Question

A baseball is traveling (+20 m/s) and is hit by a bat. It leaves the bat traveling (-30 m/s). What is the change in the velocity? Remember that direction is what makes velocity different than speed.

A. 50 m/s

B. 30 m/s

C. 20 m/s

D. 10 m/s

Answer 1

The answer is A. 50 m/s

I took the test and completed the study guide in class and got it correct.

Answer 2

Answer: A. 50m/s

Step-by-step explanation

Step 1

The first step is to define velocity. Velocity is a measure of how fast displacement is changing with time. When discussing the velocity of a object we have to take into account that direction is important.

Step 2

The second step is to calculate the change in velocity. The object is initially travelling with a velocity of
`+20m/s` and then hits the bat, changes directions and travels at
`-30m/s` in a direction opposite to it's initial direction. The change in velocity is calculated as shown below,

`\Delta v=v_1-v_2\\\Delta v = +20m/s-(-30m/s)=+20m/s +30m/s = 50m/s.`

The correct answer is
`50m/s`