A spaceship is observed traveling in the positive x direction with a speed of 150m/s when it begins accelerating at a constant rate. The spaceship is observed 25s later traveling with an instantaneous velocity of 1500m/s at an angle of 55 degrees above the +x axis. What was the magnitude of the acceleration of the spaceship during the 25 seconds?

Question

A spaceship is observed traveling in the positive x direction with a speed of 150m/s when it begins accelerating at a constant rate.  The spaceship is observed   25s later traveling with an instantaneous  velocity of 1500m/s at an angle of 55 degrees above the +x axis.  What was the magnitude of the acceleration of the spaceship during the 25 seconds?

Damon · Accepted Answer

new x velocity component = 1500 cos 55 = 860 change in x component = 860 - 150 = 710 change in y component = 1500 sin 55 = 1228 magnitude of change = sqrt(710^2+1228^2) = 1419 1419/25 = 56.7 m/s^2