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Chapter 3: Problem 22

A car, initially going eastward, rounds a \(90^{\circ}\) curve and ends up heading southward. If the speedometer reading remains constant, what's the direction of the car's average acceleration vector?

Short Answer

Expert verified
The direction of the car's average acceleration vector is to the west.

Step by step solution

01

Understand the Scenario

A car rounds a \(90^{\circ}\) curve from going eastward to ending up heading southward while maintaining a constant speed. The direction of the velocity change is what determines the direction of the average acceleration.
02

Understand the Concept of Acceleration

It's important to know that acceleration is not just the change in speed, but also the change in direction. Even if there's no change in speed, the change in direction causes what's known as 'centripetal acceleration.' In this case, the change in velocity direction is from eastward to southward.
03

Determine the Direction of Acceleration

The direction of the average acceleration is towards the change in direction of the velocity. As the car goes from eastward to southward, therefore, the average acceleration is towards west.

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