Distance Traveled & Average Speed

AI Thread Summary
The driver travels at a steady speed of 30.0 m/s for 55 minutes, followed by a speed of 10 m/s for 5 minutes. To find the total distance, the problem can be divided into two segments, calculating the distance for each speed separately. The average speed is not simply the mean of the two speeds; it requires the total distance divided by the total time. The discussion emphasizes breaking down the problem and correctly applying the distance formula for each segment to arrive at the final answers.
dgsigala
Messages
4
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



A driver maintains a steady speed of 30.0 m/s for 55 min and then slows to 10 m/s for the next 5 mins. Determine the the total distance traveled and the average speed for the trip.


Homework Equations



a = v−v0/t



The Attempt at a Solution



a = 30 - 10 / 60 = .333

Please help me, haven't taken physics in a long time. Review for class.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
distance traveled = (speed of travel)*(time traveled)

if you change speeds, you can break the problem into two parts, so you'd do the above equation for each part. Can you guess how you'd find the total distance traveled from the two parts?
 
find the average: add them up and divide by 2?
 
no, not quite. Start with the total distance first.
 
40 m/s? Sorry. I'm really confused.
 
What do you get for the distance traveled in each part?
 

Thread 'Struggling to understand the concept of this question (ice cube in water optics question)'

TL;DR Summary: I came across this question from a Sri Lankan A-level textbook. Question - An ice cube with a length of 10 cm is immersed in water at 0 °C. An observer observes the ice cube from the water, and it seems to be 7.75 cm long. If the refractive index of water is 4/3, find the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. I could not understand how the apparent height of the ice cube in the water depends on the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. Does anyone have an...
View full post »
Thread 'Variable mass system : water sprayed into a moving container'

Thread 'Variable mass system : water sprayed into a moving container'

Starting with the mass considerations #m(t)# is mass of water #M_{c}# mass of container and #M(t)# mass of total system $$M(t) = M_{C} + m(t)$$ $$\Rightarrow \frac{dM(t)}{dt} = \frac{dm(t)}{dt}$$ $$P_i = Mv + u \, dm$$ $$P_f = (M + dm)(v + dv)$$ $$\Delta P = M \, dv + (v - u) \, dm$$ $$F = \frac{dP}{dt} = M \frac{dv}{dt} + (v - u) \frac{dm}{dt}$$ $$F = u \frac{dm}{dt} = \rho A u^2$$ from conservation of momentum , the cannon recoils with the same force which it applies. $$\quad \frac{dm}{dt}...
View full post »

Similar threads

What is the displacement and average velocity of a classic car in a road rally?
Replies
1
Views
2K
Average Speed Question for a Train that Accelerates and then Decelerates
Replies
20
Views
2K
Momentum: instantaneous or average?
Replies
9
Views
1K
Help with question on motion: Avoiding a rear-end collision
Replies
6
Views
3K
Calculate Distance Traveled: Instantaneous vs. Average Velocity
Replies
5
Views
2K
Trying to get an average speed of 60 MPH
Replies
8
Views
3K
Why total time taken s₁/v₁ + s₂/v₂ + s₃/v₃ in average speed?
Replies
46
Views
3K
Calculating Average Speed: Physics Homework Problem
Replies
13
Views
2K
Average velocity? Average speed?
Replies
9
Views
3K
Average force and angle, collision problem
Replies
23
Views
3K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top