Final answer:
The average velocity of the woodchuck is 1.25 m/s to the right; its average speed is 3.75 m/s; the final displacement is 10 m to the right; and the initial position is considered the origin where it started.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question involves calculating the average velocity and average speed of a woodchuck, as well as determining its final displacement and initial position. This falls under the topic of kinematics in physics.
a) To find the average velocity, we use the formula:
average velocity = total displacement / total time
The woodchuck first runs 20 m to the right (+20 m), then 10 m to the left (-10 m), yielding a total displacement of +10 m. It takes 5 s for the first segment and 3 s for the second, so the total time is 8 s. Thus, the average velocity of the woodchuck is:
(+20 m - 10 m) / (5 s + 3 s) = 10 m / 8 s = 1.25 m/s to the right
b) To calculate the average speed, we take the total distance traveled divided by the total time:
average speed = total distance / total time
The total distance is 20 m + 10 m = 30 m, and the total time remains 8 s. Therefore, the average speed is:
30 m / 8 s = 3.75 m/s
c) The final displacement of the woodchuck, as mentioned, is 10 meters to the right.
d) The initial position can be considered as the origin or the starting point from which the woodchuck begins its motion. Since we are focusing on the displacement and not the absolute position, we can consider this the point 0 m from which the woodchuck moves 10 m right after its activities.