A car starts from a speed of 18 m/s with a acceleration of5 m/s^2. Find the time neede for the car to reach 33 m/s

Answer 1

Hi Tajuana!

The easiest place to begin is with the definition of acceleration:

acceleration = [change in velocity] / [change in time]

a = [v_final - v_initial] / [t_final - t_initial]

Rearrange the equation:

a* [t_final - t_initial] = [v_final - v_initial]

Divide by acceleration:

[t_final - t_initial] = [v_final - v_initial] / a

Substitute in your values, keeping in mind that the initial time is zero seconds:

t_final = [33 m/s - 18 m/s] / 5 m/s² = 15 m/s / 5 m/s² = 3 seconds

Hope that helps!