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Picture the Problem: You walk in both the positive and negative
directions along a straight line.
Strategy: The distance of a trip from your house to the grocery
store, then to your friends house, and finally back to your house is
the sum of the distances traveled.
Solution: Add the distances:
Insight: The distance traveled is always a positive number, but the displacement can be negative.
2.
distance = 6.0 m + 14 m = 20 m
Insight: The negative sign means that the displacement is toward the left of the initial position. While the displacement
is 8.0 m, the total distance traveled is 6.0 m + 14 m = 20 m.
3.
(a) The distance traveled will always be positive for any journey, either round trip or one way. (b) The displacement for
a round trip journey will always be zero because the initial and final positions are the same.
4.
The odometer of a car measures only the distance traveled and not the initial and final positions, so it cannot measure
displacement. A Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation device can report the displacement of your car because it
can track the exact initial and final positions of your car on Earths surface.
5.
Yes, the distance traveled and the magnitude of the displacement are equal if you hike in a straight line in only one
direction. If you change direction, or even if you change altitude, the two values are not equal.
6.
(a) Yes, the displacements for you and your dog are identical when you arrive at the park because you each have the
same initial and final positions. (b) No, you and your dog have not traveled the same distance when you arrive at the
park. The distance your dog has traveled is greater than the distance you have traveled, because the dog zigzags around
as it takes many short side trips to chase squirrels, examine fire hydrants, and so on. If you used a very short leash, the
difference between the distances traveled by you and your dog would not be very different, but they would not be the
same.
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portion of this material may be reproduced, in any form or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher.
21
7.
x = xf xi = 5.0 0 m = 5.0 m
7.4 m
Picture the Problem: A billiard ball rolls in the positive direction, strikes
a bumper, and then rolls in the negative direction.
Strategy: The distance is the total length of travel, and the displacement is
the net change in position. Let displacements to the right of the initial
position be in the positive direction.
Solution: 1. (a) Add the lengths:
22 + 22 + 7.5 cm = 51.5 cm
x = xf xi = 7.5 0 cm = 7.5 cm
7.5
cm
22 cm
Insight: The distance traveled is always positive, but the displacement can be negative, as it is in this example.
9.
Picture the Problem: A train travels in the positive direction and then backs up in the negative direction.
Strategy: The distance is the total length of travel, and the displacement is the net change in position. The initial motion
of the train is in the positive direction. If we claim the initial position of the train is xi = 0 km, its position after the first
leg of the journey is +5.8 km and its final position is xf = 5.9 3.8 km = 2.1 km.
Solution: 1. (a) The portion of the journey that is in the negative direction will decrease the magnitude of the
displacement but increase the distance traveled. Therefore, the distance covered by the train is greater than the
magnitude of displacement.
2. (b) Add the lengths:
x = xf xi = 2.1 0 km = 2.1 km
Insight: The distance traveled is always positive, but the displacement can be negative. In this example they are both
positive because the final position is greater than the initial position.
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portion of this material may be reproduced, in any form or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher.
22
10. Picture the Problem: This is a follow up question to Guided Example 2.3. A kingfisher bird dives straight down into
water to hunt for a fish.
distance
Strategy: Solve the average speed equation, average speed =
, for the distance.
elapsed time
Solution: 1. Rearrange the equation:
average speed =
distance
elapsed time
m
distance = 4.6 (1.4 s ) = 6.4 m
Insight: The bird is also accelerating, but the details of its speed as a function of time are not needed for calculating
distance because we know the birds average speed and the time elapsed.
11. Picture the Problem: On a dark and stormy night you see a flash of lightning and then hear the thunder.
Strategy: The light travels to your eye nearly instantaneously, but the sound travels at a much slower speed. Solve the
distance
average speed equation, average speed =
, for the distance.
elapsed time
distance
Solution: 1. Rearrange the equation:
average speed =
elapsed time
distance = ( average speed ) ( elapsed time )
distance = 340
m
s
1 km
= 1.2 km
(3.5 s ) = 1200 m 1000
m
Insight: The distance traveled by the sound wave is approximately mile. The speed of sound, 340 m/s, works out to
approximately one mile every five seconds, a useful rule of thumb for estimating the distance to an approaching
thunderstorm!
distance
, for the distance and then for the time.
elapsed time
average speed =
distance
elapsed time
km
1 h
= 3.5 km
3.2 min
distance = 65
h
60 min
average speed =
elapsed time =
distance
elapsed time
distance
elapsed time =
average speed
distance
0.25 km
=
average speed
km
65
h
min
s
= 0.00385 h 60
60
= 14 s
min
h
Insight: The distance of 0.25 km is the same as 250 m or about 273 yards.
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portion of this material may be reproduced, in any form or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher.
23
13. Picture the Problem: A finch travels a short distance on the back of the tortoise and a longer distance through the air.
Both displacements are along the same direction.
Strategy: First find the total distance traveled by the finch and then determine the average speed by dividing by the
total time elapsed.
d = s1Dt1 + s2 Dt2
Solution: 1. Determine the
total distance traveled:
m
m
s
d = 0.060 (1.2 min ) + 13 (1.2 min ) 60
min
s
s
d = 940 m = 0.94 km
2. Divide the distance by the elapsed time:
average speed =
distance
940 m
=
= 6.5 m/s
elapsed time 2.4 min 60 s/ min
Insight: Most of the distance traveled by the finch occurred by air. In fact, if we neglect the 4.3 m the finch traveled
while on the tortoises back, we still get an average speed of 6.5 m/s over the 2.4 min time interval! The bird might as
well have been at rest instead of perched upon a tortoises back.
14. Picture the Problem: This is a follow up question to Guided Example 2.5. An athlete sprints, stops, and then walks
slowly back to the starting line. During the walking portion of the trip, the initial position xi = 50.0 m and xf = 0.
Strategy: Solve the average velocity equation, average velocity =
displacement
, for the elapsed time.
elapsed time
average velocity =
t =
displacement x
=
elapsed time t
x
vav
x xf xi 0 50.0 m
= 33.3 s
=
=
vav
vav
1.50 m /s
Insight: If the athlete walks faster, the time required to return to the starting line decreases.
15. If two tennis players run with the same speed but in opposite directions, no, their velocities are not equal because
velocity is a vector that includes both speed and direction. Two velocities can only be equal if their speeds and
directions are the same.
16. Picture the Problem: A person travels around the world in 80 days.
Strategy: Use the definitions of average speed and average velocity to answer the questions.
Solution: 1. (a) Find the average speed,
noting the distance traveled is the
40,075-km circumference of the Earth:
average speed =
vav =
distance
40, 075 km 1 d
=
24 h
elapsed time
80 d
= 20.9 km/h
x
= 0
t
Insight: The average velocity over any round trip journey is always zero because the displacement is zero.
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portion of this material may be reproduced, in any form or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher.
24
17. Picture the Problem: Information is given regarding motion of four trains along a north-south line.
Strategy: In each case, calculate the average velocity of the train, letting north be the positive direction. Evaluate the
velocities to rank them from the most negative to the most positive.
