A go-kart is set into motion with an initial speed of 5 m/sec. It moves for 20 seconds. At the end of that time, its speed is 25 m/sec. What is the magnitude of the go-kart’s acceleration?

Question

A go-kart is set into motion with an initial speed of 5 m/sec. It moves for 20 seconds. At the end of that time, its speed is 25 m/sec. What is the magnitude of the go-kart’s acceleration??  
A. 1.0 m/sec²  
B. 2.5 m/sec²  
C. 15 m/sec²  
D. 20 m/sec²

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: (A)1.0 m/sec². 
Rationale: The magnitude of the go-kart’s acceleration is 1.0 m/s².Starting from 5 m/s and reaching 25 m/s over a 20-second interval, the rate of change in velocity is consistently 1.0 meter per second squared, as dictated by the definition of average acceleration.A) 1.0 m/s²This value is obtained by applying the standard kinematic formula for constant acceleration: a=vf−vit=25 m/s−5 m/s20 s=1.0 m/s2a=tvf​−vi​​=20 s25 m/s−5 m/s​=1.0 m/s2. It correctly accounts for both the initial and final velocities and the elapsed time, yielding a physically meaningful and dimensionally consistent result.B) 2.5 m/s²This would imply the go-kart reached 25 m/s in just 8 seconds from rest, or ignored the initial velocity entirely. It misapplies the acceleration formula and does not reflect the actual motion described, making it inconsistent with the given data.C) 15 m/s²This number equals the numerical difference between the final and initial speeds but fails to divide by time. Acceleration requires a temporal component; without it, the value represents only a change in velocity, not an acceleration, and thus lacks physical validity in this context.D) 20 m/s²This is simply the total change in velocity (20 m/s) reported as if it were acceleration. It omits the essential division by the 20-second duration, violating the definition of acceleration as change in velocity per unit time.ConclusionOnly option A correctly computes acceleration using the proper relationship between velocity change and time. The go-kart’s acceleration is therefore 1.0 m/s². The correct answer is A) 1.0 m/s².

A go-kart is set into motion with an initial speed of 5 m/sec. It moves for 20 seconds. At the end of that time, its speed is 25 m/sec. What is the magnitude of the go-kart’s acceleration?

A
1.0 m/sec²

B
2.5 m/sec²

C
15 m/sec²

D
20 m/sec²

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Related Questions

A go-kart is set into motion with an initial speed of 5 m/sec. It moves for 20 seconds. At the end of that time, its speed is 25 m/sec. What is the magnitude of the go-kart’s acceleration?

A 1.0 m/sec² B 2.5 m/sec² C 15 m/sec² D 20 m/sec²

Topic Flashcards

Mini Quiz

Related Questions

A
1.0 m/sec²

B
2.5 m/sec²

C
15 m/sec²

D
20 m/sec²