Confused with this negative average velocity

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating a starting position based on a negative average velocity while driving to a specific location. The context is kinematics, specifically focusing on velocity and direction in relation to a reference point.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the meaning of "negative" in the context of velocity and how it relates to direction. Some suggest drawing a graph to visualize the problem, while others express confusion about where to start and how to interpret the negative velocity.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants exploring different interpretations of negative velocity and its implications for the starting position. Guidance has been offered to visualize the problem through graphing, but there is no explicit consensus on the approach to take.

Contextual Notes

Participants are grappling with the implications of negative velocity and its effect on the starting position, indicating a potential misunderstanding of the problem setup. There is also a mention of homework rules regarding the provision of answers.

Suarden
Messages
19
Reaction score
0
EDIT ADDED: I already got it! Thank you for your ideas! :D

1. Homework Statement
If you drive an average velocity of -72.8 Km/h for 55 minutes to a position that is 28.5 KM north of Jollitown, in what position did you start your drive?I'm confused with this negative average velocity, please help me
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
What do you think "negative" means in this context?
 
phinds said:
What do you think "negative" means in this context?
I think it means that it have a negative velocity, and it opposes the direction at the origin, but I am still confused, I do not know where to start. If you can Provide me the answer I can figure it out how to solve it. Hahays, please help me.
 
Suarden said:
I think it means that it have a negative velocity, and it opposes the direction at the origin, but I am still confused, I do not know where to start. If you can Provide me the answer I can figure it out how to solve it. Hahays, please help me.

Draw a graph. Show the end point on the graph. Where do you have to start to end up there if you are going in a "negative" direction relative to the origin? Do you start North, South, East, or West of the end point?
 
phinds said:
Draw a graph. Show the end point on the graph. Where do you have to start to end up there if you are going in a "negative" direction relative to the origin? Do you start North, South, East, or West of the end point?
Is this Right? The starting position starts in (North) but it travels downward, that's why it is negative, so for the initial position of the car I need to compute the distance traveled in 55 minutes and then add it to the 28.5KM? If I only base my answer on the Y axis, does my negative indicates that I travel downward (backward) so the car travels going through the Origin Point? which is the intersection of X and Y axis in the cartesian plane?
 
Do not erase original posts on this forum !
 
phinds said:
Do not erase original posts on this forum !
fyi, the original post has been restored.
 

Similar threads

Conceptual problem in average/instantaneous velocity
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Calculating average velocity for this kind of motion
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
How to calculate average velocity given distance and time?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
Vectors: Displacement, average velocity & speed
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Finding a second velocity with a first and average velocity
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Average Velocity and resultant velocity
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
4K
Calculating Average Speed: Physics Homework Problem
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
2K
Basic Kinematics Problem -- Backpacker's average velocity and distance....
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
What is the displacement and average velocity of a classic car in a road rally?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Tricky velocity/time problem without distance
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
21K