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?
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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?
Step 1: Convert speeds from km/h to m/s.
- Initial speed:
- Speed after hitting the target:
Step 2: Calculate the time to reach the target.
Using the formula :
Time to target:
Step 3: Calculate the total distance.
Total distance traveled = 135 meters (to the target) + distance traveled after the target.
Distance after target:
Total distance =
Step 4: Calculate the total time.
Total time = time to target + time after target =
Step 5: Calculate the average speed.
Using :
Average speed =
Upon reviewing the final average speed calculation, we note that the earlier provided correct answer of meters per second does not align with this result, indicating discrepancies in either calculation or initial assumptions. Nevertheless, the calculated solution above is meters per second.
meters per second
What is the average speed according to the data?
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.
Use the conversion factor: divide by 3.6. This comes from . So 2500 km/h ÷ 3.6 = 694.44 m/s.
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!
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.
Calculate the total distance and total time separately, then divide. Don't mix up individual segment calculations with the overall average!
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