Question

A roller coaster car rapidly picks up speed as it rolls down a slope. As it starts down the slope, its speed is 4 m/s.
But 3 seconds later, at the bottom of the slope, its speed is 22 m/s. What is its average acceleration?

Answer 1

Answer on Question 83736, Physics, Other

Question:

A roller coaster car rapidly picks up speed as it rolls down a slope. As it starts down the slope, its speed is 4 m/s. But 3 seconds later, at the bottom of the slope, its speed is 22 m/s. What is its average acceleration?

Solution:

We can find the average acceleration of the roller coaster car from the kinematic equation:

$$v_f=v_i+at,$$

here,

$$v_i$$

is the initial speed of the car as it starts down the slope,

$$v_f$$

is the final speed of the car at the bottom of the slope,

$$a$$

is the average acceleration of the car and

$$t$$

is the time.

Then, from this formula we can find the average acceleration of the car:

$$a=(v_f-v_i)/t=(22 m/s - 4 m/s)/3 s=6 m/s^2.$$

Answer:

$$a=6 m/s^2$$

.