a race car traveling northward on a straight, level track at a constant speed travels 0.750 km in 20.0 s. the return trip over the same track is made in 25.0 s.
a) what is the average velocity if the car in m/s for the first leg of the run?
b) what is the average velocity for the total trip?
750 m/ 20 s
1500 m / 45 s
To find the average velocity, we use the formula:
Average velocity = displacement / time
a) For the first leg of the run, the car travels 0.750 km in 20.0 s. To find the average velocity, we need to convert km to m since the unit for velocity is m/s.
1 km = 1000 m
So, the displacement is 0.750 km * 1000 m/km = 750 m.
Using the formula, average velocity = displacement / time, we have:
Average velocity = 750 m / 20.0 s = 37.5 m/s
Therefore, the average velocity for the first leg of the run is 37.5 m/s.
b) For the total trip, we have two legs - one going northward and the other returning. Since the total distance traveled in both legs is 0.750 km + 0.750 km = 1.50 km, we need to calculate the total time taken for the round trip.
The time for the first leg is 20.0 s, and the time for the return trip is 25.0 s. So, the total time is 20.0 s + 25.0 s = 45.0 s.
To find the total average velocity, we use the formula:
Average velocity = total displacement / total time
Since the car returns to its initial position, the total displacement is zero. Therefore, the total average velocity is zero.
Therefore, the average velocity for the total trip is zero.