Average velocity? Average speed?

[CMATT]

Homework Statement

A cow runs in a straight line, moving 108 m east in 16.4 seconds. It then turns and runs 93 m north in 7.64 seconds. a) What was the cow's average speed over the whole trip?
b) What was the cow's average velocity over the whole trip?

Homework Equations

average speed = total distance traveled / time

average velocity = displacement / time

The Attempt at a Solution

a) average speed = (108 m + 93 m) / (16.4 s + 7.64 s) = 8.36 m/s

b) average velocity = (108 m - 93 m) / (16.4 s + 7.64 s) =

I keep getting the wrong answer for average velocity ... what am i doing wrong? It says on my homework the right answer is 5.93 m/s northeast

Thanks!

 

[SammyS]

Homework Statement

A cow runs in a straight line, moving 108 m east in 16.4 seconds. It then turns and runs 93 m north in 7.64 seconds. a) What was the cow's average speed over the whole trip?
b) What was the cow's average velocity over the whole trip?

Homework Equations

average speed = total distance traveled / time

average velocity = displacement / time

The Attempt at a Solution

a) average speed = (108 m + 93 m) / (16.4 s + 7.64 s) = 8.36 m/s

b) average velocity = (108 m - 93 m) / (16.4 s + 7.64 s) =

I keep getting the wrong answer for average velocity ... what am i doing wrong? It says on my homework the right answer is 5.93 m/s northeast

Thanks!

The magnitude of the displacement is the straight-line distance from the beginning point to the ending point. Consult Mr. Pythagoras .

 

[HallsofIvy]

The problem said west and then north. You seem to have thought it was west and then east.

 

[CMATT]

The problem said west and then north. You seem to have thought it was west and then east.

So do I add them together then?

 

[HallsofIvy]

Have you at least drawn a picture? Did you think about SammyS's remark about "Pythagoras"?

 

[CMATT]

Have you at least drawn a picture? Did you think about SammyS's remark about "Pythagoras"?

Yes, I drew a graph with N/S/E/W directions and lines showing where the cow is relative to the direction. She is traveling east at first, and then changes direction to go north. Both positive directions...but even when I add them and divide I'm still getting it wrong. As for the pythagoras, I'm not sure what to plug into where

 

[PeroK]

Yes, I drew a graph with N/S/E/W directions and lines showing where the cow is relative to the direction. She is traveling east at first, and then changes direction to go north. Both positive directions...but even when I add them and divide I'm still getting it wrong. As for the pythagoras, I'm not sure what to plug into where

If you go 108m east then 93m north, how far are you from where you started?

 

[nrqed]

Homework Statement

A cow runs in a straight line, moving 108 m east in 16.4 seconds. It then turns and runs 93 m north in 7.64 seconds. a) What was the cow's average speed over the whole trip?
b) What was the cow's average velocity over the whole trip?

Homework Equations

average speed = total distance traveled / time

average velocity = displacement / time

The Attempt at a Solution

a) average speed = (108 m + 93 m) / (16.4 s + 7.64 s) = 8.36 m/s

b) average velocity = (108 m - 93 m) / (16.4 s + 7.64 s) =

I keep getting the wrong answer for average velocity ... what am i doing wrong? It says on my homework the right answer is 5.93 m/s northeast

Thanks!

Keep in mind that an average velocity is a *vector* because displacement is a vector. Find the total displacement (a vector) and divide it by the total time interval. By the way, their answer is not completely correct; northeast means 45 degrees north of east but the correct answer is not exactly 45 degrees north of east.

 

[CMATT]

If you go 108m east then 93m north, how far are you from where you started?

201 m ?

 

[PeroK]

201 m ?

Okay, an interesting answer! What about this.

You have a large football field that is 108m long and 93m wide. You put a flag in one corner, then you walk 108m east and 93m north to the opposite corner and put another flag there. How far are the flags apart?