Calculate Larry's Average Velocity: Home to Lamppost to Tree | Velocity Homework

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In summary, Larry's average velocity during his trip from home to the lamppost is 0.687 m/s, with the positive direction of the x-axis pointing west.
  • #1
kp270
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Homework Statement



Larry leaves home at 11:08 and runs at a constant speed to the lamppost. He reaches the lamppost at 11:17, immediately turns, and runs to the tree. Larry arrives at the tree at 11:22. What is Larry's average velocity during his trip from home to the lamppost, if the lamppost is 371.0 m west of home, and the tree is 630.0 m east of home?

Homework Equations



v=d/t

The Attempt at a Solution



This is what I've done:
d=371 m
t = (9*60) = 540 s

v=371/540
=0.687 m/s

I'm just wondering what I am doing wrong can someone please help me
 
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  • #2
I am wondering what you are doing wrong as well. Why do you think it is wrong? Because I think you did the calculation correctly.
 
  • #3
Is the positive direction of the x-axis pointing east or west? If it's pointing east then you're missing a minus sign.
 
  • #4
I strongly suspect that the question meant to ask for the average
velocity from home to the tree.
 
  • #5
Thanks and I was missing the a negative
 

FAQ: Calculate Larry's Average Velocity: Home to Lamppost to Tree | Velocity Homework

What is velocity?

Velocity is a measure of the rate of change in an object's position over time. It is a vector quantity, meaning it includes both a magnitude (speed) and a direction. It is typically measured in meters per second (m/s) or other distance over time units.

How is velocity different from speed?

Velocity and speed are often used interchangeably, but they are actually two different concepts. Speed is a scalar quantity that only measures the magnitude of an object's motion, while velocity measures both the magnitude and direction of motion.

How is velocity calculated?

Velocity is calculated by dividing the change in an object's position by the time it took to make that change. This can be represented mathematically as V = Δx/Δt, where V is velocity, Δx is the change in position, and Δt is the change in time.

What is the difference between average velocity and instantaneous velocity?

Average velocity is the total displacement of an object over a given time period, while instantaneous velocity is the velocity of the object at a specific moment in time. Average velocity is calculated by dividing the total displacement by the total time, while instantaneous velocity is calculated by taking the derivative of the position function at a specific time point.

How does velocity relate to acceleration?

Velocity and acceleration are closely related in the study of motion. Acceleration is the rate of change in an object's velocity over time. In other words, it measures how quickly an object's velocity is changing. This can be represented mathematically as a = Δv/Δt, where a is acceleration, Δv is the change in velocity, and Δt is the change in time.

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