Given position vs time graph, find velocity?

[skysunsand]

Homework Statement

Given the graph in the uploaded screenshot, what is the bicyclist's velocity at t=10s?

Homework Equations

I have been trying to do a slope equation? Rise/run.

The Attempt at a Solution

Tried to do slope equation. Looks like 75/10, which would be 7.5, but that answer is incorrect. Why? It wants to two sig figs, and that is two sig figs...I also have no clue what to do if t= anything else, like 25 or something. Is there a different equation for that? I'm so lost. :(

 

[TyErd]

rise over run wouldn't be 75/10. it starts at 50 and then moves to 75. so the change in distance is 75-50=25. so rise over run is 25/10

 

[TyErd]

remember speed is distance traveled/time taken. when time= 0, its position isn't zero like you assumed. It's position is 50. And then in 10 seconds its position is 75. So the distance traveled is 25. So s=d/t, where d=25 and t=10seconds.

 

[skysunsand]

Would I do the same then, for an amount like 25 or 35? Or do I say 25 would be 0, since there is no slope there, and then 35 would be a negative number, because the slope is going downward?

 

[TyErd]

if t=25, all you need to do is look at the graph. what is happening at t=20? position is 100. now take t=25. position is still 100. what does that mean? in 5 seconds the position of the cyclist has not changed which means he is stationary. not moving so velocity is zero. The formula can also be applied. s=d/t. between 20 and 25 seconds. distance traveled is zero in a time frame of 5 seconds. so s=0/5 = 0. which is the same as saying rise over run. Between 20 and 30 would be the same, distance traveled between 20 and 30 seconds is zero in a time frame of 10 seconds so s=0/10=0. At t=35, the slope has changed. at t= 30 seconds position was 100 but now at t=35, the position is 50 again. So distance traveled is final distance minus the initial distance so 50-100=-50. And that has occurred in a time frame of 5 seconds. so again s=d/t, -50/5=-10 so velocity is -10.

That is why it has a negative gradient. So essentially, if the position at t=0 is 50 and then at t=25 is 100 and then at t=35 is 50 again it means he is going backwards. he has turned around at t=30 and is heading back

 

[chankss]

thanks a lot that help me a lot too. I fully understand it now