Question

Cheryl runs a race on a circular track with a circumference of 400.0 m. Starting at the eastern point of the track, she finishes 50.0 m west of the starting line in a time of 40 s. Calculate Cheryl's average speed during the race.

a. 2000 m/s

b. 8.8 m/s

c. 10 m/s

d. 5.0 m/s

Answer 1

Cheryl's average speed during the race is calculated by dividing the total distance she ran (350 m) by the time it took (40 s), resulting in 8.75 m/s. The nearest given answer option is (b) 8.8 m/s. Option B is correct.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate Cheryl's average speed during the race, we need to consider the total distance she ran and the total time it took. Since Cheryl finishes 50 m west of the starting point, this means she ran a total distance of 400 m (the entire track circumference) minus the 50 m (the distance back to the east from the finishing point), which results in 350 m.

The formula to calculate average speed is:

Average Speed = Total Distance ÷ Total Time

Substitute the known values:

Average Speed = 350 m ÷ 40 s = 8.75 m/s

However, none of the options given match this calculation exactly. The closest option to our calculated value is (b) 8.8 m/s, which might suggest a minor rounding difference or a typographical error in the question. Therefore, assuming the closest match, the correct answer is option (b) 8.8 m/s.