Question

A woodchuck runs 20 m to the right in 5 s, then turns and runs 10 m to the left in 3 s. (a) What is the average velocity of the woodchuck? (b) What is its average speed?

Answer 1

Answer:

  (a)  1.25 m/s to the right

  (b)  3.75 m/s

Step-by-step explanation:

a) Average velocity is the change in displacement divided by the change in time. Velocity is described by magnitude and direction.

  (+20 -10)/(5 +3) = (+10)/8 = +1.25 . . . meters per second (positive is "right")

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b) Average speed is the distance covered divided by the time. There is no direction associated with speed.

  (20 m +10 m)/(5 s +3 s) = (30 m)/(8 s) = 3.75 m/s