A small drone is programmed to move such that its velocity at successive 0.50 s intervals is given in the table below. The +x axis points east and the +y axis points north.
Time (s) | Velocity (m/s)
0.0 | (4.0^+0.0^)
0.5 | (3.0^+3.0^)
1.0 | (0.0^+4.0^)
Treat the drone as a point object and neglect air resistance.
(a) Determine the average acceleration vector (magnitude and direction) of the drone for the entire 1.0 s interval.
(b) Calculate the average acceleration vector for the first half-second only and for the second half-second only.
(c) Compare the two average accelerations found in part (b). Based on that comparison, argue whether the magnitude of the drone’s instantaneous acceleration is likely to be constant, increasing, or decreasing over the 1.0 s interval.
(d) At t=0.50s the drone’s velocity components are equal in magnitude. State the direction of the acceleration at that instant relative to the drone’s instantaneous velocity and explain your reasoning qualitatively.