Question

It takes 15 min to drive 6.0 mi in a straight line to the local hospital. It takes 10 min to go the last 3.0 mi, 2.0 min to go the last mile, and only 30 s (0.50 min) to go the last 0.50 mi. What is the average speed of the trip? Take the positive xx ‑direction to be from the starting point toward the hospital.

Answer 1

36.87 km/h

Step-by-step explanation:

Convert all the units in SI system

1 mile = 1609.34 m

d1 = 6 mi = 9656.04 m

t1 = 15 min = 15 x 60 = 900 s

d2 = 3 mi = 4828.02 m

t2 = 10 min = 10 x 60 = 600 s

d3 = 1 mi = 1609.34 m

t3 = 2 min = 2 x 60 = 120 s

d4 = 0.5 mi = 804.67 m

t4 = 0.5 min = 0.5 x 60 = 30 s

Total distance, d = d1 + d2 + d3 + d4

d = 9656.04 + 4828.02 + 1609.34 + 804.67 = 16898.07 m = 16.898 km

total time, t = t1 + t2 + t3 + t4

t = 900 + 600 + 120 + 30 = 1650 s = 0.4583 h

The ratio of the total distance covered to the total time taken is called average speed.

Average speed = 16.898 / 0.4583 = 36.87 km/h