Solution: 1. Find the average
velocity of train A:
vav, A =
xA +10 m
=
= +10 m/s
t
1.0 s
2. Find vav, B :
vav, B =
xB 900 m 1 min
=
= 15 m/s
t
1.0 min 60 s
3. Find vav, C :
vav, C =
xC
10 m
= 2
= 20 m/s
1.0 s
t
4. Find vav, D :
vav, D =
xD +24 m
=
= +12 m/s
t
2.0 s
Insight: In this scenario object C has the greatest speed but the smallest (that is, the most negative) velocity.
18. The main difference between velocity and speed is that velocity includes information about the direction of travel as
well as the rate of travel. Speed only represents the rate of travel, independent of direction.
19. The SI units of speed are meters per second.
20. Average velocity only includes information about the net displacement and the time elapsed. Therefore, yes, it is
possible for your friends to have a temporary velocity of 20 m/s at some point even though their average velocity is
+20 m/s. For instance, suppose they begin at x = 0 and drive with a velocity of 20 m/s for 5 minutes. Their position is
60 s
m
= - 6000 m. Then they turn around and drive at +30 m/s for 20 minutes. Their
now x = -20 (5.0 min )
min
s
60 s
m
= +30, 000 m. Their net displacement is +30,000 m and
position is now xf = - 6000 m + 30 (20.0 min )
min
s
the time elapsed is 25 min 60 s/min = 1500 s. Thus their average velocity is vav =
x 30, 000 m
=
= +20 m/s .
1,500 s
t
21. If you ride a bicycle around the block, returning to your starting point, your displacement is zero even though the
distance you traveled would be hundreds of meters. Therefore, at the end of your trip your average speed is greater than
your average velocity. This is because your average velocity is zero because your displacement is zero.
22. Picture the Problem: Usain Bolt sprints in the forward direction.
Strategy: The average speed is the distance divided by elapsed time.
distance 100.0 m
=
= 10.44 m/s = 10.4 m/s
time
9.58 s
s=
10.44
m
1 km
3600 s
= 37.6 km/h
1h
s 1000 m
Insight: The displacement would be also be 100 m because the runners typically run in a straight line. Therefore, the
average speed and average velocity each have a magnitude of 10.4 m/s, but average velocity includes the direction of
travel (south, for example).
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portion of this material may be reproduced, in any form or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher.
25
23. Picture the Problem: The radio waves propagate in a straight line.
Strategy: The time elapsed is the distance divided by the average speed. The distance to the Moon is 3.84108 m. We
must double this distance because the signal travels there and back again.
Solution: Divide the distance by the average speed:
t=
8
2d 2 3.84 10 m
= 2.56 s
=
s
3.00 108 m /s
Insight: The time is slightly shorter than this because the given distance is from the center of the Earth to the center of
the Moon, but presumably any radio communications would occur between the surfaces of the Earth and Moon. When
the radii of the two spheres is taken into account, the time decreases to 2.51 s.
24. Picture the Problem: A train travels in a straight line at two different speeds.
Strategy: We can calculate the average speed with the given information by determining the total distance traveled and
dividing by the elapsed time. However, we can arrive at a conceptual understanding of the first answer by remembering
that average speed is an average over time, not an average over the distance traveled.
Solution: 1. (a) The average speed will be less than 25 m/s because the train spends a longer time driving at the lower
speed. The train covers the second 2 km distance in less time at the higher speed than it spent traveling the first 2 km.
2. (b) Find the distance traveled:
t1 =
x1
2 km 1000 m
=
= 100 s
v1
20 m/s
km
t2 =
x2
2 km 1000 m
=
= 66.67 s
v2
30 m/s
km
vav =
x
4000 m
=
= 24 m/s
t1 + t2 166.67 s
Insight: Swimming up and down a river always results in a longer time of travel when compared to swimming in a pool
because you spend more time swimming against the current than you do swimming with the current.
25. Picture the Problem: You ride your bicycle 1 km at 10 km/h and then another 1 km at 30 km/h.
Strategy: We can calculate the average speed with the given information by determining the total distance traveled and
dividing by the elapsed time.
Solution: 1. Find the distance traveled:
x = 1 km + 1 km = 2 km
t1 =
x1
1 km
=
= 0.100 h
v1
10 km /h
t2 =
x2
1 km
=
= 0.033 h
v2
30 km /h
vav =
x
2 km
=
= 15 km/h
t1 + t2 0.133 h
Insight: The average speed is less than 20 km/h, as expected, because you spent 75% of your time at the lower speed.
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portion of this material may be reproduced, in any form or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher.
26
26. Picture the Problem: The motion of a parade float is graphed while
it moves at various speeds.
Strategy: In the first segment of the floats motion its position
increases 2.0 meters every second. In the second segment its position
does not change at all for five seconds. In the third segment its
position increases 1.0 meter every second. Carefully prepare a graph
of these three segments.
Solution: 1. (a) The graph of the floats motion is shown at the right.
2. (b) By examining the graph we can see that the position of the float at t = 2 s is 4.0 m.
3. By examining the graph we can see that the position of the float at t = 11 s is 11 m.
Insight: The speed of the float is equal to the slope of the graph. The slopes of the three segments are thus 2.0 m/s, zero,
and 1.0 m/s, respectively.
27. On a position-time graph the position is plotted on the vertical axis and the time is plotted on the horizontal axis.
28. The slope of a position-time graph equals the rise over the run, or change in position over the change in time. The slope
thus equals the speed of the object.
29. The position-time graph for an object that is moving at constant speed is a straight line whose slope equals the speed of
the object.
30. Picture the Problem: Following the motion specified in the position-time
graph, a tennis player moves left, then right, then left again, if we take left
to be in the negative direction.
Strategy: The magnitude of the slope of the position-time graph is equal
to the speed of the tennis player. When the position of the player is
decreasing, the player has a negative average velocity, and when it is
increasing the player has a positive average velocity.
Solution: 1. (a) The magnitude of the slope of segment B is the largest of
the three, and the slope of segment C is the smallest, so we arrive at the
ranking: speed C < speed A < speed B.
2. (b) Find the slope of segment A:
slope A = vav, A =
x 2.0 m
=
= 1.0 m/s
t
2.0 s
slope B = vav, B =
x 2.0 m
=
= 2.0 m/s
t
1.0 s
slope C = vav, C =
x 1.0 m
=
= 0.50 m/s
t
2.0 s
5. From the above calculations we arrive at the ranking of the velocities: velocity A < velocity C < velocity B.
Insight: The calculated speed during segment B is larger than the speed during segments A and C, as predicted. Speeds
are always positive because they do not involve direction, but velocities can be negative to indicate their direction.
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portion of this material may be reproduced, in any form or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher.
27
31. Picture the Problem: Objects move according to the various positiontime graphs depicted at the right.
Strategy: The magnitude of the slope of the position-time graph is equal
to the speed of the object. When the position of the object is decreasing,
the object has a negative average velocity, and when it is increasing the
object has a positive average velocity.
Solution: 1. (a) The magnitude of the slope of segment D is the largest
of the four, and the slope of segment C is the smallest, so we arrive at
the ranking: speed C < speed B < speed A < speed D.
2. (b) Slopes D and C are negative, with slope D having the largest
magnitude. Slope A also has a larger magnitude than B. We arrive at the
ranking for velocity, from most negative to most positive:
velocity D < velocity C < velocity B < velocity A.
