Question

Your golden retriever Maxwell barrels into the room and begins sliding on the freshly waxed floor. If he enters the room at a velocity of 6.0 m/s, and slides 6 meters in 2.2 seconds, what will his acceleration be?

Answer 1

The distance $d = 6m$ traveled under the constant acceleration $a$ in time $t = 2.2s$ is given with the formula:

$$d = v_0t -\dfrac{at^2}{2}$$

where $v_0 = 6m/s$ is the initial speed. Expressing the acceleration, obtain:

$$a = \dfrac{2v_0}{t} - \dfrac{2d}{t^2}\\ a = \dfrac{2\cdot 6}{2.2} - \dfrac{2\cdot 6}{2.2^2} \approx 2.98m/s^2$$

Answer. 2.98 m/s^2.