Finding Velocity given x and y velocities

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In summary, velocity is a vector quantity that represents an object's position change over time. To calculate velocity given x and y velocities, the Pythagorean theorem can be used. X and y velocities are components of an object's overall velocity, with x velocity representing horizontal movement and y velocity representing vertical movement. Velocity can be negative, indicating movement in the opposite direction of the chosen coordinate axis. The magnitude and direction of x and y velocities determine the overall velocity of an object, which can change over time due to various factors.
  • #1
MrMiguel
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1. How do you find the velocity of an object if you are given the x and y components of the velocity?



2. Not sure!



3. It makes the most sense to use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the magnitude then trig to find the angle, but I've got a classmate telling me you simply add together the x and y components. Which is it?
 
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  • #2
you are right to use the pythagorean theroem. That gives you the velocity.
 
  • #3
You and your classmate are both (kind of) right. How do you add vector components?
 

1. How do you calculate velocity given x and y velocities?

Velocity is a vector quantity that represents the rate of change of an object's position with respect to time. To calculate velocity given x and y velocities, we can use the Pythagorean theorem: velocity = √(x velocity² + y velocity²).

2. What is the difference between x velocity and y velocity?

X velocity and y velocity are components of an object's velocity in the x and y directions, respectively. X velocity represents the rate of change of an object's position in the horizontal direction, while y velocity represents the rate of change in the vertical direction. Together, they determine the overall velocity of the object.

3. Can velocity be negative?

Yes, velocity can be negative. A negative velocity indicates that the object is moving in the opposite direction of the positive direction on the chosen coordinate axis. For example, a negative x velocity would mean the object is moving to the left, while a negative y velocity would mean the object is moving downwards.

4. How does the magnitude of x and y velocities affect the overall velocity?

The magnitude of x and y velocities determine the overall velocity of the object. The larger the x and y velocities, the faster the object is moving. Additionally, the direction of the x and y velocities also plays a role in determining the overall velocity.

5. Can the x and y velocities change over time?

Yes, the x and y velocities can change over time as an object's velocity is constantly changing. This can be due to various factors such as acceleration, external forces, and friction. By tracking the changes in x and y velocities, we can determine the object's velocity at any given moment in time.

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