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A train travels north; its velocity is constant at 20 m/s. Another train travels south on the same track at the same speed. What is the velocity of the second train?

User Jeff Burka
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2 Answers

5 votes

Answer:

-20 m/s

Step-by-step explanation:

Because velocity is a vector quantity so the answer will be -20m/s that is when two vectors have equal magnitude but opposite in direction and the question tell us that they have the same velocity but opposite in direction that is north and south.

User Mudassir Razvi
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8.7k points
6 votes

Final answer:

The second train traveling south has a velocity of 20 m/s to the south, which is equal in magnitude but opposite in direction to the first train’s velocity of 20 m/s to the north.

Step-by-step explanation:

The velocity of the second train traveling south is the same in magnitude but opposite in direction to the first train's velocity. Since velocity is a vector quantity, it has both magnitude and direction. Thus, if the first train's velocity is 20 m/s to the north, the second train's velocity is 20 m/s to the south. In physics terms, you might say the velocity of the second train is -20 m/s (assuming north is the positive direction).

User Cem
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7.9k points