The bacterium Escherichia coli (or E. coli) is a single-celled organism that lives in the gut of healthy humans and animals. When grown in a uniform medium rich in salts and amino acids, these bacteria swim along zig-zag paths at a constant speed of 20 μm/s. Figure shows the trajectory of an E. coli as it moves from point A to point E. Each segment of the motion can be identified by two letters, such as segment BC.
a. For each of the four segments in the bacterium’s trajectory, calculate the x- and y-components of its displacement and of its velocity.
b. Calculate both the total distance traveled and the magnitude of the net displacement for the entire motion.
c. What are the magnitude and the direction of the bacterium’s average velocity for the entire trip?
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