Final answer:
The shark's motion is a combination of two velocities: 5.5 m/s northeast for 30 seconds and 4.0 m/s southeast for 20 seconds. The total distance traveled by the shark is 245 m. The shark's total displacement is 0 degrees east of north.
Step-by-step explanation:
The oceanographer can describe the shark's motion as a combination of two different velocities. The shark travels at a velocity of 5.5 m/s in a northeast direction for 30 seconds and then changes direction and travels at a velocity of 4.0 m/s in a southeast direction for 20 seconds. To find the total distance traveled by the shark, we can add the distances traveled in each direction.
Using the equation distance = velocity x time, the shark travels a distance of (5.5 m/s)(30 s) + (4.0 m/s)(20 s) = 165 m + 80 m = 245 m.
To describe the direction of the shark's motion, we can use the concept of vectors. The northeast direction can be represented as a vector pointing 45 degrees north of east, while the southeast direction can be represented as a vector pointing 45 degrees south of east. Adding these two vectors together will give the total displacement of the shark, which represents the direction it travels. In this case, the total displacement is 0 degrees east of north.