Physics-Question, Homework

Question

Question-I've yet to figure out: please help.

1. "A motorboat accelerates uniformly from a velocity of 6.2 m/s to the west to a velocity of 2.1 m/s to the west. If its acceleration was 3.4 m/s2 to the east, how far did it travel during the acceleration? Answer in units of m. "

Answer 1

A motorboat accelerates uniformly from a velocity of 6.2 m/s to the west to a velocity of 2.1 m/s to the west. If its acceleration was 3.4 m/s2 to the east, how far did it travel during the acceleration? Answer in units of m. 

1. Remember acceleration can be positive or negative and has a direction.
2. It’s being assumed you remember 
3. SPEED * TIME = VELOCITY 
4. DISTANCE * TIME = SPEED
5. We need to find the time first in order to find distance.

Starting Velocity : 6.2 m/s 

Ending Velocity: 2.1 m/s

Acceleration: -3.4 m/s2 (east is the opposite of west so it becomes a negative)

Amount of Travel: m 

6.2 m/s - ( -3.4 m/s * time in seconds) = 2.1 m/s

 - ( -3.4 m/s * time in seconds) = 2.1 m/s - 6.2 m/s

3.4 m/s * -time in seconds = -4.1 m/s

(3.4 m/s * -time in seconds) / 3.4 m/s = -4.1 m/s  / 3.4 m/s 

Time 1.21s - Plug this into our equation for velocity

Distance (Amount of Travel) * 1.21s = 3.4 m/s2

(Distance (Amount of Travel) * 1.21s) /  1.21s = (3.4 m/s) /  1.21s 

Distance (Amount of Travel) 2.81m

Hope this helps!