An ant walks on a piece of graph paper straight along the x axis a distance of 10.0 cm in 2.20 s. It then turns left 30.0 degrees and walks in a straight line another 10.0 cm in 1.90 s. Finally, it turns another 70.0 degrees to the left and walks another 10.0 cm in 1.60 s.

a)Determine the x component of the ant's average velocity.

b)Determine the y component of the ant's average velocity.

c)Determine the magnitude of ant's average velocity.

d)Determine the direction of ant's average velocity.

1 answer

a. Velocity vectors:
V1 = 10 cm / 2.2 s = 4.55 cm / s @ 0 deg.

V2 = 10 cm / 1.9 s = 5.26 cm / s @ 30 deg.

V3 = 10 cm / 1.6 s = 6.25 cm / s @ 100 deg.

X = hor = 4.65 + 5.26*cos30 + 6.25*cos100 = 4.65 + 4.56 + (-1.08),
X = 8.12 cm / s.

b. Y = ver = 5.26*sin30 + 6.25*sin100,
= 2.63 + 6.16 = 8.79 cm / s.

c. Z^2 = X^2 + Y^2,
= (8.12)^2 + (8.79)^2,
= 65.93 + 77.26,
= 143.19,
Z = sqrt(143.19) = 11.97 cm / s
= Magnitude.

d. tanA = Y / X = 8.79 / 8.12=1.08,
A = 47.3 deg CCW = 42.7deg. E of N.
= Direction.