Bonus Homework on One-Dimensional Motion

Sheila (not enthusiastic about working) drives to work at an average speed of

km
50 h . Anxious to return home, she drives from work to home at an average speed
km
of 100 h .
a. What is her average speed for the round trip, home to work and back home?
Given: Sheila drives to work with average speed of 50km/h. She drives home from
work with average speed of 100 km/h.
Looking for: Average speed for round trip, home to work, and back home.
System: Sheilas car
distance
average speed =
t

km d
50 =
h t1
d
t 1=
50 km
h
dh
t 1=
50 km

km d
100 =
h t2
d
100 km
t 2=
h
dh
t 2=
10 0 km
t 1+ t 2=total time
dh dh 3h
+ =
50 km 100 km 100
The kilometers cancel each other out in the above equation.
2d=total distance
2d
3 h 200 d
=
100 3h
Therefore, Sheilas average speed for the round trip was around 66.6km/h.

b. What is her average velocity for the round trip?

Given: Sheila drives to work with average speed of 50km/h. She drives home
from work with average speed of 100 km/h.
Looking for: Average velocity for round trip, home to work, and back home.
System: Sheilas car
 x
Average velocity=
t
Because Sheila drives to work and back, x is zero, therefore average
velocity is zero as well.