A car going 50 m/s speeds up to 80 m/s in 6 seconds. Calculate the car's acceleration.

To find acceleration you need to know change of speed (ΔS).

What is ΔS for this equation?

1.   ?    ΔS = 30 m/s
2.   ?    ΔS = -30 m/s
3.   ?    ΔS = 50 m/s
4.   ?    ΔS = 80 m/s

A car going 50 m/s speeds up to 80 m/s in 6 seconds. Calculate the car's acceleration.

Step 1: assign variables

Which of the following is correct?

1.   ?    
   a = ?
   ΔS= 30 m/s
   ΔT = 6 sec
2.   ?    
   a = 30 m/s
   ΔS= ?
   ΔT = 6 sec
3.   ?    
   a = 30 m/s
   ΔS= 6 sec
   ΔT = ?
4.   ?    
   
   a = ?
   ΔS= 6 sec
   ΔT = 30 m/s

A car going 50 m/s speeds up to 80 m/s in 6 seconds. Calculate the car's acceleration.

Step 1: assign variables
a = ?
ΔS= 30 m/s
ΔT = 6 sec

Step 2: formula

What is the correct formula?

1.   ?    a = ΔS/ΔT
2.   ?    a = ΔT/ΔS
3.   ?    a = ΔSΔT
4.   ?    a/ΔS = ΔT

A car going 50 m/s speeds up to 80 m/s in 6 seconds. Calculate the car's acceleration.

Step 1: assign variables
a = ?
ΔS= 30 m/s
ΔT = 6 sec

Step 2: formula
a = ΔS/ΔT

Step 3: put in numbers.

Which of the following is correct?

1.   ?    a = (30 m/s)(6 sec)
2.   ?    a = (30 m/s)/(6 sec)
3.   ?    30 m/s = ΔS/(6 sec)
4.   ?    a = (6 sec)/(30 m/s)

A car going 50 m/s speeds up to 80 m/s in 6 seconds. Calculate the car's acceleration.

Step 1: assign variables
a = ?
ΔS= 30 m/s
ΔT = 6 sec

Step 2: formula
a = ΔS/ΔT

Step 3: put in numbers.
a = (30 m/s)/(6 sec)

Step 4: calculate an answer

1.   ?    a = 5 m/s²
2.   ?    a = 36 m/s²
3.   ?    a = 180 m/s²
4.   ?    a = 24 m/s²