What is the average acceleration vector given a car's north and east velocities?

In summary, the average acceleration of a car moving north at 100km/h and then east at 100km/h is a vector pointing southeast. This may be confusing because when the two velocity vectors are added tip to tail, the resultant vector is pointing northeast. However, the average acceleration is determined by subtracting the initial velocity from the final velocity, not by adding them. It may be helpful to review the definition of average acceleration.
  • #1
lostpersson
Question: A car is moving north at 100km/h. An hour later it is moving east at 100km/h. Its average acceleration during this hour is:
a) A vector pointing northeast
b) A vector pointing southeast
c) A vector pointing southwest
d) A vector pointing east
e) Zero

Attempt: I confidently chose a) A vector pointing northeast, but apparently that is wrong. The correct answer is b) A vector pointing southeast. I don't understand why this is so, since when you add the two vectors tip to tail, the resultant vector is pointing northeast...
 
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  • #2
Does the average acceleration involve the addition of the two velocity vectors or the subtraction of them? Might be a good idea to review the definition of average acceleration.
 
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1. What is "average acceleration vector"?

Average acceleration vector is a quantity that describes the average rate of change of an object's velocity over a period of time. It is a measure of how much the velocity of an object changes per unit of time.

2. How is "average acceleration vector" different from "instantaneous acceleration"?

Average acceleration vector represents the overall change in velocity over a period of time, while instantaneous acceleration represents the change in velocity at a specific moment in time. Average acceleration is calculated by dividing the change in velocity by the elapsed time, while instantaneous acceleration is calculated by taking the derivative of the velocity with respect to time.

3. What is the formula for calculating "average acceleration vector"?

The formula for average acceleration vector is:
Average acceleration = (final velocity - initial velocity) / time interval

4. What is the unit of measurement for "average acceleration vector"?

The unit of measurement for average acceleration vector is meters per second squared (m/s²). This unit represents the change in velocity (m/s) over the change in time (s).

5. How is "average acceleration vector" used in real life?

Average acceleration vector is used in various fields such as physics, engineering, and sports. In physics, it is used to describe the motion of objects in terms of position, velocity, and acceleration. In engineering, it is used to design and analyze the motion of machines and structures. In sports, it is used to track and improve the performance of athletes, such as measuring the acceleration of a sprinter during a race.

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