Question

Holden is trying to determine the velocity of his race car. He went 20 meters east, turned around, and went 40 meters west. He turned the car one more time and went 35 meters east. His car was 15 meters from the starting line. This took 5 seconds.
What is the car’s velocity?
A. 3 m/s west

B.3 m/s east

C. 19 m/s west

D. 19 m/s east

Answer 1

Although the car's average speed is  19 m/s ,
its velocity is  3 m/s east.

Velocity is        (displacement) / (time)

and Displacement is the distance between the start point and
end point, no matter what route was traveled between them. 

In this case, the displacement is 15 meters east.
So the velocity is

               (15 meters east) / (5 sec) = 3 meters/sec east .

Answer 2

Although the car's average speed is  19 m/s ,

its velocity is  3 m/s east.

Velocity is        (displacement) / (time)

and Displacement is the distance between the start point and

end point, no matter what route was traveled between them. 

In this case, the displacement is 15 meters east.

So the velocity is

          Answer:    (15 meters east) / (5 sec) = 3 meters/sec east .