In a science experiment, a student releases a ball down a 3 m ramp. If the ball has an average speed of 3 m/s, which of the following must be true?(1 point)

Responses

It took the ball 3 s to reach the halfway point down the ramp.
It took the ball 3 s to reach the halfway point down the ramp.

The ball never went faster than 3 m/s.
The ball never went faster than 3 m/s.

At a certain point, the ball traveled faster than 3 m/s.
At a certain point, the ball traveled faster than 3 m/s.

The ball traveled at a constant speed of 3 m/s.
The ball traveled at a constant speed of 3 m/s.
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1 answer

To analyze the statements based on the given information—that a ball travels down a 3 m ramp with an average speed of 3 m/s—let's break down each statement:

  1. It took the ball 3 s to reach the halfway point down the ramp.

    • If the average speed is 3 m/s for 3 m, the total time taken would be 3 m / 3 m/s = 1 s. Therefore, this statement is false as the halfway point (1.5 m) would have been reached in less time.
  2. The ball never went faster than 3 m/s.

    • The average speed is 3 m/s, but this does not mean the ball could not have exceeded this speed at certain points. Therefore, this statement is false.
  3. At a certain point, the ball traveled faster than 3 m/s.

    • Since the average speed is 3 m/s, it is possible that the ball accelerated and traveled faster than 3 m/s at certain points along the ramp. Therefore, this statement is potentially true.
  4. The ball traveled at a constant speed of 3 m/s.

    • For the average speed to be 3 m/s, the ball does not have to maintain that speed at all times; it can vary its speed. Thus, this statement is false.

Based on this analysis, the statement that must be true is:

At a certain point, the ball traveled faster than 3 m/s.