A race official has instruments that record only the position of a sprinter at…
PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Mechanics and materials · Mechanics and materials
Problem
A race official has instruments that record only the position of a sprinter at selected instants but do not directly measure velocity. The official wants to determine the sprinter’s average acceleration during the first few seconds of the race.
(1) Outline a procedure—using position data at three distinct instants—that would allow the official to compute an average acceleration value. List the specific quantities that must be obtained at each step.
(2) Explain why measurements at only two instants are insufficient for this task and discuss how unequal time intervals between the three measurements influence the result.
(3) Describe the difference between the average acceleration obtained by your procedure and the sprinter’s instantaneous acceleration at any given moment during the race.