what is the greatest acceleration?

Question

The acceleration of gravity is 10 m/s^2 :
What is the greatest acceleration a runner
can muster if the friction between her shoes
and the pavement is 96% her weight? In units of m/s^2.

Answer 1

Since you can't accelerate more than the friction that there is between your shoes and the pavement, you find the maximum acceleration by doing this

Friction = 0.96*m*g

wehre friction is the force given by friction to your shoes, m is the mass of the runner and g is the acceleration of gravity

since friction is the force you use this equation

friction = m*a

where a is the acceleration of the runner. Substituting, you get

m*a = m*0.96*g

since the mass is the same...

a = 0.96*g

so the greatest acceleration a runnar can muster is

a = 0.96*10 m/s2 which equals

a = 9.6 m/s2

hope this helps.

Answer 2

I always thought g = 9.8 m/s^2

Friction is always a fraction of weight and weight is function of mass and g.

F =( M)a

F = 0.96 (M) g

The mass terms divide out and you're left with

0.96 g = acceleration or in your case 0.96x10 = 9.6 m/s^2

Answer 3

It depends on whether there is a full moon or not.