An object travels North at $4 m/s$ for $1 s$ and then travels South at $2 m/s$ for $4 s$ . What are the object's average speed and velocity?

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Answer 1 · 2017-05-09T07:00:35

$S_av$ of object is $= 2.4 m/s$

$V_av$ of object is $=4/5 m/s$

The displacement of the object going $N$ for $1s$ is:

$N- ((4m)/s)*1s = 4m$

The displacement of the object going $S$ for $4s$ is:

$S- ((2m)/s)*4s = 8m$

We can take $S$ as the positive direction in this case where $N$ is opposite, so total displacement is:

$D=8m-4m=4m$

Time taken for the displacement is: $t=5s$

Average velocity is the displacement divided by the total time:

$V_av=(4m)/(5s)=4/5 m/s$

The total distance traveled is #4m+8m=12m

Average speed is the distance traveled divided by the time.

$S_av=(12m)/(5s) = 12/5 m/s = 2.4 m/s$

An object travels North at 4 m/s 4 m/s for 1 s1 s and then travels South at 2 m/s 2 m/s for 4 s 4 s. What are the object's average speed and velocity?