Final answer:
The student's question involves calculating the average velocity of a hiker over a 1.4 km trail with different constant speeds for each half. The calculated average velocity is 0.607 m/s, east, which does not match any of the provided answer options, indicating a possible error in the question or answers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student is asking about calculating the average velocity of the hiker along a 1.4 km trail. To find the average velocity, we need to divide the total displacement by the total time taken for the trip.
The hiker covers the first half of the trail, which is 0.7 km (700 meters), at a constant speed of 1.7 m/s. The time taken to cover the first half is:
Time = Distance / Speed = 700 m / 1.7 m/s = 411.76 seconds.
For the second half of the trail, the hiker covers another 0.7 km at a constant speed of 0.37 m/s. The time taken to cover the second half is:
Time = Distance / Speed = 700 m / 0.37 m/s = 1891.89 seconds.
The total time for the entire trip is 411.76 s + 1891.89 s = 2303.65 seconds.
The total displacement for the trip is the length of the trail, which is 1.4 km (1400 meters).
The average velocity is then calculated as:
Average velocity = Total displacement / Total time = 1400 m / 2303.65 s = 0.607 m/s, east.
Since none of the provided answer options match the calculated result, it suggests there may have been an error in the question or the provided answer choices.