A car approaches a highway on-ramp it increases its velocity from 11m/s[N] to 25m/s[N] over 12s. What is car’s average acceleration?

Question

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Answer 1

The average acceleration is the average rate of change of velocity.

To determine the average acceleration, we divide the total change in velocity by the time it takes to occur. \

Thus if the velocity changed from 11m/s North to 25m/s North in 12 seconds, the average acceleration is

a = (25m/s -11m/s)/ 12s = (14m/s) /12s = 1.17m/s² North.

Remember that velocity and acceleration are both vectors so it is important to take note of their direction.

Acceleration in the direction of the velocity increases velocity, acceleration in the opposite direction reduces the velocity, acceleration at an angle changes the direction of the velocity vector.