In: Physics
A sprinter accelerates at 3.08 m/s2 for a certain number of seconds during a 100.0 meter race. She runs the rest of the race at top speed and finishes the race in 10.59 s. What is her top speed?
Length of the race = L = 100 m
Total time taken by the sprinter to finish the race = T = 10.59 sec
Initial speed of the sprinter = V1 = 0 m/s
Acceleration of the sprinter = a = 3.08 m/s2
Top speed of the sprinter = V2
Time taken to reach the top speed = T1
V2 = V1 + aT1
V2 = 0 + aT1
V2 = aT1
Distance the sprinter travels while accelerating = L1
L1 = V1T1 + aT12/2
L1 = (0)T1 + aT12/2
L1 = aT12/2
Time period the sprinter travels at top speed = T2
T = T1 + T2
T2 = T - T1
Distance the sprinter travels at top speed = L2
L2 = V2T2
L2 = (aT1)(T - T1)
L2 = aTT1 - aT12
L = L1 + L2
L = aT12/2 + aTT1 - aT12
L = aTT1 - aT12/2
100 = (3.08)(10.59)T1 - (3.08)T12/2
100 = 32.62T1 - 1.54T12
1.54T12 - 32.62T1 + 100 = 0
T1 = 17.46 sec or 3.72 sec
T1 cannot be greater than the total time period which is 10.59 sec.
T1 = 3.72 sec
V2 = aT1
V2 = (3.08)(3.72)
V2 = 11.46 m/s
Top speed of the sprinter = 11.46 m/s