Insight: If the squares on the plot represent 1.0 meter by 1.0 second, the slope of graph C is:
xC 2.0 m
slope C =
=
= 0.22 m/s
tC
9.0 s
32. Picture the Problem: Following the motion specified in the position-time
graph, a tennis player moves left, then right, then left again, if we take left to
be in the negative direction.
Strategy: The average velocity of the tennis player over the time interval from
0 to 5 seconds is the net displacement divided by the time elapsed.
Solution: Divide the displacement by the time:
vav, =
x 2.0 m 3.0 m
=
= 0.20 m/s
t
5.0 s 0 s
Insight: The average velocity over segments A and B is zero because the displacement is zero. The average speed,
however, is ( 2 s )(1 m/s ) + (1 s )( 2 m/s ) (3 s ) = 1.33 m/s.
33. Picture the Problem: A small-gauge train moves slowly back and forth
along a straight segment of track. The position-time graph for the train is
shown at the right.
Strategy: The magnitude of the slope of the position-time graph is equal
to the speed of the train.
Solution: 1. (a) The slope of segment B is the smallest of the three, so
we conclude the train has the smallest speed on portion B of its motion.
2. (b) The speed of the train on portion B is given by the slope:
slope B =
xB 3.0 m
=
= 1.5 m/s
2.0 s
tB
vB
1.5 m/s
Insight: The velocity of the train on portion A of its motion is +2.0 m/s and the velocity on portion C is +2.3 m/s.
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portion of this material may be reproduced, in any form or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher.
28
34. Picture the Problem: A small-gauge train moves slowly back and forth
along a straight segment of track. The position-time graph for the train is
shown at the right.
Strategy: The average velocity of the train is given by the displacement
divided by the elapsed time.
Solution: Divide the displacement by the elapsed time:
vav =
x 5.0 m ( 3.0 m ) 8 m
=
=
= 1.14 m/s
7.0 s
7s
t
Insight: You could also find the time-weighted average of the velocities
of the three portions of the trains motion:
( 2.0 s)( 2.0 m/s ) + ( 2.0 s)( 1.5 m/s) + (3.0 s)( 2.33 m/s) = 8 m/s.
7.0 s
7
35. Picture the Problem: An equation is given to describe the motion of a bunny hopping across the yard.
Strategy: The given linear equation is of the form, xf = xi + v t , where the number that multiplies the variable t is the
velocity, and the number that is added to the right side of the equation is the initial position. Use the given equation to
infer facts about the motion of the bunny.
Solution: 1. (a) The initial position of
the bunny is the number that is added to
the right side of the equation:
xi = 8.3 m
v = 2.2 m/s
Insight: If the bunny were accelerating there would be a nonlinear relationship between xf and t.
36. Picture the Problem: A bowling ball moves with constant velocity from an initial position of 1.6 m to a final position
of 7.8 m in 3.1 s.
Strategy: The desired linear equation is of the form, xf = xi + v t , where the number that multiplies the variable t is the
velocity, and the number that is added to the right side of the equation is the initial position. Use the given facts to
determine the velocity of the bowling ball, and use the velocity together with the initial position to write an equation.
Solution: 1. (a) The velocity of the
bowling ball is given by its displacement
divided by the elapsed time:
vav =
x 7.8 m 1.6 m
=
= 2.0 m/s
3.1 s
t
xf xi = v t
xf xi
=t
v
t=
xf xi 8.6 m 1.6 m
=
= 3.5 s
v
2.0 m /s
Insight: If the bowling ball were accelerating there would be a nonlinear relationship between xf and t.
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portion of this material may be reproduced, in any form or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher.
29
37. Picture the Problem: The position-time graph in the figure at the right
shows the motion of two cars, A and B.
Strategy: The slope of the graph is the velocity of the car, and the
y-intercept of the graph is the initial position of the car. Use these facts
to answer questions about the motions of the two cars.
Solution: 1. (a) The slope of the graph for car A is smaller than the slope
of the graph for car B. Therefore, we conclude that the velocity of car A
is less than the velocity of car B.
2. (b) The y-intercept of the graph for car A is greater than the y-intercept
of the graph for car B. Therefore, we conclude that the initial position of
car A is greater than the initial position of car B.
3. (c) The position of car A is larger than the position of car B during the time interval t = 0 to t = 1 s. Therefore, we
conclude that car A is ahead of car B during that time interval.
Insight: If you do a numerical analysis of the motions of the two cars, youll discover that car A is traveling at 0.714
m/s and car B is going 5.0 m/s (about 11 mph), pretty slow for normal cars, but reasonable speeds for toy cars. The two
cars pass each other at 1.75 s when each car is at the position 13.75 m.
xf, you
4.2 m/s
=t=
12.9 m
= 3.1 s
4.2 m /s
Insight: If you do a numerical analysis of the motions of you and your friend, youll discover that your friend stops
walking at position 12.86 m, and that you catch your friend at exactly at t = 3.062 s.
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portion of this material may be reproduced, in any form or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher.
2 10
39. Picture the Problem: At a particular instant your car is at the origin and
is traveling in the positive direction at 26 m/s. A truck on the other side of
the highway is at position 420 m and is moving at 31 m/s in a direction
opposite to that of your car.
Strategy: Write equations of motion for your car and for the truck, noting
that the velocity of the truck is in the negative direction. Use the
equations of motion to draw graphs of the positions of your car and that
of the truck. Finally, use the equations of motion to determine the time at
which your car and the truck have the same position.
Solution: 1. (a) Write an equation of motion
for your car, noting that it is at the origin at
t = 0 and is moving in the positive direction:
3. (b) The two equations of motion were used to produce the graph shown above.
xf, car = xf, truck
420 m
= 7.4 s
57 m /s
Insight: If the truck were traveling in the same direction as your car, you would never catch up to it because it would be
ahead of you and moving at a higher speed.
40. The information that can be obtained from the position-time equation includes the initial position of the object, the rate
at which the position is changing (that is, the velocity of the object), and the time at which the object has its final
position.
41. If a straight line represents the motion of an object on a position-time graph, the slope of the graph represents the
velocity of the object and the y-intercept of the graph represents the initial position of the object.
42. The equations of motion for two bicycles are given. The number in each equation that multiplies the variable t is the
velocity of the bicycle. We can see that bicycle 1 has a velocity of 2.5 m/s and bicycle 2 has a velocity of 3.5 m/s. The
speeds of each bicycle are the magnitudes of these velocities. We conclude that bicycle 2 has the greater speed.
43. The equations of motion for two bicycles are given. The number in each equation that is added to the right side is the
initial position of the bicycle. We can see that bicycle 1 has an initial position of 4.0 m and bicycle 2 has an initial
position of 6.7 m. Therefore, at time t = 0 the two bicycles are separated by 6.7 m (4.0 m) = 10.7 m.
44. Picture the Problem: An equation is given to describe the motion of a ball.
Strategy: The given linear equation is of the form, xf = xi + v t , where the number that multiplies the variable t is the
velocity, and the number that is added to the right side of the equation is the initial position. Use the given equation to
find the final position of the ball.
xf = (3.0 m ) + ( 5.0 m/s ) t
)(
Insight: If the ball had a velocity of +5.0 m/s it would be at the position 10.5 m at t = 1.5 s.
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portion of this material may be reproduced, in any form or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher.
