Question

A train leaves the station heading south on the tracks. It takes 5 seconds to reach 50 miles per hour. It completes the entire 100 mile trip in 2 hours. Calculate the trains average speed and velocity over the two hour trip. Show your work. Identify each of the measurements are a ascalr or vector.

Answer 1

Average speed is 50 mph

Average velocity is -50 mph . It is negative since it is towards south.

Step-by-step explanation:

Distance is a scalar quantity and velocity is a vector. So for a vector, both magnitude and direction should be specified.

Average speed is the total distance over total time taken . So it is 100 miles over 2 hours which gives 50 mph.

Average velocity has the same magnitude and is also 100miles over 2 hours but it is negative since velocity is a vector and it is directed towards south.

Answer 2

Well, in order to figure out the answer is to divide until you figure out how many miles they went per second. If it takes 5 seconds to reach 50 miles per hour it took 10 seconds per every 10 miles meaning each mile took 1 second. (Not actually possible but the answer) So, If it finished a 100 mile trip in 2 hours it took an hour for 50 miles. If it took 1 hour for 50 miles divide 60/50 which gets you 1.2 so it took 1.2 miles per minute meaning the car went 120 miles per hour I believe. I hope this helps :)