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malb · Aug 17, 2008, 12:56 AM

A group of hikers has wandered 150m East off the trail they were walking on. The trail ran in a SW-NE direction. Discovering that they are lost the first member leads them North for 1 minute at 1.5 m/s. Thinking that they had crossed the path again a second hiker takes over and leads them SE. They walk 36 meters at their previous speed. Finally frustrated a third member leads them West and they walk at a speed of 2 m/s for 45 seconds.
a) Did the group cross the trail during their wandering?
b)
At the end of this wandering, what was the group’s displacement from the point at which they started back toward the trail?
c)
What was the group’s average velocity in trying to return to the trail?
d)
What was their final displacement from the trail?

I tried so many times to draw their journey and make sense of it but I just don't get it

ISneezeFunny · Aug 17, 2008, 01:11 AM

First off, you have to do the math.

1.5 m/s for 1 minute... so... (60)(1.5)

Again, 36 meters (no math here)

Then 2 m/s for 45 seconds, so (45)(2)

Now. Draw.

malb · Aug 17, 2008, 01:21 AM

I don't get it what did you just work out ?

malb · Aug 17, 2008, 01:27 AM

Hey ppls

I'm really new to physics and I was starting to like till a question like this comes about
Could some one help out more clearly
Thanks

ISneezeFunny · Aug 17, 2008, 01:27 AM

I just worked out the distance that the people traveled.

Now using those distances, draw the picture.

malb · Aug 17, 2008, 01:36 AM

So what was their displacement and their velocity

And thanks so much for your help

ISneezeFunny · Aug 17, 2008, 01:46 AM

Did you draw it out?

Displacement is the distance between starting point and ending point.

Draw it out, using a grid paper (if necessary), and figure out the displacement.

Avg velocity is the average velocity for the entire trip.

For example, if I go 20 mph for 1 hour, then 30 mph for 2 hours, then 10 mph for 2 hours...

I would do (20)(1) + (30)(2) + (10)(2) then divide by total hours, which is 5.

malb · Aug 17, 2008, 01:55 AM

I drew it out but it looks awful
Would their starting point be 150 m and end point be 366
Hope I'm on the right track...
And velocity average be their distance over time

I sound so stupid with all these questions

malb · Aug 17, 2008, 02:19 AM

Hey isneezefunny

Hope you can help me further
I thank you heaps for your help but appreciate it more if ud continue to help ME :)

ISneezeFunny · Aug 17, 2008, 02:42 AM

Name: help phys.jpg
Views: 461
Size: 4.6 KB

Green is the trail

Red is the starting point

Obviously not drawn to scale, but that's the basic image... now you just have to work the math

malb · Aug 17, 2008, 03:23 AM

If the group was going SW/NE how does that make it a straight line
Id hate to argue with you because you sound like an expert

I can't stop thanking you for your help isneezefunny :)