You have already traveled east in your car 100 km in 1 hour and then south 100 km in 2 hours. To get back home, you then drive west 100 km for 3 hours and then go north 100 km in 4 hours.
What would you say your average velocity for the total trip was?
A. 20 km/hr
B. 40 km/hr
C. 60 km/hr
D. 100 km/hr
E. None of the above
Answer (3)
Since your start and end points for the try are the same point, your displacement for the trip is zero. Since the magnitude of velocity is (displacement) divided by (time), the average velocity is also zero. The correct choice is (E).
You first travel 100km in 1 hour which makes your velocity 100km/h (100/1=100) You then travel 100km in 2 hours which makes your velocity 50km/h (100/2=50) You then travel 100km in 3 hours which makes your velocity 33.3km/h (100/3=33.3) Finally, you travel 100km in 4 hours which makes your velocity 25 km/h (100/4=25)
Add up all your velocities (100+50+33.3+25) which makes 208.3 You then divide it by 4 since you have 4 travels. 208.3 / 4 = 52,075
So I would say the answer is E in this case since none of the answers is close to 52km/hr
The average velocity for the total trip is 0 km/h because the displacement is zero, meaning the start and end points are the same. Therefore, the best choice from the options given is (E) None of the above.
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