2 11
45. Picture the Problem: The equations of motion are given for two
bumper cars that move with constant velocity.
Strategy: Use the given equations of motion to draw graphs of
the positions of the bumper cars. The graphs are not essential for
answering the questions but can help you picture the situation.
Finally, use the equations of motion to determine which car is
moving faster and find the time at which the two bumper cars will
collide. The two equations are:
Solution: 1. (a) In the equations of motion the number that multiplies t is the velocity of the bumper car. By inspection
you can see that the velocity of the first bumper car is 1.5 m/s and the velocity of the second bumper car is 2.5 m/s.
The speed of each car is the magnitude of its velocity, so we conclude that bumper car 2 is traveling faster.
xf, 1 = xf 2
xi, 1 + v1 t = xi, 2 + v2 t
x2, i x1, i
v1 v2
8.8 ( 4.0) m
1.5 ( 2.5) m /s
= 3.2 s
Insight: If bumper car 1 had a faster velocity its position-time graph would be steeper, and it would thus intersect the
graph for bumper car 2 sooner than 3.2 s. In fact, if the velocity of bumper car 1 were +2.5 m/s instead of +1.5 m/s, the
two cars would collide at t = 2.56 s.
46. Yes, the distance traveled by an object can be greater than its displacement. For example, if you walk all the way
around the block and return to your starting position, your displacement is zero but the distance you have traveled is
several hundred meters.
47. No, the distance traveled by an object cannot be less than its displacement. If you ride a bicycle in a straight line your
displacement and distance traveled are equal. However, any deviation from straight line travel will result in a distance
traveled that is greater than the displacement.
48. An astronaut that has just completed an orbit of the Earth has traveled a long distance (about 41,300 km for low Earth
orbit) but has zero displacement because she ended her journey exactly where she started. However, you travel some
distance on your way home from school (unless you live on the school campus) and so you have a small but nonzero
displacement. Therefore you have a greater displacement when you travel home from school than an astronaut when
she completes an orbit.
49. In this situation your displacement is xf xi = 25 10 m = 15 m. Your friends displacement is
xf xi = 40 35 m = 5 m. Assuming each person travels along a straight line and in one direction, the distances
traveled are equal to the displacements. We conclude that the distance you have traveled is greater than the distance
traveled by your friend.
50. In this situation your displacement is xf xi = 25 20 m = 5 m. Your friends displacement is
xf xi = 30 35 m = 5 m. We conclude that you have a positive displacement and your friend has a negative
displacement.
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2 12
51. Picture the Problem: You walk in both the positive and negative
directions along a straight line.
Strategy: The distance is the total length of travel, and the
displacement is the net change in position.
Solution: (a) Add the lengths to find the distance traveled:
Insight: The distance traveled is always positive, but the displacement can be negative.
52. Picture the Problem: You walk in both the positive and negative
directions along a straight line.
Strategy: The distance is the total length of travel, and the
displacement is the net change in position.
2.65 km
Insight: The distance traveled is always positive, but the displacement can be negative.
53. Picture the Problem: Your motion results in a displacement on some coordinate axis.
Strategy: The displacement is the difference between your initial and final positions. Use this fact to determine your
final position given your initial position and displacement.
x = xf xi
x + xi = xf
(6.2 m ) + ( 4.5 m ) = xf
= 10.7 m
Insight: The displacement simply represents the change in your position. Here you changed your position in the
positive direction and ended up at a larger position value.
54. Picture the Problem: Your motion results in a displacement on some coordinate axis.
Strategy: The displacement is the difference between your initial and final positions. Use this fact to determine your
final position given your initial position and displacement.
x = xf xi
x + xi = xf
( 8.3 m ) + (7.5 m ) = xf
= 0.8 m
Insight: The displacement simply represents the change in your position. Here you changed your position in the
negative direction and ended up at a smaller position value.
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2 13
55. Picture the Problem: A train moves so that it has a displacement on some coordinate axis.
Strategy: The displacement is the difference between the trains initial and final positions. Use this fact to determine
the initial position of the train given its final position and displacement.
x = xf xi
xi = xf x
xi = ( 4.3 m ) ( 26 m ) = 30.3 m = 30 m
Insight: The displacement simply represents the change in the trains position. Here the train changed its position in the
negative direction and ended up at a smaller position value than where it started.
56. Picture the Problem: A train moves so that it has a displacement on some coordinate axis.
Strategy: The displacement is the difference between the trains initial and final positions. Use this fact to determine
the initial position of the train given its final position and displacement.
x = xf xi
xi = xf x
xi = ( 2.2 m ) (17 m ) = 19.2 m = 19 m
Insight: The displacement simply represents the change in the trains position. Here the train changed its position in the
positive direction and ended up at a larger (more positive) position value than where it started.
57. Picture the Problem: Tennis player A walks in the positive direction and player B
walks in the negative direction, as shown in the figure at the right.
Strategy: In each case the distance is the total length of travel, and the
displacement is the net change in position.
Solution: (a) Note the distance traveled by player A:
5m
x = xf xi = 5 m 0 m = 5 m
2m
x = xf xi = 5 m 7 m = 2 m
Insight: The distance traveled is always positive, but the displacement can be negative.
58. Picture the Problem: The ball is putted in the positive direction
and then the negative direction.
Strategy: The distance is the total length of travel, and the
displacement is the net change in position.
x = xf xi = 10 0 m = 10 m
Insight: The distance traveled is always positive, but the displacement can be negative.
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2 14
59. Picture the Problem: The runner moves along the oval track.
Strategy: The distance is the total length of travel, and the
displacement is the net change in position. For the distance
traveled, the runner first goes 15 m in the y direction, then 100 m
in the +x direction, and then 15 m in the +y direction.
Solution: 1. (a) Add the lengths to find the distance traveled:
x = xf xi = 100 0 m = 100 m
x = x f xi = 0 0 m = 0 m
Insight: The distance traveled is always positive, but the displacement can be negative. The displacement is always zero
for a complete circuit, as in this case.
60. The average velocity of your dog is its displacement divided by the time elapsed. If the average velocity of the dog is
zero, we can conclude that its displacement is also zero.
61. An astronaut that has just completed an orbit of the Earth has traveled a long distance (about 41,300 km for low Earth
orbit) at very high speed (about 8 km/s) but has zero displacement because she ended her journey exactly where she
started. However, you travel some distance on your way home from school (unless you live on the school campus) and
so you have a small but nonzero displacement. Because average velocity is the displacement divided by the elapsed
time, we conclude that you have a greater average velocity when you travel home from school than when an astronaut
completes an orbit.
62. Yes, it is possible for two different objects to have the same speed but different velocities if they are traveling in
different directions.
63. No, it is not possible for two different objects to have the same velocity but different speeds, because the magnitude of
the velocity vector is the speed of an object. If two objects have the same velocity, they must also have the same speed
and be traveling in the same direction.
64. Picture the Problem: You drive your car in a straight line at two different speeds.
Strategy: We could calculate the average speed with the given information by determining the total distance traveled
and dividing by the elapsed time. However, we can arrive at a conceptual understanding of the answer by remembering
that average speed is an average over time, not an average over the distance traveled.
Solution: (a) The average speed will be less than 20 m/s because you will spend a longer time driving at the lower
speed. You will cover the 10 km distance in less time at the higher speed than you did at the lower speed.
