On a spacecraft, two engines are turned on for 666 s at a moment when the velocity of the craft has x and y components of velocity V0x = 3485 m/s and V0y = 5690 m/s. While the engines are firing, the craft undergoes a displacement that has components of x = 4.48 * 10^6 m and y = 6.96 * 10^6 m. Find the x and y components of the craft's acceleration.

So far, I tried this:
Vx = Vox + AxT
so Ax = (Vx-Vox)/T

so... Ax = (4.48*10^6 m - 3485 m/s)/666
Ax = 6721.494

But it says this is incorrect. What am I doing wrong? Please help!

3 answers

THANK YOU for showing your work. We keep trying to get more students to do that but almost no one ever does.

The problem with your treatment is that you are confusing displacement with velocity. You plug in a displacement number and call it Vx. Then you try to subtract a speed from a length dimension. That is not allowed in physics.

You also need to show dimensions along with your numerical answers.

X = (1/2)*Ax*T^2 = 4.48*10^6 m when T = 666 s
Ax = 2*4.48*10^6/(666)^2 = 20.2 m/s^2

Y = 2*6.96*10^6/(666)^2 = 31.4 m/s^2
It says that is also incorrect...????
YOU DIDN'T HELP THE POOR GIRL drwls. GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER.