The graph below shows the motion of four different cars over a period of 5 s. Which car had an average speed of 4 m/s?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking which of the four cars displayed on the graph had an average speed of 4 meters per second over a time period of 5 seconds. To solve this, we will need to analyze the graph and calculate the average speed for each car based on the distance covered over the given time.
Answer
Car A had an average speed of $4 \, \text{m/s}$.
Answer for screen readers
Car A had an average speed of 4 m/s.
Steps to Solve
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Identify the Key Information We need to find out which car has an average speed of 4 meters per second (m/s) over a time period of 5 seconds.
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Understand Average Speed Calculation Average speed is calculated using the formula: $$ \text{Average Speed} = \frac{\text{Total Distance}}{\text{Total Time}} $$ Here, the total distance is what we need to determine from the graph.
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Calculate the Total Distance for Each Car To find the total distance each car traveled in 5 seconds, observe the graph at the 5 seconds mark.
- For Car A, check the distance at 5 seconds.
- For Car B, check the distance at 5 seconds.
- For Car C, check the distance at 5 seconds.
- For Car D, check the distance at 5 seconds.
Example Calculation: If Car A reaches 20 meters at 5 seconds, the average speed would be: $$ \text{Speed of Car A} = \frac{20 , \text{meters}}{5 , \text{seconds}} = 4 , \text{m/s} $$
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Compare the Average Speeds Repeat the calculation for each car and compare their average speeds to find which car had an average speed of 4 m/s.
Car A had an average speed of 4 m/s.
More Information
The average speed tells us how fast an object is moving over a period of time. Knowing how to read a distance versus time graph is crucial in determining the speeds of various objects.
Tips
- Assuming a car has an average speed of 4 m/s without checking the distance on the graph.
- Misreading the graph data points, especially if the scale is not clearly labeled.
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