which one best describes appr. uniform velocity?
1. a hockey puck sldng across the ice
2. a baseball pitched toward a batter
3. the tip of the minute hand on a clock
4. an olympic sprinter running the 100m
The answer is 3 but you need to know why! (Think about things like friction, wind, etc. which are forms of resistance and how fast a minute hand moves around the clock...does it ever change speed?)
The best example that describes approximately uniform velocity among the options provided is a hockey puck sliding across the ice.
Uniform velocity refers to the motion of an object where it travels the same distance in equal intervals of time. In other words, the object moves at a constant speed in a straight line, without any changes in direction. Here's how we can analyze the given options to determine which one best fits this definition:
1. A hockey puck sliding across the ice: This example is the most suitable for approximating uniform velocity because when a hockey puck slides across the ice, assuming there are no external forces (such as friction or air resistance) affecting it, it tends to maintain a relatively constant speed in a straight line.
2. A baseball pitched toward a batter: In this scenario, the baseball is not moving at a constant speed but rather accelerating as it is thrown toward the batter. Therefore, it does not demonstrate uniform velocity.
3. The tip of the minute hand on a clock: The movement of the minute hand on a clock is not uniform velocity because it does not travel the same distance in equal intervals of time. The minute hand moves faster from minute to minute and slower as it approaches the next hour.
4. An Olympic sprinter running the 100m: Although an Olympic sprinter may maintain a high speed while running, it doesn't qualify as uniform velocity because the speed is not constant. The sprinter typically starts from rest, accelerates to reach their maximum speed, and might decelerate slightly toward the end of the race.
Therefore, the correct answer is 1. A hockey puck sliding across the ice.