The Acceleration of a Cheetah During a Sprint
The cheetah can reach a top speed of 114 km/h (71 mi/h).
While chasing its prey in a short sprint, a cheetah starts from rest and runs 49 m in a straight line, reaching a final speed of 89 km/h.
(a) What is the acceleration of the cheetah during the sprint?
Final answer: The acceleration of the cheetah during the sprint is approximately 80.91 km/h^2. Explanation:To find the acceleration of the cheetah, we can use the equation:
acceleration = (final velocity - initial velocity) / time
Given that the cheetah starts from rest, the initial velocity is 0 km/h. The final velocity is 89 km/h. We need to find the time it takes for the cheetah to reach this final velocity.
We can use the equation:
distance = (initial velocity + final velocity) / 2 * time
Plugging in the values we have:
49 m = (0 km/h + 89 km/h) / 2 * time
Simplifying the equation:
49 m = 44.5 km/h * time
Dividing both sides by 44.5 km/h:
time = 49 m / 44.5 km/h
Converting the units:
time = 1.10 seconds
Now that we have the time, we can calculate the acceleration:
acceleration = (89 km/h - 0 km/h) / 1.10 seconds
acceleration = 89 km/h / 1.10 seconds
acceleration = 80.91 km/h^2
The cheetah can reach a top speed of 114 km/h. What factors determine the top speed of a cheetah? The top speed of a cheetah is determined by a combination of factors such as its muscle strength, bone structure, lung capacity, heart size, and overall physical conditioning. Cheetahs are built for speed, with their long, slim bodies, flexible spines, and large nasal passages allowing for efficient air intake. Additionally, their powerful leg muscles and unique adaptations in their skeletal structure contribute to their impressive speed capabilities.