Homework Help: Help With Problem About 1-D Motion

K, unless I'm very useless at the moment and dumb which happens from time to time... at first, i thought since there's 2 half distances... you add the 2 speeds, and divide them by 2.... giving 82.5km/h but i figured that was wrong.

The other way I tried was...

the total distance is 'x' and V_avg = dist/time

since you dont know time... you have to add in


V_avg = x / [(dist/2)/V1 + (dist/2)/V2]

= x / [(x/2)/65 + (x/2)/100 ]

= 78.78km/h


For some reason that seems wrong, but I gave it a try.

 

Hello.
In your equation, "V avg = (x - x initial) / [(x / 100) - (x initial / 60)]" you also said that the initial distance x and final distance are the same then. If that was so, then the numerator would be zero. In your case, the initial "x_initial" would be 0 and x would be the total distance traveled.

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By definition of average speed, v=(total distance traveled)/(total time traveled)
Let x = total distance traveled, let x1 = distance of first half, x2=distance of second half, and x1=x2
Let t = total distance traveled, let t1= time of first half traveled, t2= time of second half
Let v1=velocity of first half, v2= velocity of second half

We know that v1=x1/t1, and v2=x2/t2
Then, 65km/hr=(x1/t1) and 100km/hr=(x2/t2). Since x1=x2, then substitute we get:
100km/hr*t2=65km/hr*t1
We can solve for t1=(100/65)*t2 (Eq 1.)

Thus, the average speed would be (x1+x2)/(t1+t2)=(x1+x2)/((100/65)*t2+t2)
by substituting (eq. 1 for t1). Continue from here, we get
t2=x/(2*100km/hr) (Eq. 2)
average speed = x/((100/65)+1)*(x/(200))...
after some simplification, then average speed = 200/(100/65+1)

 

lukas86 is showing you the correct way to set it up. Though lukas86 probably shouldn't have given the numerical answer. Your attempt is something like correct also. If xinitial is the distance for the first part of the trip and x is the distance for the last, then xinitial=x. But the total distance isn't x-xinitial. It's x+xinitial. You should be adding the times in the denominator as well.

 

Ya sorry, I realized that after I posted it. When I looked at it I was like... ya, I'm about the only one that understands what I mean, I posted it fast partially because I'm at work and should be doing... well... work haha. Although physics relates to my job so I thought it would be good to refresh my head a bit. I have written on paper what konthelion has pretty much, but my post was vague and confusing I'm sure. I posted a thread, but either of you familiar with the TI-89 calculator (titanium)?