College Physics by Openstax Chapter 2 Problem 64: Verification of a Jogger’s Velocity from the Slope of a Position–Time Graph


Problem:

(a) Take the slope of the curve in Figure 2.64 to find the jogger’s velocity at t=2.5 s.

(b) Repeat at 7.5 s. These values must be consistent with the graph in Figure 2.65.


Solution:

Part A

To find the slope at t=2.5 s, we need the position values at t= 0 s and t=5 s. When t = 0 \ \text{s}, x = 0 \ \text{m}, and when t = 5 \ \text{s}, x = 17.5 \ \text{m}. The velocity at t=2.5 s is

\begin{align*}

\text{velocity} & =\text{slope} \\
\text{v} & =\frac{\Delta x}{\Delta t} \\
\text{v} & = \frac{x_2-x_1}{t_2-t_1} \\
\text{v} & = \frac{17.5\ \text{m}-0\ \text{m}}{5 \ \text{s}-0\ \text{s}} \\
\text{v} & =3.5 \ \text{m/s} \ \qquad \ {\color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right)} \\

\end{align*}

Part B

When t = 10 \ \text{s}, x=2.5 \ \text{m}. Considering the points at t=5 s and t=10 s, the slope at 7.5 s is

\begin{align*}

\text{velocity} & =\text{slope} \\
\text{v} & =\frac{\Delta x}{\Delta t} \\
\text{v} & = \frac{x_2-x_1}{t_2-t_1} \\
\text{v} & = \frac{2.5\ \text{m}-17.5\ \text{m}}{10 \ \text{s}-5\ \text{s}} \\
\text{v} & =-3.0 \ \text{m/s} \ \qquad \ {\color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right)} \\

\end{align*}

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College Physics 2nd Edition Solutions Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction: The Nature of Science and Physics

Chapter 2: Kinematics

Chapter 3: Two-Dimensional Kinematics

Chapter 4: Dynamics: Force and Newton’s Law of Motion

Chapter 5: Further Applications of Newton’s Laws: Friction, Drag, and Elasticity

Chapter 6: Uniform Circular Motion and Gravitation

Chapter 7: Work, Energy, and Energy Resources

Chapter 8: Linear Momentum and Collisions

Chapter 9: Statics and Torque

Chapter 10: Rotational Motion and Angular Momentum

Chapter 11: Fluid Mechanics

Chapter 12: Fluid Dynamics and Its Biological and Medical Applications

Chapter 13: Temperature, Kinetic Theory, and the Gas Laws

Chapter 14: Heat and Heat Transfer Methods

Chapter 15: Thermodynamics

Chapter 16: Oscillatory Motion and Waves

Chapter 17: Physics of Hearing

Chapter 18: Electric Charge and Electric Field

Chapter 19: Electric Potential and Electric Field

Chapter 20:
Electric Current, Resistance, and Ohm’s Law

Chapter 21: Circuits and DC Instruments

Chapter 22: Magnetism

Chapter 23: Electromagnetic Induction, AC Circuits, and Electrical Technologies

Chapter 24: Electromagnetic Waves

Chapter 25: Geometric Optics

Chapter 26: Vision and Optical Instrument

Chapter 27: Wave Optics

Chapter 28: Special Relativity

Chapter 29: Introduction to Quantum Physics

Chapter 30: Atomic Physics

Chapter 31: Radioactivity and Nuclear Physics

Chapter 32: Medical Applications of Nuclear Physics

Chapter 33: Particle Physics

Chapter 34: Frontiers of Physics