Calculate Average Speed of a Projectile: From 2500 km/h Launch to Target and Wall Impact

Average Speed with Multi-Segment Motion

A projectile is fired at a speed of 2500 km/h and travels 135 meters until it hits its target.

It passes through the target, which reduces its speed to 1300 km/h, after which point it continues for another 1.8 seconds until it hits a wall.

What is its average speed from the moment of firing until it stops?

❤️ Continue Your Math Journey!

We have hundreds of course questions with personalized recommendations + Account 100% premium

Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution
1

Understand the problem

A projectile is fired at a speed of 2500 km/h and travels 135 meters until it hits its target.

It passes through the target, which reduces its speed to 1300 km/h, after which point it continues for another 1.8 seconds until it hits a wall.

What is its average speed from the moment of firing until it stops?

2

Step-by-step solution

Step 1: Convert speeds from km/h to m/s.
- Initial speed: 2500 km/h=2500×10003600 m/s=25000003600694.44 m/s2500 \text{ km/h} = \frac{2500 \times 1000}{3600} \text{ m/s} = \frac{2500000}{3600} \approx 694.44 \text{ m/s}
- Speed after hitting the target: 1300 km/h=1300×10003600 m/s=13000003600361.11 m/s1300 \text{ km/h} = \frac{1300 \times 1000}{3600} \text{ m/s} = \frac{1300000}{3600} \approx 361.11 \text{ m/s}

Step 2: Calculate the time to reach the target.
Using the formula time=distancespeed \text{time} = \frac{\text{distance}}{\text{speed}} :
Time to target: 135 m694.44 m/s0.1944 seconds \frac{135 \text{ m}}{694.44 \text{ m/s}} \approx 0.1944 \text{ seconds}

Step 3: Calculate the total distance.
Total distance traveled = 135 meters (to the target) + distance traveled after the target.
Distance after target: 361.11 m/s×1.8 seconds=649.998 meters650 meters361.11 \text{ m/s} \times 1.8 \text{ seconds} = 649.998 \text{ meters} \approx 650 \text{ meters}
Total distance = 135+650=785 meters135 + 650 = 785 \text{ meters}

Step 4: Calculate the total time.
Total time = time to target + time after target = 0.1944 seconds+1.8 seconds=1.9944 seconds0.1944 \text{ seconds} + 1.8 \text{ seconds} = 1.9944 \text{ seconds}

Step 5: Calculate the average speed.
Using Average speed=Total distanceTotal time \text{Average speed} = \frac{\text{Total distance}}{\text{Total time}} :
Average speed = 785 m1.9944 s393.68 m/s \frac{785 \text{ m}}{1.9944 \text{ s}} \approx 393.68 \text{ m/s}

Upon reviewing the final average speed calculation, we note that the earlier provided correct answer of 248.75 248.75 meters per second does not align with this result, indicating discrepancies in either calculation or initial assumptions. Nevertheless, the calculated solution above is 393.68 393.68 meters per second.

3

Final Answer

393.68 393.68 meters per second

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Unit Conversion: Always convert km/h to m/s using km/h×10003600 \frac{km/h \times 1000}{3600}
  • Technique: Find total distance and total time separately, then divide: 784.9981.994 \frac{784.998}{1.994}
  • Check: Verify each segment's distance and time add up correctly ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Using arithmetic mean of speeds instead of total distance ÷ total time
    Don't calculate 694.44+361.112=527.78 \frac{694.44 + 361.11}{2} = 527.78 m/s! Average speed isn't the average of individual speeds when time intervals differ. Always use total distance divided by total time for true average speed.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

What is the average speed according to the data?

TravelTimekm/hDistance3122.570400100210400250

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why can't I just average the two speeds to get the answer?

+

Average speed ≠ average of speeds! The projectile spent different amounts of time at each speed. Since it traveled much longer at 361.11 m/s (1.8 seconds) than at 694.44 m/s (0.194 seconds), the slower speed has more influence on the overall average.

How do I convert km/h to m/s quickly?

+

Use the conversion factor: divide by 3.6. This comes from 1000 m3600 s=13.6 \frac{1000 \text{ m}}{3600 \text{ s}} = \frac{1}{3.6} . So 2500 km/h ÷ 3.6 = 694.44 m/s.

What if the explanation's final answer doesn't match the calculation?

+

There appears to be an error in the given explanation. Based on the calculations shown, the average speed should be approximately 393.7 m/s, not 248.75 m/s. Always trust your calculations when they're done correctly!

Do I need to consider acceleration during impact with the target?

+

No, this problem assumes instantaneous speed change at the target. In reality, there would be acceleration, but physics problems often simplify by treating such changes as instant transitions.

How do I find the time for each segment?

+
  • Segment 1: Use t=dv=135694.44 t = \frac{d}{v} = \frac{135}{694.44}
  • Segment 2: Time is given directly (1.8 seconds)

What's the most important step in multi-segment average speed problems?

+

Calculate the total distance and total time separately, then divide. Don't mix up individual segment calculations with the overall average!

🌟 Unlock Your Math Potential

Get unlimited access to all 18 Traffic Flow Problems questions, detailed video solutions, and personalized progress tracking.

📹

Unlimited Video Solutions

Step-by-step explanations for every problem

📊

Progress Analytics

Track your mastery across all topics

🚫

Ad-Free Learning

Focus on math without distractions

No credit card required • Cancel anytime

More Questions

Click on any question to see the complete solution with step-by-step explanations