- #1
dejan
- 29
- 0
Homework Statement
Ok so i have this simple question on a physics practice sheet, and because i don't get how the professor got his answers (answer are given) i have become confused and created this question into a difficult one. I am very annoyed when i can't get the exact same answer as the professors answers, and i have followed every step. Here is the question
A truck drivers 12km east in 20 minutes and then drives 4 km north in 10 minutes. What is the average velocity of the truck for the entire trip?
The Attempt at a Solution
So i draw it all...in the notes, it basically says, average velocity = (delta)x/time
so i get my delta x by subtracting the 12km-4km = 8km (i'm not going to convert here). It says average velocity for the entire trip so i gather you subtract/add the numbers...and also convert the 20minutes and 10minutes to hour seeing how you're working with km here...30min=0.5hr.
Now i put that all into the equation, av.= 8/0.5 = 16??
But the answers say, 24km/hr east and 8km/hr north (6.7m/s east, 2.2m/s north) ??
I know how those numbers came about...12km+12km=24, 4km+4km=18 and the m/s ones came from the conversions of 12km=3.33m/s and 4km=1.11m/s so you just double those...i know I'm doing something wrong here, I've made it seem too difficult when it's only supposed to be a simple exercise...
And also, the question after that one, is a bit similar, except that there is no addition or subtraction of any numbers, it just basically gives you the over all x and time which you divide both and i get the same answer...i'm going to go back and read over my notes because i think I've missed something...any help would be great thanks!