Physics Page 51 # 18

Secretariat ran the Kentucky Derby with times for each quarter
mile of 25.2s, 24.0s, 23,8s, and 23.0s. (a) Find his average
speed during each quarter mile segment, (b) Assuming that
Secretariat's instantaneous speed at the finish line was the same
as the average speed during the final quarter mile, find his
average acceleration for the entire race. (Hint: Recall that
horses in the Derby start from rest.
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tqtr1 = 25.2s tqtr2 = 24.0s tqtr3 = 23.8s tqtr4 = 23.0s
ttotal = tqtr1 + tqtr2 + tqtr3 + tqtr4
ttotal = 25.2s + 24.0s + 23.8s + 23.0s = 96.0s
0.25 miles = 5280ft/4 = 1320 ft
(a)
1320 ft 13200 ft 6600 ft 3300 ft 1100 ft
Vqtr1 = = = = = = 52.4 ft / s
25.2s 252 s 126s 63s 21s
0.25mi 3600s (25mi)(3600) (25mi)(90) (25mi)(10) 250mi
Vqtr1 = = = = = = 35.7 mi / h
25.2s 1h 2520h 63h 7h 7h

1320 ft 13200 ft 6600 ft 3300 ft 1100 ft

Vqtr 2 = = = = = = 55.0 ft / s
24.0s 240 s 120 s 60 s 20 s
0.25mi 3600 s (25mi)(3600) (25mi)(90) (25mi)(3) 75mi
Vqtr 2 = = = = = = 37.5mi / h
24.0 s 1h 2400h 60h 2h 2h

1320 ft 13200 ft 6600 ft

Vqtr 3 = = = = 55.5 ft / s
23.8s 238s 119 s
0.25mi 3600 s (25mi)(3600) (25mi)(180) (4500mi)
Vqtr 3 = = = = = 37.8mi / h
23.8s 1h 2380h 119h 119h

1320 ft 13200 ft 6600 ft 1320 ft

Vqtr 4 = = = = = 57.4 ft / s
23.0 s 230 s 115s 23s
0.25mi 3600 s (25mi)(3600) (25mi)(36) 900mi
Vqtr 4 = = = = = 39.1mi / h
23.0 s 1h 2300h 23h 23h

(b) Vinitial = 0 and Vf = Vqtr4 = 1320ft/23s = 39.13 ft/s

1320 ft 1320 ft
V f Vi 0
V 1320 ft 1 165 ft 55 ft
a avg = = = 23s = 23s = = =
t t f ti 96s 0 96 s 23s 96s (23s )(12 s ) (23s )(4s )
1
55 ft
a avg = 2
= 0.598 ft / s 2
92s