Xander reached a final velocity of 4.5 m/s in 3.5 seconds. Finley reached a final velocity of 3.6 m/s in 4.2 seconds. Max reached a final velocity of 7.3 m/s in 1.2 seconds. They all started at the same location from rest.

Which lists them from least to most acceleration?

Max Finley Xander
Max Xander Finley
Xander Finley Max
Finley Xander Max

1 answer

To determine the acceleration of each individual, we can use the formula for acceleration:

\[ a = \frac{\Delta v}{\Delta t} \]

where

  • \( \Delta v \) is the change in velocity (final velocity - initial velocity),
  • \( \Delta t \) is the change in time.

Given that all of them started from rest, the initial velocity is 0 m/s. Therefore, the acceleration for each individual can be calculated as follows:

  1. Xander:

    • Final Velocity (\( v_f \)) = 4.5 m/s
    • Time (\( t \)) = 3.5 s
    • Acceleration (\( a \)) = \(\frac{4.5 , \text{m/s}}{3.5 , \text{s}} \approx 1.29 , \text{m/s}^2\)
  2. Finley:

    • Final Velocity (\( v_f \)) = 3.6 m/s
    • Time (\( t \)) = 4.2 s
    • Acceleration (\( a \)) = \(\frac{3.6 , \text{m/s}}{4.2 , \text{s}} \approx 0.857 , \text{m/s}^2\)
  3. Max:

    • Final Velocity (\( v_f \)) = 7.3 m/s
    • Time (\( t \)) = 1.2 s
    • Acceleration (\( a \)) = \(\frac{7.3 , \text{m/s}}{1.2 , \text{s}} \approx 6.08 , \text{m/s}^2\)

Now we can summarize the accelerations:

  • Xander: \(1.29 , \text{m/s}^2\)
  • Finley: \(0.857 , \text{m/s}^2\)
  • Max: \(6.08 , \text{m/s}^2\)

Now, listing them from least to most acceleration:

  1. Finley: \(0.857 , \text{m/s}^2\)
  2. Xander: \(1.29 , \text{m/s}^2\)
  3. Max: \(6.08 , \text{m/s}^2\)

Thus, the correct order from least to most acceleration is:

Finley, Xander, Max.