What Speed Do You Need for the Rest of Your Trip to Average 2 m/s?

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the required speed for the remainder of a trip to achieve a desired average speed of 2 m/s, given that the first half of the distance is covered at 1 m/s. The context is rooted in kinematics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the implications of average speed and time, with one suggesting to define the total distance and calculate the time needed for the entire trip. Others explore the relationship between distance, speed, and time without settling on a specific method.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants providing guidance on how to approach the problem. There are multiple interpretations of the distance involved, and some participants are questioning the assumptions made about the distance and time calculations.

Contextual Notes

There is a lack of explicit information regarding the total distance, leading to varied assumptions among participants. The original poster's hint suggests that the answer is not straightforward, indicating potential complexities in the problem setup.

nviander
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Homework Statement


In going to the store, you walk half of the distance at 1 m/s. At this point, you decide that you should pick up the pace. You would like to average 2 m/s for the entire trip. How fast must you move for the remainder of your trip in order to do so? Hint: the answer is not 3 m/s!

Homework Equations


v = 0.5 (v[1] + v[2])

The Attempt at a Solution


v = 0.5 (v[1] + v[2])
2 = 0.5 (1 + v[2])
2 = 0.5 + 0.5v[2])
1.5 = 0.5v[2]
3 = v[2]
 
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Suppose the total distance is 100 m. How long do you have to make the whole trip? How much time do you have left?
 
Hello nv, welcome to PF :)
Average v is distance / time. If your distance is 3.6 km you can work out the time you need at 1 m/s.
And the time you allow yoursself, considering the desired average speed.
You can work out how far you got in half the time and you can work out how much time you have left for the remainder of the distance.

Bingo, except that the exercise doesn't say the distance is 3.6 km. Call it d or x or y and repeat the exercise.

[edit]Dale is so fast ! He'll help you out...
 
DaleSpam said:
Suppose the total distance is 100 m. How long do you have to make the whole trip? How much time do you have left?

Oh my goodness. This is actually so simple. Thank you so much for helping me!
 

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