Total distance and average speed for two-segment trip at 30 m/s and 10 m/s

[dgsigala]

Homework Statement

A driver maintains a steady speed of 30.0 m/s for 55 min and then slows to 10 m/s for the next 5 mins. Determine the the total distance traveled and the average speed for the trip.

Homework Equations

a = v−v0/t

The Attempt at a Solution

a = 30 - 10 / 60 = .333

Please help me, haven't taken physics in a long time. Review for class.

 

[Pythagorean]

distance traveled = (speed of travel)*(time traveled)

if you change speeds, you can break the problem into two parts, so you'd do the above equation for each part. Can you guess how you'd find the total distance traveled from the two parts?

 

[dgsigala]

find the average: add them up and divide by 2?

 

[Pythagorean]

no, not quite. Start with the total distance first.

 

[dgsigala]

40 m/s? Sorry. I'm really confused.

 

[Pythagorean]

What do you get for the distance traveled in each part?