A fighter jet is launched from an aircraft carrier's catapult system. The jet accelerates … — Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)

A fighter jet is launched from an aircraft carrier's catapult system. The jet accelerates from rest to a takeoff speed of $180 \text{ km/h}$ in exactly $2.5 \text{ seconds}$ . Assuming the acceleration is constant, what is the magnitude of the jet's average acceleration in $\text{m/s}^2$ ?

A
$72 \text{ m/s}^2$
B
$125 \text{ m/s}^2$
$20 \text{ m/s}^2$ Answer
D
$0.05 \text{ m/s}^2$

Answer

20 \text{ m/s}^2

Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity over time. To solve this problem, the final velocity must first be converted from kilometers per hour to standard SI units (meters per second). Multiplying

180 \text{ km/h}

\frac{1000}{3600}

gives

50 \text{ m/s}

. Since the jet starts from rest, the change in velocity is

50 \text{ m/s}

. Dividing this change by the total time of

2.5 \text{ seconds}

yields an average acceleration of

20 \text{ m/s}^2

Step-by-Step Solution

Identify the given variables and the target unit.

Initial velocity

v_i = 0

, final velocity

v_f = 180 \text{ km/h}

, time

t = 2.5 \text{ s}

. Target unit is

\text{m/s}^2

Establishing knowns and units is required to select the correct formula and conversions.

Convert the final velocity from

\text{km/h}

\text{m/s}

180 \times \frac{1000 \text{ m}}{3600 \text{ s}} = 50 \text{ m/s}

Standard kinematics formulas require consistent SI units (meters and seconds) before calculating acceleration.

Apply the average acceleration formula.

a = \frac{\Delta v}{t} = \frac{50 \text{ m/s} - 0 \text{ m/s}}{2.5 \text{ s}}

Acceleration is defined as the rate of change of velocity over time.

Calculate the final magnitude.

a = 20 \text{ m/s}^2

Dividing

50

2.5

yields the constant acceleration rate.

Key Concept

Calculating average acceleration utilizing consistent unit conversions.

Question

Answer

Step-by-Step Solution

Key Concept

Common Mistakes

Topics

More questions from this topic