Mike's car can accelerate from 0 mph to 40 mph in 5 seconds. What is the acceleration of his car in miles per hour per second?

1 Answer
Jun 12, 2017

8 ("mi"/"h")/"s"8mihs

Explanation:

To solve this equation, we can use the kinematics equation

v_x = v_(0x) + a_xtvx=v0x+axt

where

  • v_xvx is the velocity at time tt (4040 "mi/h"mi/h)

  • v_(0x)v0x is the initial velocity (00)

  • a_xax is the acceleration, in "mi"/("h"-"s")mihs(miles per hour per second) and

  • tt is the time (55 "s"s)

Plugging in known variables, we have

4040 "mi/h" = 0 + a_x(5mi/h=0+ax(5 "s")s)

a_x = color(red)(8 "mi"/("h"-"s")) = color(red)(8("mi"/"h")/"s"ax=8mihs=8mihs

The acceleration of Mike's car is 88 miles per hour-second (miles per hour per second).