A top fuel dragster can complete a quarter-mile (402 meters) in 4.7 seconds. Assuming that the vehicle starts from rest and that acceleration is constant, calculate (a) the acceleration and (b) the final speed of the top fuel dragster.

Answer 1

the average speed (S) is ... 402 m / 4.7 s

from a zero start, with constant acceleration, the top speed is twice the average
... St = 2 S

acceleration is top speed divided by time
... a = St / 4.7 s

Answer 2

average speed = 402/4.7 = 85.5 m/s

top speed = 2*85.5 = 171 m/s

a = (171-0)/4.7 = 36.4 m/s^2