(b) The best answer is A. More time is spent driving at 15 m/s than at 25 m/s because the distances traveled at each
speed are the same, and it will take a longer time at the slower speed to cover the same distance. Statement B is true but
irrelevant, and statement C is false.
Insight: The time elapsed at the lower speed is (10, 000 m ) (15 m/s ) = 667 s and the time elapsed at the higher speed is
(10, 000 m ) ( 25 m/s) = 400 s, so the average speed is ( 20, 000 m) (1067 s) = 18.7 m/s.
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2 15
65. Picture the Problem: You drive your car in a straight line at two different speeds.
Strategy: We could calculate the average speed with the given information by determining the total distance traveled
and dividing by the elapsed time. However, we can arrive at a conceptual understanding of the answer by remembering
that average speed is an average over time, not an average over the distance traveled.
Solution: (a) The average speed will be equal to 20 m/s because you will spend an equal amount of time driving at the
lower speed as at the higher speed. The average speed is therefore the mean value of the two speeds.
(b) The best answer is C. Equal time is spent at 15 m/s and 25 m/s because that fact is stated in the question. Statements
A and B are both false.
Insight: The distance traveled at the lower speed would be (15 m/s )( 600 s ) = 9000 m and the distance traveled at the
higher speed would be ( 25 m/s )( 600 s ) = 15, 000 m so the average speed is ( 24, 000 m ) (1200 s ) = 20.0 m/s.
distance 100.0 m
=
= 1.883 m/s
time
53.12 s
1.883
m
1 mi
3600 s
mi
= 4.212
1h
h
s 1609 m
Insight: The displacement would be zero in this case because the swimmer swims either two lengths of a 50-m pool or
four lengths of a 25-m pool, returning to the starting point each time. However, the average speed depends upon
distance traveled, not displacement.
67. Picture the Problem: Rubber ducks drift along the ocean surface.
Strategy: The average speed is the distance traveled divided by elapsed time.
Solution: Divide the distance by the time:
s=
d 2600 km 1000 m 1 mo
1 d
= 0.099 m/s
=
t
1 km
10 mo
30.5 d 8.64 104 s
Insight: The instantaneous speed might vary from 0.099 m/s, but we can calculate only average speed from the total
distance traveled and the total time elapsed.
68. Picture the Problem: A roller coaster moves along a track.
Strategy: The average speed is the distance traveled divided by elapsed time. Use this fact to solve for the distance
traveled given the speed and the time.
Solution: Solve the average speed
equation for the distance traveled by
multiplying both sides by the time:
distance
elapsed time
m
speed elapsed time = distance = 12
(5.5 s ) = 66 m
s
average speed =
Insight: The roller coaster is moving at a good clip. In more familiar units, 12 m/s is equivalent to 27 mph.
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2 16
69. Picture the Problem: A billiard ball rolls along the surface of the table.
Strategy: The average speed is the distance traveled divided by elapsed time. Use this fact to solve for the elapsed time
traveled given the speed and the distance.
Solution: Solve the average speed
equation for the elapsed time by
multiplying both sides by the time and
dividing by the average speed:
average speed =
elapsed time =
distance
elapsed time
distance
0.23 m
= 0.30 s
=
average speed 0.76 m /s
Insight: The average speed equation relates the three quantities speed, time, and distance. Given any two of these
quantities, the third can be found with this equation.
70. Picture the Problem: You travel 8.00 km on foot and then an additional 16.0 km by car, with both displacements along
the same direction.
Strategy: First find the total elapsed time by dividing the distance traveled by the average speed. Also find the time
elapsed while jogging by dividing the jogging distance by the jogging speed. Subtract the jogging time from the total
time to find the driving time, and use the driving distance and driving time to find the driving speed.
distance
8.00 + 16.0 km
= 1.09 h
=
average speed
22.0 km /h
elapsed time =
t jog =
vcar =
d jog
v jog
8.00 km
= 0.842 h
9.50 km /h
d car 16.0 km
=
= 64 km/h
tcar
0.25 h
Insight: This problem illustrates the limitations that significant figures occasionally impose. If there were only two
significant figures, the total elapsed time would be 1.1 h and the elapsed time for the car trip would be 0.3 h, not 0.25 h,
and the speed of the car would be only 53 km/h, which would have to be rounded to 50 km/h to keep only one
significant digit.
71. Picture the Problem: The dog continuously runs back and forth
as the owners close the distance between each other.
Strategy: First find the time that will elapse before the owners
meet each other. Then determine the distance the dog will cover
if it continues running at constant speed over that time interval.
Solution: 1. Find the time it takes each owner
to walk 5.00 m before meeting the other:
elapsed time =
distance
5.00 m
= 3.8 s
=
average speed 1.3 m /s
)(
Insight: The dog will actually run a shorter distance than this, because it is impossible for it to maintain the same 3.0
m/s as it turns around to run to the other owner. It must first slow down to zero speed and then accelerate again.
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2 17
72. Picture the Problem: You drive in a straight line at two different speeds during the specified time interval.
Strategy: Determine the average speed by first calculating the total distance traveled and then dividing it by the total
time elapsed.
Solution: 1. (a) Because the time intervals are the same, you spend equal times at 20 m/s and 30 m/s, and your average
speed will be equal to 25.0 m/s.
v t + v t
2. (b) Divide the total distance
vav = 1 1 2 2
by the time elapsed:
t1 + t2
=
Insight: The average speed is a weighted average according to how much time you spend traveling at each speed.
73. Picture the Problem: You drive in a straight line at two different speeds during the specified time interval.
Strategy: Determine the average speed by first calculating the total distance traveled and then dividing it by the total
time elapsed.
Solution: 1. (a) The distance intervals are the same but the time intervals are different. You will spend more
time at the lower speed than at the higher speed. Because the average speed is a time weighted average, it will be
less than 25.0 m/s.
2. (b) Divide the total distance by the time elapsed:
vav =
d1 + d 2
d + d2
20.0 km
= 1
=
d1 d 2
Dt1 + Dt2
10.0 km + 10.0 km
+
s1 s2
20.0 m/s 30.0 m/s
Insight: Notice that in this case it is not necessary to convert miles to meters in both the numerator and denominator
because the units cancel out and leave m/s in the numerator.
74. (a) Yes, an objects position-time graph can be horizontal. That would correspond to zero distance traveled over a very
long time, which means the object is at rest. (b) No, an objects position-time graph cannot be vertical. That would
correspond to a very large distance traveled over zero time, which means the object is traveling at infinite speed. We
will later learn that the speed of light, 300,000 km/s, is the speed limit for any mass in our universe!
75. The slope of an objects position-time graph is equal to its velocity. Therefore, we conclude that the velocity of an
object whose position-time graph is a straight line with a positive slope is positive.
76. The speed of an object is always positive. If the object has a position-time graph that is a straight line with a negative
slope, we can conclude the velocity is negative, but the speed is positive.
77. The slope of an objects position-time graph is equal to its velocity. Therefore, we conclude that the instantaneous
velocity of an object is negative where the slope of the tangent line to its position-time graph is negative.
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2 18
78. Picture the Problem: Two trains move on a track according to the position-time graphs shown below.
Strategy: Use the position-time graphs to answer the questions about the motions of the two trains. Note that the slope
of the position-time graph is equal to the velocity of the train.
