Question

a cars motion is captured using a motion detector and displayed on the graph shown. use the graph to answer the following questions. right is defined as positive. answers have a 5% tolerance to allow for estimation. describe the direction of travel: left describe the motion: moving at constant speed what is the distance traveled? what is the final speed? m/s

Explanation:

Step1: Recall distance - velocity - time relation

The distance $d$ traveled by an object moving with a constant velocity $v$ over a time $t$ is given by $d = |v|\times t$. From the graph, the velocity $v=- 20\ m/s$ (negative because it is moving left) and the time interval shown is from $t = 0\ s$ to $t=30\ s$.

Step2: Calculate the distance

$d=| - 20|\times30=600\ m$.

Step3: Determine the final speed

The speed is the magnitude of the velocity. Since the velocity is constant at $v=-20\ m/s$ throughout the motion, the final speed $s = 20\ m/s$.

Answer:

What is the distance traveled? 600 m
What is the final speed? 20 m/s