How Is Average Velocity Calculated in a Car Race with TV Interruptions?

[strawberry7]

Homework Statement

Vic was watching a car race on TV. At the instant the flag was lowered to start the race, the picture on TV screen goes out due to surge in the power. When the picture come back on TV, the timer on score board reads 75 s. At this point Vic observes that leading car was on opposite side of the racing track (opposite side to that where racing was started). The racing track is oval in shape and 6 Km in length.
a) Determine leading cars average velocity during the time when TV was without picture?
b) What are two possible distances leading car traveled when TV was without picture?
c) Given the record for fastest racing car is 450 Km/hr, which is most likely distance-leading car has traveled when TV was without picture? ☺☺
d) Based on your calculation in (c), calculate leading car average speed when TV was without picture?

Homework Equations

v = d/t

The Attempt at a Solution

I thought maybe that half way around the track would be 3 km, but then i need the displacemet? so would that be zero?

o/75= 0 so that doesn't make sence

3/75= 0.04 m/s

004 m/s was the speed of the leading car
But now i don't know ANYTHING
I need some guidance, once i get on the right track i'll probably be able to finish the question.

 

[Dick]

For a) you can't actually calculate the displacement since you don't know the width of the track (unless it's supposed be 0 - figure 8 track?). Anyway, I would just continue on with the rest of the questions. You are doing ok computing average speed except that the track is 6 km long, not 6 m.

 

[strawberry7]

Thankyou, but what i am really confused about is b c and d, how am i sopposed to find two difernt distances?

 

[Dick]

How many circuits of the track did the car do while the TV was off? Can you be sure it was on the first one?

 

[strawberry7]

I never thought of that, is there any way of knowing?

 

[Dick]

Uh, that's what the question is all about. You'll find out. What are the smallest two possibilities for distance? That's the answer to b). Now continue.

 

[strawberry7]

Oh, so c is asking if it was going 450 km/h which distance from B would it be?

So you have to use

distance = (veloctiy) (time)
(450) ( 75 s )
= 33750

Wait, should i be conveerting something? because i am using a mix of seconds and minutes?

 

[Dick]

Yes, you should be converting. Your answer would be correct if the speed were 450 km/s. How many seconds in an hour? Please put units on things.

 

[strawberry7]

3600 seconds in 1 hour

75s/3600= 0.021 hours

distance = (veloctiy) (time)
(450km/h) ( 0.021h )
= 9.4km/h

 

[Dick]

Better. But (450km/h)(0.021 h)=9.4 km. Not km/h. Keep the units straight. They are your friend.

 

[strawberry7]

Okay thanks!