Solution: 1. (a) The trains travel in opposite directions when one has a positive velocity and the other has a negative
velocity. This is the case when one position-time graph has a positive slope and the other has a negative slope. We
conclude the trains travel in opposite directions in cases B and C.
2. (b) The trains get farther apart when the vertical spacing between the two position-time graphs increases as time
increases. We conclude the trains get farther apart as they travel in cases A and C. In case B the trains first get closer
together and then get further apart (unless a collision occurs!)
3. (c) The trains will collide if they are running on the same track and their position-time graphs intersect. In such a case
the trains would have the same position at the same instant of time. We conclude the trains collide in case B.
Insight: The case B graph would not result in a collision if the two trains were on parallel tracks and their positions
were measured from the same point of origin.
79. Picture the Problem: Two trains move on a track according to the position-time graphs shown below.
Strategy: Use the position-time graphs to answer the questions about the motions of the two trains. Note that the slope
of the position-time graph is equal to the velocity of the train.
Solution: 1. (a) In case A both trains 1 and 2 have positive velocities. In case B train 2 has a positive velocity. In case
C train 1 has a positive velocity.
2. (b) In case A neither train has a negative velocity. In case B train 1 has a negative velocity. In case C train 2 has a
negative velocity.
Insight: The case B graph would not result in a collision if the two trains were on parallel tracks and their positions
were measured from the same point of origin.
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2 19
80. Picture the Problem: Following the motion specified in the position-time
graph shown at the right, the father walks forward, stops, walks forward
again, and then walks backward.
Strategy: The direction of the velocity (positive or negative) matches the
sign of the slope of the graph (positive or negative) at each point.
Solution: 1. (a) The slope of segment A is positive so the velocity on
segment A is positive.
2. (b) The velocity on segment B is zero.
3. (c) The velocity on segment C is positive.
4. (d) The velocity on segment D is negative.
Insight: With practice you can form both a qualitative and quantitative movie of the fathers motion in your head
simply by examining the position-time graph.
81. Picture the Problem: Following the motion specified in the position-time
graph shown at the right, the father walks forward, stops, walks forward again,
and then walks backward.
Strategy: Determine the magnitude of the velocity by calculating the slope of
the graph at each specified point.
Solution: 1. (a) Find the slope
of the graph at A:
vav =
x 2.0 m
=
= 2.0 m/s
t
1.0 s
vav =
x 0.0 m
=
= 0.0 m/s
t
1.0 s
vav =
x 1.0 m
=
= 1.0 m/s
t 1.0 s
x 3.0 m
=
= 1.5 m/s
t
2.0 s
Insight: The signs of each answer in (a) through (d) match those predicted in parts (a) through (d) in the previous
question.
vav =
xf = xi + v t
xf = (5.0 m ) + (3.5 m/s ) t
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2 20
xf = xi + v t
xf = (3.1 m ) + ( 2.7 m/s ) t
xf = xi + v t
xf = (1.5 m ) + ( 2.2 m/s ) t
2. In the second part of its motion, the particle is at rest. Therefore, at t = 2.0 s it will still have the position it attained
after 1.0 s had elapsed: xf = (1.5 m ) + ( 2.2 m/s )(1.0 s ) = 3.7 m.
3. The slope of the third line will be 2.7 m/s, but what about the intercept? Use the knowledge that the object has a
position of 3.7 m at t = 2.0 s, together with the known slope, to solve for the intercept xi .
3. Use the known point and
slope to find the intercept:
xf = xi + v t
)(
3.7 m = xi 7.4 m
3.7 + 7.4 m = xi = 11.1 m thus the equation of motion is:
xf = (11.1 m ) + ( 3.7 m/s ) t
Insight: The only reason you would need to determine the intercept for the third segment would be to enter the
appropriate formula into a computer spreadsheet. You could avoid the calculation and simply plot that segment by hand
and still capture the essence of the objects motion: It moves in the positive direction, stops, then moves in the reverse
direction at a constant speed.
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2 21
85. Picture the Problem: The figure shown at the right displays the
position-time graphs for two different objects, A and B.
Strategy: The position-time graph for object A has a negative
slope and therefore it has a negative velocity. Meanwhile, object
B has a positive velocity. The initial positions for each can be
determined by finding the location where the position-time graphs
intersect the y-axis, where t = 0.
Solution: 1. (a) By inspecting the y-intercept of the position-time
graph for object A we see that it has a value of 35 m at t = 0.
2. (b) By inspecting the y-intercept of the position-time graph for
object B we see that it has a value of 10 m at t = 0.
Insight: Although they start at different positions, objects A and
B will have the same position when the two lines cross.
86. Picture the Problem: The figure shown at the right displays the positiontime graphs for two different objects, A and B.
Strategy: The velocity of an object equals the slope of its position-time
graph. The position-time graph for object A has a negative slope and
therefore it has a negative velocity. Meanwhile, object B has a positive
velocity. To find the velocities, pick two points on the line and calculate
the slope by dividing the rise by the run.
Solution: 1. (a) Choose the
points (0 s, 35 m) and
(3.5 s, 5 m) to find the velocity:
vav, A =
rise 5 35 m
=
= 8.6 m/s
run 3.5 0 s
vav, B =
rise 25 10 m
=
= 4.3 m/s
run
3.5 0 s
+
+
+
Insight: We can now write formulas for the positions of each object: xf, A = (35 m ) (8.6 m/s ) t and
xf, B = (10 m ) + ( 4.3 m/s ) t . By setting these two formulas equal to each other and solving for t, we can determine that
vav =
x 32 m
=
= 0.50 m/s
t
3 1 s
Insight: The father moved four times faster in the interval between t = 0 and
t = 1 s, when his average velocity was 2.0 m/s.
88. Yes, it is possible for two different objects to have the same initial position but different velocities because an objects
velocity is completely distinct from its initial position.
89. Yes, it is possible for two different objects to have the same velocity but different initial positions, because an objects
velocity is completely distinct from its initial position. In order for the objects to have the same velocity they need only
have the same speed and be traveling in the same direction.
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2 22
90. When the initial position of an object changes, the intercept of its position-time graph changes as well. However, the
slope of the position-time graph simply represents the velocity of the object, and it does not change when the objects
initial position changes.
91. When the velocity of an object changes, the slope of its position-time graph changes as well. However, the intercept of
the position-time graph simply represents the initial position of the object, and it does not change when the objects
velocity changes.
92. The equations of motion for two fish in a river are given. The number in each equation that multiplies the variable t is
the velocity of the fish. We can see that fish 1 has a velocity of 1.2 m/s and fish 2 has a velocity of 2.7 m/s. The
speeds of each fish are the magnitudes of these velocities. We conclude that fish 2 has the faster speed.
93. The equations of motion for two people walking on a sidwalk are given. (a) The number in each equation that multiplies
the variable t is the velocity of the person. We can see that person 1 has a velocity of 1.1 m/s and person 2 has a
velocity of 1.7 m/s. The speeds of each person are the magnitudes of these velocities. We conclude that person 2 has the
fastest speed. (b) Both people have a positive initial position, but the velocity of person 1 is negative, and we conclude
that person 1 will eventually reach the x = 0 position.
