Finding acceleration from distance and time

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on calculating the acceleration of a bullet shot from a rifle, given its mass (m=15.5 g), barrel length (L=1.02 m), and time spent in the barrel (t=0.16 s). The correct formula to derive acceleration (a) is a = 2L/t², which incorporates the constant acceleration assumption and the relationship between distance, time, and acceleration. Participants emphasize the importance of using kinematic equations, particularly the equation for uniformly accelerated motion, to solve the problem accurately.

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  • Understanding of kinematic equations in physics
  • Familiarity with concepts of uniform acceleration
  • Basic knowledge of distance, time, and acceleration relationships
  • Ability to manipulate algebraic expressions
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Homework Statement


A bullet with a mass of m=15.5 g is shot out of a rifle that has a length of L=1.02 m. The bullet spends t=0.16 s in the barrel.

Write an expression, in terms of given quantities, for the magnitude of the bullet's acceleration, a, as it travels through the rifle's barrel. You may assume the acceleration is constant throughout the motion.

So I'm supposed to write an acceleration equation using L and t but everything I try it says is wrong and the only hints are to use the given information and that there's a 2 somewhere in the numerator.

Homework Equations


I'm trying to find the equation. But I assume that V= d/t is used somehow and then a=v(final)+v(initial) / t is also used

The Attempt at a Solution


I tried just putting d/t (or L/t) where v goes in the acceleration equation but it says there's a 2 somewhere in the numerator that is also somehow related to L. So I tried squaring L and also L/t but neither of those was right and I also tried putting (2(L/t))/t which was also wrong. I only have one guess left before I just get a 0 on this part of the problem and the rest of the problem requires this formula (I tried to figure out the rest without doing this part but couldn't).
 
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In an uniform accelerated motion the space traveled by a particle at any time is given by x(t)=1/2at^2

With the initial condition: V(initial)= 0 and x(initial)=0
 
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