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An object travels North at #6# #ms^-1# for #2# #s# and then travels South at #3# #ms^-1# for #4# #s#. What are the object's average speed and velocity?

Answer 1

The total distance traveled, if direction is not important, is #24# #m# in #6# #s#, for an average speed of #4# #ms^-1#.

The total displacement of the object from its starting point, after traveling North #12# #m# and South #12# #m#, is #0# #m# in #6# #s#, for an average velocity of #0# #ms^-1#.

Distance traveled North: #v=d/t#, rearranged, #d=vt=6*2=12# #m#

Distance traveled South: #d=vt=3*4=12# #m#

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Answer 2

Olivia Askew

The object's average speed is (3.5 , \text{m/s}), and its average velocity is (0.5 , \text{m/s}) south.

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Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.