Willie, in a 100.0 m race, initially accelerates uniformly from rest at 2.00 m/s2 until reaching his top speed of 12.0 m/s. He maintained this speed until he is 16.0 m from the finish line but then fades and decelerates uniformly, crossing the line with a speed of only 8.00 m/s. What is Willie’s total time for the race? Please show your steps :)

The total time for the race is 11.6 seconds

Explanation:

The parameters given are;

Total distance ran by Willie = 100.0 m

Initial acceleration = 2.00m/s²

Top speed reached with initial acceleration = 12.0 m/s

Point where Willie start to fade and decelerate = 16.0 m from the finish line

Speed with which Willie crosses the finish line = 8.00 m/s

The time and distance covered with the initial acceleration are found using the following equations of motion;

v = u₀ + a·t

v² = u₀² + 2·a·s

Where:

v = Final velocity reached with the initial acceleration = 12.0 m/s

u₀ = Initial velocity at the start of the race = 0 m/s

t = Time during acceleration

a = Initial acceleration = 2.00 m/s²

s = Distance covered during the period of initial acceleration

From, v = u₀ + a·t, we have;

12 = 0 + 2×t

t = 12/2 = 6 seconds

From, v² = u₀² + 2·a·s, we have;

12² = 0² + 2×2×s

144 = 4×s

s = 144/4 =36 meters

Given that the Willie maintained the top speed of 12.0 m/s until he was 16.0 m from the finish line, we have;

Distance covered at top speed = 100 - 36 - 16 = 48 meters

Time, of running at top speed = Distance/velocity = 48/12 = 4 seconds

The deceleration from top speed to crossing the line is found as follows;

v₁² = u₁² + 2·a₁·s₁

Where:

u₁ = v = 12 m/s

v₁ = The speed with which Willie crosses the line = 8.00 m/s

s₁ = Distance covered during decelerating = 16.0 m

a₁ = Deceleration

From which we have;

8² = 12² + 2 × a × 16

64 = 144 + 32·a

64 - 144 = 32·a

32·a = -80

a = -80/32 = -2.5 m/s²

From, v₁ = u₁ + a₁·t₁

Where:

t₁ = Time of deceleration

We have;

8 = 12 + (-2.5)·t₁

t₁ = (8 - 12)/(-2.5) = 1.6 seconds

The total time = t + + t₁ =6 + 4 + 1.6 = 11.6 seconds.

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