Question

If an object is moving at `12 m/s` and accelerates to `32 m/s` over 3 seconds, what was the object's rate of acceleration?

Answer 1

The acceleration is `"7 m/s"^2"`.

Explanation:

`a=(v_f-v_i)/(Delta t)`, where `a` is acceleration, `v_f` is final velocity, `v_i` is initial velocity, and `Delta t` is the time interval.

Given
`v_i="12 m/s"`
`v_f="32 m/s"`
`Delta t="3 s"`

Solution
Substitute the given values into the equation.

`a=(32"m/s"-12"m/s")/(3"s")`

`a=(20"m/s")/(3"s")`

`a="7 m/s"^2"` (rounded to one significant figure)