How to find the displacement with such little info?

In summary, the glider on the air track is moving in the +X direction with a constant acceleration and has two flags, each exactly 25.4 mm long, separated by 162 mm. The first flag interrupts the photogate timer for 50 ms and the second flag interrupts it for 45 ms. The questions asked are about the average velocity of the glider when each flag is interrupted and how to find the displacement with limited information.
  • #1
elpermic
29
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A glider on an air track moves in the +X direction with a constant acceleration.? It has two flags, each exact?
A glider on an air track moves in the +X direction with a constant acceleration.?
It has two flags, each exactly 25.4 mm long, with the midpoints of the flags separated by 162 mm. The first flag interrupts the photogate timer for a time 50 ms, and the second flag interrupts the photogate timer for a time 45 ms.

1) What was the average velocity of the glider when the first flag was interrupted?

2) What was the average velocity of the glider when the second flag was interrupted?

I don't get it.. What do I plug in for the displacement? Is the 25.4mm or 162mm?


How do I find the displacement with such little information?
 
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  • #2
Nevermind! I think I figured it out.
 

FAQ: How to find the displacement with such little info?

What is displacement?

Displacement is a measure of the change in position of an object from its initial position. It is a vector quantity, which means it has both magnitude (size or distance) and direction.

What information is needed to calculate displacement?

To calculate displacement, you need the initial position and the final position of the object. This can be in the form of coordinates or distance and direction from a reference point.

How do I find displacement if only given distance and time?

If you are given distance and time, you can use the equation displacement = velocity x time. However, this only works if the object is moving at a constant velocity.

What if the object's velocity is changing?

If the object's velocity is changing, you will need additional information such as the object's acceleration to find displacement. Using the equation displacement = (initial velocity x time) + (1/2 x acceleration x time^2) can help you calculate displacement in this situation.

Can displacement be negative?

Yes, displacement can be negative. This indicates that the object has moved in the opposite direction of the reference point. Positive displacement means the object has moved in the same direction as the reference point.

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