Question

Two fish swimming in a river have the following equations of motion:

X 1 = - 6.4 m + (- 1.2 m/s) t

X 2 = 1.3 m + (- 2.7 m/s) t

Which fish is moving faster? ​

Answer 1

Answer:

The second fish, X2, is moving faster than the first fish, X1

Explanation:

The given parameters for the equation of motion of the fishes are;

X1 = -6.4 m + (-1.2 m/s)×t

X2 = 1.3 m + (-2.7 m/s)×t

The given equation are straight line equations in the slope and intercept form, where the slope is the speed and in m/s and the intercept is the starting point of swimming of the fishes

For the first fish, the intercept = -6.4 m, the slope = the  speed = -1.2 m/s

For the second fish, the intercept = 1.3 m, the slope = the  speed = -2.7 m/s

Whereby the fishes are swimming in the opposite direction of the measurement of length, we have;

The magnitude of the speed of the second fish $\left | -2.7 \ m/s \right | = 2.7 \ m/s$, is larger than the magnitude of the speed of the first fish $\left | -1.2 \ m/s \right | = 1.2 \ m/s$

Therefore, the second fish, X2, is moving faster than the first fish, X1.