# Elementary Physics question

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• Sep 10th 2010, 10:53 AM
statman101
Elementary Physics question
A bicyclist starts from at an acceleration of (1.2m/s^2) (1.2 meter per second squared).. how far must he travel to reach a speed of 7m/s.(that 7 meters per second..not second squared)..Can you show how to do this, what is needed to know?
• Sep 10th 2010, 10:54 AM
Ackbeet
How do you handle problems that have a constant acceleration?
• Sep 10th 2010, 11:01 AM
e^(i*pi)
From what I can tell you need to know the initial speed of the cyclist
• Sep 10th 2010, 11:01 AM
Unknown008
Do you know the definition of acceleration?

Basically, we can say in algebra that:

$a = \frac{v - u}{t}$

That is acceleration (constant) is the rate of change of velocity.

From there, you can derive other formulae that can help you better than others depending on what is given.
• Sep 10th 2010, 11:05 AM
statman101
5.83...im confused because the time goes from seconds squared to just seconds
• Sep 10th 2010, 11:06 AM
Ackbeet
When the acceleration is constant, what does the position function look like?
• Sep 10th 2010, 11:21 AM
statman101
what a waste of time...
• Sep 10th 2010, 11:22 AM
Ackbeet
Excuse me? What's a waste of time?
• Sep 10th 2010, 11:34 AM
Unknown008
So, you rather get away with only the answer with nothing learnt from what you didn't understand?(Wondering)