A car moves 100 m east and then 50 m west in 15 seconds. What is the magnitude of its average velocity?

The correct answer is 3.33 m/s.

Key Points

• Displacement is the shortest distance between the initial and final positions of an object, considering the direction.
• In this case, the car moves 100 m east and 50 m west, resulting in a net displacement of 50 m east.
• The time taken for the motion is 15 seconds.
• Average velocity is calculated using the formula: Average Velocity = Displacement / Time.
• Substituting the values: Average Velocity = 50 m / 15 s = 3.33 m/s.

Additional Information

• Displacement vs Distance:
  • Distance is the total path covered by an object irrespective of direction.
  • Displacement is a vector quantity that considers both magnitude and direction, representing the shortest path.
• Velocity vs Speed:
  • Speed is a scalar quantity representing how fast an object moves.
  • Velocity is a vector quantity that specifies both the speed and direction of motion.
• Formula for Average Velocity:
  • The average velocity is given by: Average Velocity = Total Displacement / Total Time.
  • If displacement is zero, the average velocity is also zero, regardless of the distance covered.
• SI Unit:
  • The SI unit of velocity is meters per second (m/s).