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A car is traveling at a constant speed of 60 km/h but then changes lanes. Even traveling at a constant speed, the car's velocity is changing. Explain.

a) True
b) False
c) Speed is the same in all lanes
d) Speed changes when changing lanes

1 Answer

2 votes

Final answer:

The statement is 'False'. When a car changes lanes, its velocity changes even if its speed remains constant. Velocity is a vector quantity that includes both the magnitude (speed) and direction of motion. The statement is b) False.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement is b) False.

Even though the car is traveling at a constant speed of 60 km/h, its velocity is changing when it changes lanes. Velocity is a vector quantity that includes both the magnitude (speed) and direction of motion. So, when the car changes lanes, its direction of motion changes, which means its velocity is changing even though its speed remains constant.

For example, if the car is initially traveling east at a constant speed of 60 km/h and then changes lanes to travel north, the velocity changes because both the magnitude and the direction have changed. The speed, however, remains the same.

Yes, a car's velocity changes when it changes lanes even if its speed remains constant, as velocity is a vector that includes both speed and direction.

It is true that a car's velocity is changing even when it is traveling at a constant speed but changes lanes. This is because velocity is a vector quantity, which means it includes both speed and direction. When a car changes lanes, its direction changes, and hence its velocity changes, even if the speedometer reading (which shows speed) remains constant at 60 km/h. Speed is a scalar quantity and only includes magnitude, which is why it can remain the same even when direction changes.

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