Question

If an object is moving at `0 ms^-1` and accelerates to `60 ms^-1` over `24/5` seconds, what was the object's rate of acceleration?

Answer 1

Using the formula `v = u + at`, the acceleration is `12.5 ms^-2`.

Explanation:

The useful formula is `v = u + at`, where `v` is the final velocity `(ms^-1)`, `u` is the initial velocity `(ms^-1)`, `a` is the acceleration `(ms^-2)` and `t` is the time `(s)`.

Rearranging, `a=(v-u)/t = (60-0)/(24/5) = 12.5 ms^-2`

{whisper}Not sure what this US obsession with fractions is all about! I guess the answer could be expressed as `25/2 ms^-2`, but why ?{/whisper}