A boy cycles due east in and then due west in .

PHYSICS · Multi-part · AP · Physics 1: Algebra-based · Kinematics · Kinematics

Problem

A boy cycles 3 km3\,\text{km} due east in 12 min12\,\text{min} and then 4 km4\,\text{km} due west in 18 min18\,\text{min}. (i) Calculate his average speed for the entire trip. (ii) Calculate his average velocity for the entire trip, taking the starting point as the origin and east as the positive direction. (iii) Explain why the magnitudes obtained in parts (i) and (ii) are different even though the journey lasted 30 min30\,\text{min}.

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