Average Acceleration - Calculate Magnitude & Direction

[TyErd]

A bird is flying north at 5 m/s. The bird veers and travels at 5 m/s east. This happens over a 2 second period. what is the average acceleration (magnitude and direction) during this 2 second interval?

 

[rl.bhat]

It is vector subtraction problem. Find (V2 - V1) and divide it by t.

 

[TyErd]

correct me if I am wrong but is the answer 5? I am not sure

 

[rl.bhat]

V1 is towards north, v2 is towards east. - v1 is towards south. V1 and V2 are at right angle to each other. There fore magnitude of the change in velocity is sqrt(V1^2 + V2^2)

 

[TyErd]

So the average acceleration is 3.53m/s/s Yes?

 

[rl.bhat]

Yes.