Question

How can the total speed number be obtained from the numbers you have for horizontal speed and vertical speed?

A) By subtracting the horizontal speed from the vertical speed.
B) By adding the horizontal speed and vertical speed.
C) By dividing the horizontal speed by the vertical speed.
D) By multiplying the horizontal speed by the vertical speed.

Answer 1

To determine the total speed from horizontal and vertical speeds, use the Pythagorean theorem to calculate the square root of the sum of the squares of the horizontal and vertical components, which is not reflected in the given options.

Step-by-step explanation:

To obtain the total speed, also known as the resultant velocity, when you have the horizontal speed and vertical speed, you can calculate it by using the Pythagorean theorem. Given that the horizontal and vertical motions are perpendicular to each other, they form a right-angled triangle. Therefore, the total speed (resultant velocity) is found by taking the square root of the sum of the squares of the horizontal and vertical speeds.

In equation form, you would use v = √(vx² + vy²), where vx is the horizontal speed and vy is the vertical speed. So the correct answer to the student's question is not listed as one of the given options (A, B, C, D), as none of these reflects the correct method for combining the two speeds.