Chapter 2.3, Problem 11PP

To determine

To Describe: The car’s motion given in position-time graph.

Answer to Problem 11PP

The given car is moving with constant velocity of $25\text{ m/s}$ along a straight highway.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

The average velocity of a particle is given by,

  $\overline{v}=\frac{\Delta d}{\Delta t}=\frac{d_{final}-d_{initial}}{t_{final}-t_{initial}}$

Thus, the slope of a position-time graph depicts the average velocity of the particle.

Consider the graph. The slope of the graph is constant. Thus, it can be concluded that the car is moving with a constant velocity, magnitude of which is,

  $\begin{array}{c}v=\frac{0-100}{5.0-1.0}\\ =-25\text{m/s}\end{array}$

Here, negative sign denotes the direction of motion of the car.

Conclusion:

Hence, the car is moving with a constant velocity of $25\text{ m/s}$ on a straight highway.