Try it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
A sprinter's velocity is read from a video every second:
| (s) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (m/s) |
From a table of velocities: the acceleration on each interval is , and the distance is the area under the velocity-time graph, which for straight pieces is a set of trapeziums.
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Step 1. Accelerations. , , , and in the five seconds. The greatest is , in the first second.
Step 2. Strips. .
Answer: (a) The first second, . (b) .
Check. At her top speed of about she would cover in ; the slow start makes it less.
Watch out. In the last second she slows down slightly: a negative acceleration while still running forwards.
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