An object traveling along the x-axis at constant acceleration has a velocity of +10m/s when it is at x=6.0 m and of +15m/s when it is at x=10.0m. What is its acceleration?

Explanation:

We us the third equation of a uniformly accelerated motion.

where v is the final velocity, u the initial velocity, a the acceleration and s the distance covered.

Given;

v = 15m/s

u = 10m/s

the distance covered is given by;

where,

Therefore,

Substituting all values into equation (1);

see the picture for the vector

the magnitude of the vector by pythagorean theorem

r = √( (-10)^2 + (3)^2 ) = √109

magnitude = √109 units

the direction angle between vector and x-axis is

tan^(-1)(3/10) = 16.699

so the direction is approximately 16.7 degrees north of west