How Do You Calculate Total Distance with Different Speeds?

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To calculate total distance with varying speeds, first apply the formula distance equals velocity times time (s = v*t) for each speed segment. The object travels 10 m/s for 3 seconds, covering 30 meters, and then 5 m/s for 2 seconds, covering an additional 10 meters. The total distance traveled is therefore 40 meters. However, the problem is criticized for lacking details on the deceleration from 10 m/s to 5 m/s, which could affect the accuracy of the calculation. A suggestion is made to inform the teacher about this flaw in the problem's setup.
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Im not really good at physics :blushing: , so if u could solve the problem or help me through it! Any help will be appreciated!



1.) An object travels in a straight line at a uniform velocity of 10 m/s for 3 seconds and then travels for 2 seconds at a constant speed of 5 meters per second in the same direction. Calculate the total distance traveled!
 
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Tell your teacher that the problem is flawed. If the object was initially traveling at 10m/s, then it must have decelerated in order to reach 5 m/s. Yet, no information was provided for the time or magnitude of the deceleration.
 
remember that distance travled is equal to the velocity times the time (s=v*t). Do this for both velocities and add them together.
 
Triss said:
remember that distance travled is equal to the velocity times the time (s=v*t). Do this for both velocities and add them together.

If your teacher is the kind of teacher with his/her head in equation-land all the time with no time for reality, you could do this.
 
recon said:
If your teacher is the kind of teacher with his/her head in equation-land all the time with no time for reality, you could do this.
I agree; the very least would have been to insert a sentence like:
"The deceleration phase is so short that we neglect any distance traveled in that period"
 
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