I'm having trouble trying to solve this particular problem.

  • Thread starter biggie1
  • Start date
In summary, a car travels north for three-fourths of the time and south for one-fourth of the time with average velocities of 13 m/s and 11 m/s, respectively. To find the average velocity for the entire trip, the magnitude and direction must be calculated. Using the same logic as a person walking forward and backward, the average velocity is close to 12 m/s with a northward direction. This can be found by using simple algebra and trying different values for time.
  • #1
biggie1
4
0

Homework Statement




A car makes a trip due north for three-fourths of the time and due south one-fourth of the time. The average northward velocity has a magnitude of 13 m/s, and the average southward velocity has a magnitude of 11 m/s. What is the average velocity (magnitude and direction) for the entire trip?

Homework Equations


not sure

The Attempt at a Solution



12m/s
 
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  • #2
If I walk forward 2 miles in half an hour, and then walk backwards 1 mile in half an hour, how far have I walked forward and how long did it take me?
 
  • #3
1 mile and 1 hour
 
  • #4
murrdpirate0 said:
If I walk forward 2 miles in half an hour, and then walk backwards 1 mile in half an hour, how far have I walked forward and how long did it take me?

1 mile and 1 hour
 
  • #5
So your average velocity is one miler per hour in the forward direction, right? Use that same logic for your problem. Your average speed is close to 12 m/s (actually 12.5, since you were going 13 m/s for a longer time than you were going 11 m/s), but your average velocity has a direction associated with it. You were going 12.5 m/s on average, but you weren't going that fast north.
 
  • #6
okay I understand its northward, but the part I don't get is what formula to use?
 
  • #7
You basically just need to do the same simple algebra we did in my example. The only difference is that I gave you distances and time instead of velocity. It's a lot easier than you think. Try a few samples using different values of time and see what you get.
 

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