Question

What are the velocities of the UP and DOWN escalators, and how are they different?

A) Both have a velocity of 5 miles per hour; they move in opposite directions.
B) UP has a velocity of 5 miles per hour, DOWN has a velocity of 5 miles per hour; they move in the same direction.
C) Both have a velocity of 5 miles per hour; they move in the same direction.
D) UP has a velocity of 5 miles per hour, DOWN has a velocity of 5 miles per hour; they move in opposite directions.

Answer 1

The UP and DOWN escalators have the same speed but their velocities are different because they move in opposite directions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The velocities of the UP and DOWN escalators refer to the speeds at which they move along with their direction of motion. In physics, particularly when discussing velocity, it is essential to consider both magnitude (how fast something is moving) and direction (which way it is moving). When considering escalators within the same system, the UP escalator moves towards the upper level, whereas the DOWN escalator moves to the lower level. Even if both escalators have the same speed (e.g., 5 miles per hour), their velocities are different due to their opposing directions. Thus, if the UP escalator has a velocity of 5 miles per hour and the DOWN escalator also has a velocity of 5 miles per hour, they do indeed move at the same speed but in opposite directions.