = 1/2 a * t^2
v = a * t
where x is distance, a is acceleration, t is time, and v is speed
First you have to get the units to match. You probably want your answer of acceleration to be in ft/second^2, so convert 330 mph to ft/s
330 miles/hour = 330 miles / 3600 s = 0.0916 miles / s = 0.0916 * 5280 ft / s
= 484 ft / s
Plug numbers into the equation:
1000 = 1/2 a * t^2
484 = a * t
Use algebra to solve for a:
t = 484 / a
Plug equation for t into equation for x and you get:
1000 = (.5 * (484)^2 ) / a
solve for a
a = (.5 * 484^2 )/ 1000
a = 117 ft/s^2
You can then convert this to other units if that's what the problem asks for (i.e., m/s^2, etc)