Question

A rhinoceros is at the origin of coordinates at time t1 = 0. for the time interval from t1 = 0 to t2 = 21.5 s, the rhino's average velocity has x-component -3.8 m/s and y-component 4.5 m/s. (a) at time t2 = 21.5 s, what are the x and y coordinates of the rhino? (b) how far is the rhino from the origin? ans:- -81.7 m, 96.8 m. 127m,

Answer 1

A) The rhino's average velocity on the x-axis is $v_x=-3.8 m/s$. The position x after time t=21.5 s can be found by using the relationship:
$x=x_0 + v_x t=0+(-3.8 m/s)(21.5 s)=-81.7 m$
where we used $x_0=0$ as the x-position at time t=0, since the rhino was at the origin.

SImilarly, the average velocity on the y-axis is $v_y=+4.5 m/s$, and the y-position after time t=21.5 s can be found by using:
$y=y_0+(+4.5 m/s)(21.5 s)=+96.8 m$
where we used $y_0=0$ since the the rhino was at the origin at time t=0.

b) The distance of the rhino from the origin can be calculated by calculating the resultant of the displacement of the rhino on both axes:
$d= \sqrt{x^2+y^2}= \sqrt{(-81.7 m)^2+(96.8m)^2}=126.7 m$