Hector went to the music store by heading due south at 3 m/s, then turning West and continuing at the same speed for another three blocks. Which of the following is true about Hector's velocity?
Hector's velocity changed because his speed changed.
Hector's velocity changed because his direction changed.
Hector's velocity did not change because his direction did not change.
Hector's velocity did not change because his speed did not change.
Hector's velocity changed because his direction changed.
The correct answer is: Hector's velocity changed because his direction changed.
To determine whether Hector's velocity changed or not, we need to understand the concept of velocity. Velocity is a vector quantity that describes the rate at which an object changes its position. It has both magnitude (speed) and direction.
In this scenario, Hector initially traveled due south at a speed of 3 m/s. Moving in a straight line with a constant speed and direction means that his velocity remains the same. The magnitude (speed) of Hector's velocity is 3 m/s, and the direction of his velocity is due south.
When Hector turned west and continued at the same speed for another three blocks, his direction changed. Now, he is moving in a direction perpendicular to his initial path. Since his direction changed, his velocity also changed. The magnitude of his velocity remains the same (3 m/s), but the direction is different. Therefore, the correct statement is:
Hector's velocity changed because his direction changed.