94. Picture the Problem: The figure shown at the right displays the positiontime graphs for two different objects, A and B.
Strategy: The velocity of an object equals the slope of its position-time
graph. The position-time graph for object A has a negative slope so that it
must have a negative velocity. To find the velocity, pick two points on the
line and calculate the slope by dividing the rise by the run.
Solution: 1. Choose the points
(0 s, 35 m) and (3.5 s, 5 m) to
find the velocity:
vav, A =
rise 5 35 m
=
= 8.6 m/s
run 3.5 0 s
+
+
+
Insight: We can now use the equation of motion to discover things like object A will arrive at xf, A = 0 at t = 4.08 s.
95. Picture the Problem: The figure shown at the right displays the positiontime graphs for two different objects, A and B.
Strategy: The velocity of an object equals the slope of its position-time
graph. The position-time graph for object B has a positive slope so that it
must have a positive velocity. To find the velocity, pick two points on the
line and calculate the slope by dividing the rise by the run.
Solution: 1. Choose the points
(0 s, 10 m) and (3.5 s, 25 m) to
find the velocity:
vav, B =
rise 25 10 m
=
= 4.3 m/s
run
3.5 0 s
+
+
+
Insight: We can now compare the equations of motion of each object, recalling that xf, A = (35 m ) (8.6 m/s ) t from the
previous question. By setting these two formulas equal to each other and solving for t, we can determine that the two
objects will have the same position at t = 1.94 s.
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2 23
96. Picture the Problem: A rabbit moves with a known initial position and a constant velocity.
Strategy: The velocity of an object is the number that multiplies t in its equation of motion. The number that is added to
the equation is the initial position. Use the given initial position and velocity to write the equation of motion for the
rabbit.
Solution: Use the initial position of 8.1 m and the
velocity of 1.6 m/s to write the equation of motion:
Insight: We can use the equation of motion to discover things like the rabbit will arrive at xf = 0 at t = 5.1 s.
97. Picture the Problem: The equation of motion for a bicycle is given as: xf = ( 6.0 m ) + ( 4.5 m/s ) t .
Strategy: The velocity of an object is the number that multiplies t in its equation of motion. The number that is added to
the equation is the initial position. We can therefore examine the equation of motion to learn that the bicycle starts at 6.0
m at t = 0 s and travels with a constant velocity of 4.5 m/s. Use these facts to answer the questions.
Solution: 1. (a) Use the equation of motion
to find the bicycles position at t = 2.0 s:
xf = xi + v t
xf xi = v t
xf xi
24 6.0 m
=t=
= 4.0 s
v
4.5 m /s
Insight: We can use the equation of motion to discover facts like the bicycle was at x = 0 m at t = 1.33 s.
98. Picture the Problem: The equation of motion for a parade float is given as: xf = ( 9.2 m ) + (1.5 m/s ) t .
Strategy: The velocity of an object is the number that multiplies t in its equation of motion. The number that is added to
the equation is the initial position. We can therefore examine the equation of motion to learn that the parade float starts
at 9.2 m at t = 0 s and travels with a constant velocity of 1.5 m/s. Use these facts to answer the questions.
Solution: 1. (a) Use the equation of motion
to find the floats position at t = 3.5 s:
xf xi = v t
0 9.2 m
xf xi
= 6.1 s
=t=
v
1.5 m /s
Insight: If the parade float maintains its constant speed, it will travel a city block (about 100 m) in 67 seconds.
99. Picture the Problem: The equation of motion for Cleo the black lab is given as: xf = ( 12.1 m ) + (5.2 m/s ) t .
Strategy: The velocity of an object is the number that multiplies t in its equation of motion. The number that is added to
the equation is the initial position. We can therefore examine the equation of motion to learn that the dog starts at 12.1
m at t = 0 s and travels with a constant velocity of 5.2 m/s. Use these facts to answer the questions.
Solution: 1. (a) Use the equation of motion
to find Cleos position at t = 1.6 s:
xf xi = v t
3.0 12.1 m
xf xi
= 2.9 s
=t=
v
5.2 m /s
Insight: We can use the equation of motion to discover facts like Cleo will be at x = 0 m at t = 2.33 s.
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2 24
100. Picture the Problem: The equations of motion are given for two
football players that move with constant velocity.
Strategy: Use the given equations of motion to draw graphs of
the positions of the football players. The graphs are not essential
for answering the questions but can help you picture the situation.
Finally, use the equations of motion to determine which player is
moving faster and find the time at which the two football players
will collide. The two equations are:
xi, 1 + v1 t = xi, 2 + v2 t
x2, i x1, i
v1 v2
6.3 ( 0.1) m
3.1 ( 2.8) m /s
= 1.1 s
Insight: If football player 1 had a faster velocity its position-time graph would be steeper, and it would thus intersect
the graph for football player 2 sooner than 1.1 s. In fact, if the velocity of football player 1 were to double to 6.2 m/s
from 3.1 m/s, the two players would collide at t = 0.71 s.
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101. Picture the Problem: The equations of motion are given for two
soccer players that move with constant velocity.
Strategy: Use the given equations of motion to draw graphs of
the positions of the soccer players. The graphs are not essential
for answering the questions but can help you picture the situation.
Finally, use the equations of motion to determine which player is
closer to the ball and find the time at which the two soccer players
will pass each other. The two equations are:
xf, 1 = xi, 1 + v1 t = ( 8.2 m ) + ( 4.2 m/s ) t
Solution: 1. (a) In the equations of motion the number that is added to the right side is the initial position of the player.
The ball is at +5.0 m, so it is clear that soccer player 2 is closer to the ball at t = 0 because 7.3 m is closer to +5.0 m
than is 8.2 m.
xf, 1 = xf 2
xi, 1 + v1 t = xi, 2 + v2 t
x2, i x1, i
v1 v2
7.3 ( 8.2) m
4.2 (3.9) m /s
= 3.0 s
m
xf, 1 = (-8.2 m) + 4.2 (3.0 s ) = 4.4 m
s
Insight: You can verify with the equations of motion that soccer player 1 will reach the ball at x = 5.0 m first, at time
t1 = 3.14 s, and player 2 will arrive shortly thereafter at t2 = 3.15 s
102. The velocity of an object is its displacement per time interval. If the velocity remains the same, and the time intervals
are the same, then the displacements for each time interval will be the same. We conclude that the displacement of the
golf cart from t = 0 to t = 5 s is equal to the displacement of the golf cart from t = 5 s to t = 10 s. You can verify that if
the velocity of the golf cart is 8 m/s, the displacement in each time interval is 40 m.
103. The average velocity of an object is the total displacement divided by the time elapsed. It contains no information about
the motion of the object at a particular instant of time during the time interval. Therefore, yes, it is possible that you
were at rest at some point during the 10-min interval, but at other times you must have moved fast enough to make your
average velocity equal to 2.2 m/s over the 10-min time interval.
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portion of this material may be reproduced, in any form or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher.
2 26
104. Picture the Problem: The equations of motion are given for two
dragonflies that move with constant velocity.
Strategy: Use the given equations of motion to draw graphs of
the positions of the dragonflies. The graphs are not essential for
answering the questions but can help you picture the situation.
