Calculating Average Velocity for a Car with Changing Acceleration and Direction

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the average velocity of a car that accelerates from rest with changing direction and acceleration over a specified time period. The problem involves understanding the effects of acceleration in different directions and how to compute average velocity based on displacement.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the initial conditions of the car's motion, including its acceleration and direction. Questions are raised about the car's position after specific time intervals and how to calculate total displacement. There is an exploration of breaking down the motion into components to better understand the problem.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants attempting to clarify the steps needed to find the average velocity. Some guidance has been offered regarding the breakdown of motion into components, but there is no explicit consensus on the final solution or methodology.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating the complexities of vector addition and displacement in two dimensions, with some uncertainty about the calculations involved. The original poster's approach and the subsequent responses indicate a need for further exploration of the problem's setup and assumptions.

jelly1500
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[SOLVED] acceleration and velocity

1. Homework Statement
EXACT PROBLEM:
A car accelerates from rest W at 5.0m/s2 for 10.0s, then continues this acceleration NE for another 10.0s. What is the average velocity of the car for its journey to its position after 20.0s? 2. Homework Equations
average velocity=average displacement/time
Delta x=Vit + 1/2at^2
Vf=Vi+at

3. The Attempt at a Solution
First, I found Delta x and Vf for the west vector than found Delta x for the NE vector. Then I tried to find the displacement using Pythagoreans theorem but it was not the correct answer.
 
Last edited:
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jelly1500 said:
A car accelerates from rest W at 5.0m/s2 for 10.0s,
Where's the car after 10 s?
then continues this acceleration NE for another 10.0s.
Now where is it? What's the total distance displacement from the origin?
 
after the first 10 sec., its 250 meters away, then after the second 10 sec., its 750 meters
 
What's the exact location?
 
oh, I get it! I'm supposed to break in down into it's x and y components. Thank you so much!
 

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