Answer to Question #240376 in Physics for Morgan Hopkin

Question

A cheetah accelerates from rest at 9.2 m/s². How long will it take the cheetah to reach a distracted gazelle that is 66 m away from the cheetah?

Answer 1

Using the kinematic formula

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

where $d=66m$ is the distance, $a = 9.2m/s^2$ is the acceleration, and $t$ is the time, find:

$$t = \sqrt{\dfrac{2d}{a}}\\ t = \sqrt{\dfrac{2\cdot 66m}{9.2m/s^2}} \approx 3.8 s$$

Answer. 3.8 s.