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Chapter 2: Q1. (page 41)

Does a car speedometer measure speed, velocity, or both? Explain.

Short Answer

Expert verified

The speedometer measures only the speed of the car.

Step by step solution

01

Step 1. Definitions of speed and velocity

The rate at which an object is displaced from one location to another is known as the object’s velocity. It has both direction and magnitude.

The rate of change in the object’s distance is known as the object’s speed. It has magnitude but no direction.

02

Step 2. Application of speedometer

A speedometer is a device that helps to estimate and visualize a vehicle's instantaneous speed, that has only magnitude. The speedometer does not give the direction of the vehicle.

Thus, this device can measure only the speed of a vehicle, not its velocity.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Two locomotives approach each other on parallel tracks. Each has a speed of 155 km/h with respect to the ground. If they are initially 8.5 km apart, how long will it be before they reach each other? (See Fig. 2-35.)

Marry and Sally are in a foot race (See below figure). When Mary is 22 m from the finish line, she has a speed of 4ms-1 and is 5 m behind Sally, who has a speed of 5ms-1. Sally thinks she has an easy win and so, during the remaining portion of the race, decelerates at a constant rate of 0.4ms-2 to the finish line. What constant acceleration does Mary now need during the remaining portion of the race, if she wishes to cross the finish line side by side with Sally?

In Fig. 2-44, (a) during what time periods, if any, is the velocity constant? (b) At what time is the velocity greatest? (c) At what time, if any, is the velocity zero? (d) Does the object move in one direction or in both directions during the time shown?

Figure 2-44 Problems 57,58 and 59

9A bowling ball traveling with a constant speed hits the pins at the end of a 16.5 m long bowling lane. The bowler hears the sound of the ball hitting the pins 2.80 s after the ball is released from his hands. What is the speed of the ball, assuming that the speed of sound is 340 m/s.

Can an object have zero acceleration and non-zero velocity at the same time? Give examples.
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