An astronaut has left the International Space Station to test a new space scoote

Question

An astronaut has left the International Space Station to test a new space scooter. Her partner measures the following velocity changes, each taking place in a time interval 12.0 s . What are the average acceleration in each interval? Assume that the positive direction is to the right.

(A) At the beginning of the interval the astronaut is moving toward the right along the x-axis at 15.3 m/s , and at the end of the interval she is moving toward the right at 5.50 m/s .

(B) At the beginning she is moving toward the left at 5.50 m/s , and at the end she is moving toward the left at 15.3 m/s .

(C) At the beginning she is moving toward the right at 15.3 m/s , and at the end she is moving toward the left at 15.3 m/s .

Explanation / Answer

average acceleration aavg = (v2-v1)/dt

A)

v2x = + 5.5 m/s

v1x = + 15.3 m/s

ax = (v2x-v1x)/dt = (5.5 - 15.3)/12

ax = -0.82 m/s^2

================

B)

v1x = -5.5 m/s

v2x = -15.3 m/s

ax = (v2x-v1x)/dt = (-15.3 -(-5.5))/12

ax = -0.82 m/s^2

===================

(C)

v1x = 15.3 m/s

v2x = -15.3 m/s

ax = (v2x-v1x)/dt = (-15.3 -15.3)/12

ax = -2.55 m/s^2

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