Help with Homework Problem on Acceleration

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The Australian emu, which holds a land speed record of 13.9 m/s, slows down from this speed to 10.5 m/s over 2.7 seconds. The direction of the bird's acceleration is opposite to its velocity, indicating it is directed north. Assuming constant acceleration, the bird's velocity after an additional 3.9 seconds would be 6.6 m/s due north. This calculation involves determining the acceleration and applying it to the initial velocity. The discussion highlights the relationship between velocity, acceleration, and direction in this context.
shawonna23
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The land speed record of 13.9 m/s (31 mi/h) for birds is held by the Australian emu. An emu running due south in a straight line at this speed slows down to a speed of 10.5 m/s in 2.7 s.

What is the direction of the bird's acceleration?

Assuming that the acceleration remains the same, what is the bird's velocity after an additional 3.9 s has elapsed?
 
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shawonna23 said:
The land speed record of 13.9 m/s (31 mi/h) for birds is held by the Australian emu. An emu running due south in a straight line at this speed slows down to a speed of 10.5 m/s in 2.7 s.

What is the direction of the bird's acceleration?

Assuming that the acceleration remains the same, what is the bird's velocity after an additional 3.9 s has elapsed?

direction of bird's acceleration: Well obviously it's not due south, otherwise it would be accelerating. Hmm i wonder...

10.5 = 13.9 + a(2.7)

a = - (3.4/2.7)m/s^2<------------ what do you think the negative sign signifies?

for the second part. Just use vf = vi + at
 


The direction of the bird's acceleration would be in the opposite direction of its velocity, which in this case is due south. This means that the acceleration is in the north direction.

If the acceleration remains the same, the bird's velocity after an additional 3.9 s would be 6.6 m/s due north. This can be calculated by subtracting the acceleration of 0.4 m/s^2 (calculated by dividing the change in velocity, 2.7 m/s, by the change in time, 2.7 s) from the initial velocity of 10.5 m/s and then multiplying it by the additional time of 3.9 s. This would result in a velocity of 6.6 m/s due north.
 
The book claims the answer is that all the magnitudes are the same because "the gravitational force on the penguin is the same". I'm having trouble understanding this. I thought the buoyant force was equal to the weight of the fluid displaced. Weight depends on mass which depends on density. Therefore, due to the differing densities the buoyant force will be different in each case? Is this incorrect?

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