A train moving at 72 km/h applies brakes and comes to a stop in 5 seconds. What

A train moving at 72 km/h applies brakes and comes to a stop in 5 seconds. What is the acceleration of the train?

A train moving at 72 km/h applies brakes and comes to a stop in 5 seconds. What is the acceleration of the train?

Step 1: Convert the speed from kilometers per hour (km/h) to meters per second (m/s). To do this, use the conversion factor: 1 km/h = 1/3.6 m/s. So, 72 km/h = 72 / 3.6 = 20 m/s.
Step 2: Identify the initial velocity (the speed of the train before braking) and the final velocity (the speed of the train after it stops). The initial velocity is 20 m/s and the final velocity is 0 m/s.
Step 3: Use the formula for acceleration: acceleration = (final velocity - initial velocity) / time. Here, final velocity is 0 m/s, initial velocity is 20 m/s, and time is 5 seconds.
Step 4: Plug the values into the formula: acceleration = (0 - 20) / 5.
Step 5: Calculate the result: acceleration = -20 / 5 = -4 m/s².

Unit Conversion – Understanding how to convert speed from kilometers per hour to meters per second.
Acceleration Calculation – Applying the formula for acceleration, which involves understanding initial and final velocities and the time taken.
Negative Acceleration – Recognizing that deceleration (slowing down) results in a negative acceleration value.