Question

A cart starts at x = +6.0 m and travels towards the origin with a constant speed of 2.0 m/s. What is it the exact cart position (in m) 3.0 seconds later?

Answer 1

Answer:

At the origin (x' = 0 m)

Explanation:

Note: From the question, when the cart travels towards the origin, the magnitude of its exact position reduces with time.

The formula of speed is given as

S = d/t................. Equation 1

Where S = speed of the cart, d = distance covered by the cart over a certain time. t = time taken to cover the distance.

make d the subject of the equation,

d = St ................. Equation 2

Given: S = 2.0 m/s, t = 3.0 s

Substitute into equation 2

d = 2(3)

d = 6 m.

From the above, the cart covered a distance of 6 m in 3 s.

The exact position of the cart = Initial position-distance covered

x' = x-d............ Equation 3

Where x' = exact position of the cart 3 s later, x = initial position of the cart, d = distance covered by the cart in 3.0 s.

Given: x = +6.0 m, d = 6 m.

Substitute into equation 3

x' = +6-6

x' = 0 m.

Hence the cart will be at 0 m (origin) 3 s later