Finally, use the equations of motion to determine which dragonfly
is moving faster and find the time at which the two dragonflies
will pass each other. The two equations are:
2.2 m
3.1 m
105. Picture the Problem: A snail crawls at a slow pace through a garden.
Strategy: To make an estimate of the speed we will choose a time interval and then estimate the displacement during
that interval.
Solution: If you imagine watching a garden snail crawling over a period of a ten seconds, it might travel a distance
x 0.02 m
=
= 2 10 3 m/s 10 3 m/s
about equal to its 2-cm body length. Its estimated speed is thus: vav =
t
10 s
Insight: A Wikipedia article reports that 1 mm/s is a typical speed for an adult snail of species helix lucorum. This is the
same order of magnitude as our estimate of 2 mm/s.
106. Picture the Problem: Nerve impulses propagate at a fixed speed through a human body.
Strategy: The time elapsed is the displacement divided by the average speed. The distance from your finger to your
brain is on the order of one meter.
t =
x
1 m
=
= 0.010 s
vav 1 102 m /s
Insight: This nerve impulse travel time is not the limiting factor for human reaction time, which is about 0.2 s.
107. The displacement of an object is the difference between its initial and final positions. Therefore we conclude that
object 1, which moves from 5.0 m to 7.0 m, has a greater displacement than object 2, which moves from 15 m to 16 m.
The time information is irrelevant to the calculation of the displacement.
108. Picture the Problem: An object moves with a constant velocity.
Strategy: Use the equation of motion and the given information to find the final position of the object.
Solution: Insert numerical values into the equation of motion:
)(
Insight: The same equation of motion can be used to predict that the object will pass the x = 0 position at t = 6.6 s
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portion of this material may be reproduced, in any form or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher.
2 27
vav =
Insight: The equation of motion can be used to predict that the object will pass the x = 0 position at t = 80 s
xf = xi + v t
xf = ( 4.3 m ) + ( 6.7 m/s ) t
Insight: A horse that moves at constant speed has a linear position-time graph.
xf = xi + v t
xf xi
=t
v
t=
32 11 m
= 3.2 s
6.5 m /s
Insight: You can use the equation of motion to calculate that the train passed x = 0 at t = 1.7 s, or 1.7 s before the
clock was started in this experiment to measure the position of the train.
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2 28
112. Picture the Problem: A pony walks around the circular track.
4.5 m
( 2 r ) = r = ( 4.5 m ) = 14 m
d=
x = x f xi = 2r = 2 ( 4.5 m ) = 9.0 m
1
2
3. (b) The distance traveled will increase when the child completes one circuit, because the pony will have taken more
steps.
4. (c) The displacement will decrease when the child completes one circuit, because the displacement is maximum
when the child has gone halfway around, and is zero when the child returns to the starting position.
d = 2 r = 2 ( 4.5 m ) = 28 m
6. The displacement is zero because the child has returned to her starting position.
Insight: The distance traveled is always positive, but the displacement can be negative. The displacement is always zero
for a complete circuit, as in this case.
113. Picture the Problem: In heavy rush-hour traffic you travel in a straight line at two different speeds.
Strategy: Determine the distance traveled during each leg of the trip in order to plot the graph.
Solution: 1. (a) Calculate the
distance traveled in the first leg:
vav =
x1 + x2 + x3
3330 m
= 7.4 m/s
=
t1 + t2 + t3
7.5 min 60 s/ min
Insight: The average speed is a weighted average according to how much time you spend traveling at each speed. Here
you spend the most amount of time at rest, so the average speed is less than either 12 m/s or 15 m/s.
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portion of this material may be reproduced, in any form or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher.
2 29
114. Picture the Problem: The initial positions and velocities are
given for two objects that move directly toward one another.
Strategy: Use the given data to write equations of motion and
draw position-time graphs for the two objects. The graphs are not
essential for answering the questions but can help you picture the
situation. Finally, use the equations of motion to find the time at
which the two objects will collide and their position at the time of
collision.. The two equations are:
xi, 1 + v1 t = xi, 2 + v2 t
x2, i x1, i
v1 v2
8.1 (5.4) m
1.3 ( 2.2) m /s
= 0.77 s
Insight: If the objects bounced off each other, the graph after the collision would look different. The object 2 graph
would suddenly acquire a positive slope toward larger positions, and the object 1 graph would suddenly acquire a
negative slope and its position would decrease after the collision.
115. Picture the Problem: Two objects move with constant speeds
and then collide with each other.
Strategy: Set the positions of the two objects equal to each other
at the instant of collision, and use the given information to
determine the velocity of object 2. Then use an equation of
motion to find the position of the two objects at the moment of
collision. While it is not necessary for solving this problem,
position-time graphs for the two objects are shown at the right to
help you picture the problem.
xf, 1 = xf 2
xi, 1 + v1 t = xi, 2 + v2 t
= v2 =
= 14 m/s
)(
Insight: You could also solve part (b) first and then use the known position of object 2 at 0.61 s to find its velocity.
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portion of this material may be reproduced, in any form or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher.
2 30
116. Picture the Problem: You travel in the forward direction along the roads leading to the wedding ceremony, but your
average speed is different during the first and second portions of the trip.
Strategy: First find the distance traveled during the first 15 minutes in order to calculate the distance yet to travel. Then
determine the speed you need during the second 15 minutes of travel.
Solution: 1. Use the definition of average
speed to determine the distance traveled:
km
1 h
= 3.00 km
15.0 min
x1 = vav, 1 t1 = 12.0
h
60 min
vav, 2 =
x2 14.0 km
=
= 56.0 km/h
t2 0.250 h
Insight: The car needs an average speed of 17.0 km/0.500 h = 34.0 km/h for the entire trip. However, in order to make
it on time it must go 4.7 times faster in the second half (time-wise) of the trip than it did in the first half of the trip.
117. Answers will vary. The San Andreas fault slips at an average speed of 35 mm per year. The cities of Los Angeles and
San Francisco are separated by 560 km. The time for the fault to slip by 560 km is:
x
560 km
1000 mm 1000 m
t=
=
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2 31
120. Picture the Problem: A robot moves forward, then stops, then
moves backward. Its position-time graph is shown at the right.
Strategy: Find the slope of the line between t = 5 s and t = 8 s,
the time interval during which the robot is walking backward. The
slope of the line is the velocity of the robot during that time
interval.
rise x
=
Solution: Find the slope. The vav =
run t
calculated result is answer
1 2 m
choice A.
=
= 0.33 m/s
85 s
121. Picture the Problem: A robot moves forward, then stops, then
moves backward. Its position-time graph is shown at the right.
Strategy: Find the change in position of the robot between the
times t = 2 s and t = 8 s. The displacement is the change in
position over that time interval.
Solution: Find the
change in position. The
calculated result is answer
choice B.
x = 1 m 2 m = 1.0 m
122. Picture the Problem: A robot moves forward, then stops, then
moves backward. Its position-time graph is shown at the right.
Strategy: In the previous question we discovered the
displacement of the robot over the time interval t = 2 s and
t = 8 s is 1.0 m. Use this displacement together with the elapsed
time to find the average velocity of the robot.
Solution: Find the
average velocity. The
calculated result is answer
choice A.
vav =
x 1.0 m
=
= 0.17 m/s
t
82 s
Insight: The average velocity of the robot over the entire time
interval t = 0 to t = 8 s is +0.125 m/s.
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2 32