An object travels North at $3$ $ms^-1$ for $6$ $s$ and then travels South at $4$ $ms^-1$ for $4$ $s$ . What are the object's average speed and velocity?

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An object travels North at $3$ $ms^-1$ for $6$ $s$ and then travels South at $4$ $ms^-1$ for $4$ $s$ . What are the object's average speed and velocity?

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Answer 1 · 2017-05-13T04:44:50

speed = 3.4ms^-1#

velocity = 0.2ms^-1# North

Explanation:

The average speed is the total distance traveled divided by the total time.

In this case, the object travels $3xx6=18$ $m$ North and then $4xx4=16$ $m$ South. That means it travels a total of $18+16=34$ $m$ in $6+4=10$ $s$ , so

speed = distance/time = $34/10 = 3.4$ $ms^-1$

The average velocity is the final displacement from the start point, divided by the total time. Since the object traveled $18$ $m$ North and then changed direction and traveled $16$ $m$ South, the displacement is $2$ $m$ North (remember, displacement and velocity are vector quantities, so we must specify direction).

velocity = displacement/time = $2/10 = 0.2$ $ms^-1$ North

(also, it really helps to draw a diagram)

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An object travels North at $3$ $ms^-1$ for $6$ $s$ and then travels South at $4$ $ms^-1$ for $4$ $s$ . What are the object's average speed and velocity?

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An object travels North at $3$ $ms^-1$ for $6$ $s$ and then travels South at $4$ $ms^-1$ for $4$ $s$ . What are the object's average speed and velocity?